IN Pathshala (School) Panini used to fail in memorising the lessons of the previous day. The Guru used to get angry with him and often caned him. Once when Panini stretched his hand and opened his plam for receiving the punishment the Guru dropped his cane on reading the fate lines on Panini’s palm. The Guru said, “O! My dear boy! What is the use of being angry with you? Brahma, the creator, has not provided you that line of education which is so necessary for education.” Having uttered these words, he did not punish him. The young Panini felt insulted and humiliated by these remarks of his Guru. He asked the Guru, “Guruji, can you kindly show me that line which is said to be an indication of good education?” The Guru in turn, opened his own right hand palm and showed him that line. The young boy went outside, searched for a sharp stone and made a deep mark on his right palm which left him profusely bleeding. He returned to his Guru and showing his bleeding palm assured his Guru that from then onwards the line of education had appeared on his palm and that there was nothing to worry about his education. The Guru was stunned and overwhealmed by this dare devil action of Panini. The Guru, shedding tears, affectionately hugged him, saying, “My dear child!what a tremendous faith you have placed on me! O! what am I to say about your Guru bhakti? My child, God bless you!”
