Alexander and the speaking tree

A mighty conqurer went far away
To bring many a kings under his sway

Thought he was the descendant of Hercules
The demi-god son of  Zeus

In Persia known as beast with horns
The nomads call him the devil with arms

The holy Quran calls him the Zul-Qarnain
The  Paigamber  (Conqurer) who was the two horned one

In Macedon is revered as a demi God
Most other cultures thoguht him mad


Around 330 BC crossed the pass called Khyber
Entered the holy lands beyond the  Sindh river

After the famed battle against Porus
He had a spiritual encounter with Dandimus

Also called Dandima was the sage
Wise was he and was advanced in age

Dandima said, why do you in vain strive?
Endless will be your cycle of death and life!

Break not the shields and swords of your enemies
But learn the art of breaking from these ceaseless cycles

Sent for his disciple Kalvanus
Also known as Kalyan by the denizens near Indus

Take him to the wise old tree
Which speaks wisdom to one and all for free

The tree knew all languages of the world
The future of one and all it foretold

Alexander reached the precints of the tree
Heard the sacred plant speak in the language of greeks

"In vain is your attempt to conquer this holy land"
"Take this imprudent thought out of your mind"

"Of  what use are all these conquests to you?"
"It will evoperate quickly like the morning dew"

"To the one ancient being everything does belong"
"When you die, all these treasures you cannot take along"

"And this death approaches you sooner than you think"
"It will be all over within a blink"

"Though your life is such a short one"
"Your legends will be heard in many lifetimes to come"

And thus spake the tree to Alexander the great
Who died  afterwards  while wandering in the desert heat

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