My late maternal uncle, who was teaching English at Delhi College of Engineering, used to make fun of his colleagues who taught engineering subjects. It so happened that a tall flag post had to be constructed in the college for hoisting the National Flag, and the professors had to rely on outside help to erect it. This provided him ammunition for his criticism of his teaching faculty colleagues. Out of reverence, I didn’t want to pick up an argument with him, but I wish he had lived to this day to demonstrate to him that an engineer can train himself to become a published writer. But it is harder for those who are not trained in engineering, either in the academy or as apprentices, to acquire the engineering knowledge and skills.
Jokes apart, knowledge is a prized possession. But there is often an unspoken truth about its limitations. It is often challenging to apply knowledge without the use of intellect.
The story of the Four Friends from the Panchatantra elegantly illustrates that knowledge, when disconnected from practical wisdom, can be not just ineffective, but dangerous. This ancient fable serves as a profound reminder that theoretical learning, if not coupled with real-world understanding, is of little use.
The Importance of Exposure to the Real World
The story is reminiscent of a tale from the Panchatantra about four Brahmin scholars who, though learned in all the holy texts, were completely clueless about the world around them. After receiving their education in a prestigious Gurukul, they set out on a journey home. Along the way, they encountered a fork in the road and, seeking guidance, asked passersby in flawless Sanskrit. However, no one could understand them, leaving them stranded.
While they waited, a funeral procession passed by, and the first scholar, reading a verse in his book that said, “Walk with the one who has many followers,” mistook the mourners for people of importance and decided to follow them. They arrived at the cremation site, confused and unaware of the rituals around them.
The mourners left, but a donkey stood by them, and the second scholar, reading another verse that said, “The true friend is the one who stands with you in both celebrations and sorrow,” declared the donkey their true friend, embracing it joyously.
The statement conveys the idea that a true friend is someone who remains by your side during both joyful and challenging times, supporting you in times of celebration, adversity, danger, trials, and even in the end at the time of cremation. But the second friend shouted with joy that they had got our real well-wisher and friend, and all of them started to embrace the donkey with affection. After some time, a camel arrived there running. To understand what the camel was about, the third scholar again opened the book. He came across a verse which stated that ‘Dharma proceeds fast’. As the camel was running, the third scholar shouted: He is dharma. Now the scholar opened his book and found a verse stating that the dearest friends should be tied up to dharma, which meant that the friends should be encouraged to follow the right path.
Another foolish scholar said: Let us tie our dear friend with Dharma, and they tied the poor donkey’s neck with the tall camel. They were walking with both the camel and donkey put to inconvenience when someone noticed that the donkey, they had tied to the camel, belonged to a washerman he knew. He informed him, and he beat them up, considering that they had stolen his donkey. The villagers chased them away.
As their journey continued, their misguided readings of sacred verses led them into further trouble—each time relying on bookish knowledge without considering the practical consequences. They tied a donkey to a camel, misinterpreted signs of good food, and even nearly drowned, all because they failed to apply their education to the real world.
The Takeaway:
“Those with bookish knowledge but no exposure to the real world become a laughingstock.”
This story illustrates the folly of relying solely on theoretical knowledge without the ability to adapt it to practical situations. It underscores the importance of experience and practical wisdom in navigating life’s challenges. The scholars in the story were so engrossed in their books that they failed to engage with the world as it truly was. Their education, though extensive, became their downfall because it was not grounded in reality.
Jatak Tale: The Story of the Four Friends
Once, four friends set off on a journey, each with their own ambition. Three of them were highly educated, masters of scriptures and the arts. The fourth, however, was uneducated but possessed sharp intellect and practical wisdom. As they travelled, they discussed their plans to impress a king with their skills to earn wealth. While the three educated friends debated whether to bring the fourth along, one of them argued, “He won’t earn much without education, and I won’t share my wealth with him.” However, the second friend, valuing intellect over formal education, suggested, “Perhaps his wisdom will be useful to us. We should share our wealth with him.” The third agreed, and so the uneducated friend was included in their plan.
Soon, the group came across the carcass of a lion in the forest. The three scholars, eager to test their learning, decided to attempt reviving the lion. The uneducated friend, however, cautioned, “If you revive this lion, it will surely kill you. This is a dangerous task.” But the scholars, confident in their theoretical knowledge, ignored his warning. “We shall try our wisdom,” they insisted.
The fourth friend, seeing the inevitable danger, said, “If you are determined to proceed, then let me climb a tree to save myself.” As the three scholars chanted mantras and revived the lion, it sprang to life and immediately attacked and killed all three, leaving the fourth friend, who had wisely taken to the tree, to survive.
The Moral: Knowledge Without Wisdom is Futile
This story highlights a crucial lesson: knowledge without practical wisdom is useless. The scholars in the story had extensive learning but lacked the common sense to use it effectively. Their theoretical knowledge could not save them because it was not grounded in the reality of the situation. Meanwhile, the uneducated friend, who had not studied the scriptures but understood the workings of the world, used his intellect to assess the situation and survive.
Thus we learn that intellect is more important than knowledge. Mindless educated people are destroyed like fools.
“Those proficient and knowledgeable in scriptures but mindless become a laughingstock like fools.”
This echoes the wisdom found in the Brahma sutras:
“निवर्तते धर्मेण विद्या विश्वं समन्वितम्।”
(“Knowledge that is detached from experience leads to confusion and error.”)
A Few Engineering Follies
I heard a story from my late father that one of the young officers in Railways once created a small drainage in a railway embankment during a flood situation. This obviously was a big mistake and soon developed into an emergency, washing off several hundred meters of the track.
In another situation, one of my colleagues forgot to consider the hoop stress properly in the design of the penstock, resulting in failure just on commissioning. There are several examples of inadequacy of knowledge and failure resulting from them in engineering structures.
The Story of Cautley Aqueduct
The Ganga Canal was designed to divert water from the Ganges River to irrigate the arid regions of Western Uttar Pradesh and provide relief from famine. The canal’s construction began in the late 1840s and included numerous engineering feats, such as the aqueduct at Roorkee.
The aqueduct itself was an elevated structure designed to carry the canal over the Solani River, a tributary of the Ganges. It was a significant challenge for its time because the aqueduct had to be strong enough to withstand the flow of water, while also managing the pressure and structural integrity across a span of nearly 800 feet.
Determined to restore the aqueduct, Cautley and his team undertook a detailed assessment of the failure. Several critical steps were taken in the restoration process, like the restoration of the foundation, revised hydraulic foundation, and improved construction techniques. By 1855, the aqueduct had been successfully restored, and it went on to function effectively, providing irrigation to vast tracts of land.
Here, the ancient sages stress the necessity of grounding knowledge in lived experience. Without the context of life’s complexities, knowledge becomes theoretical and ineffective.
The True Measure of Wisdom
In contrast, those with a balanced approach—who integrate knowledge with practical experience—thrive. But when times are bad, even the learned and experienced make mistakes. But it is crucial learn from them and improve.
“Even an unprotected person remains safe in good times, while a well-protected person may be unsafe in bad times.”
This reminds us that in the face of adversity, practical intelligence often outshines mere academic knowledge. A fish with limited intellect is safer in the water, while a more intelligent one is easily caught by the fisherman. The lesson is clear: True wisdom lies in the ability to adapt, assess situations realistically, and make decisions based on experience, not just theory.
The Isha Upanishad (Verse 11) gives further insight into the balance between knowledge and wisdom:
“तेन त्यक्तेन भुंजीथा मा ग्रधः कस्यस्विद्धनम्।”
(“Enjoy the world by renouncing attachment to it. Do not covet the wealth of others.”)
This verse highlights the importance of wisdom in how we interact with the world—using what we know in a way that aligns with our higher principles and the broader good.
The Limitations of Pure Knowledge
The lesson from the story of the Four Friends applies to many areas of life. While knowledge is certainly valuable, it is the ability to apply it effectively that makes the difference. The world is not a classroom, and life does not follow the rules of textbooks. Real-life problems often require creative thinking, intuition, and the flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances—qualities that pure book knowledge may not always provide.
In the context of the workplace, many professionals have the theoretical expertise required for their field. However, it is often the ones who can combine their knowledge with practical experience who excel. A person might know all the formulas of physics but struggle when it comes to fixing a machine. Similarly, someone might be well-versed in business strategies but may fail when it comes to making decisions that require intuition and experience.
This gap between theory and practice is the reason why mentoring, hands-on experience, and internships are so important. Knowledge must be accompanied by wisdom—the wisdom that only experience can bring.
The Role of Wisdom
While knowledge forms the foundation of understanding, wisdom is what guides the application of that knowledge. It is wisdom that tells us how and when to use what we know, and more importantly, when to recognize that our knowledge may be insufficient or outdated. Wisdom allows us to ask the right questions, make thoughtful decisions, and adjust our course when necessary.
In contrast, knowledge without wisdom can lead to mistakes. The Four Friends failed because they were trapped in their theoretical understanding without the wisdom to navigate the world around them. They acted according to the limited knowledge they had, and as a result, they caused more harm than good.
The Balance Between Knowledge and Wisdom
The ideal approach to life—whether it be in academics, personal relationships, or professional environments—is to strike a balance between acquiring knowledge and cultivating wisdom. Knowledge can be learned from books, teachers, and other external sources. Wisdom, however, comes from experience, introspection, and learning from mistakes. It is an ongoing process of growth, one that requires humility, an openness to learning, and an understanding that knowledge alone is never enough.
We should be cautious of being too focused on acquiring knowledge for the sake of it. It is far more important to learn how to apply that knowledge in practical, meaningful ways. Just like the Brahmin scholars who failed because they could not connect their bookish knowledge with real-life scenarios, we too must recognize that knowledge without wisdom can often lead to confusion and trouble.
The Real-World Relevance
Take the example of modern-day leaders, entrepreneurs, or scientists. Many of them possess excellent formal education, but what sets them apart is their ability to apply their knowledge in innovative ways. They understand that knowledge, while important, is only one part of the equation. They need to also rely on experience, intuition, and sometimes, a deep understanding of human nature, to succeed.
Similarly, when we approach any field of study or work, it is crucial to not just learn the theoretical aspects, but also to understand how they work in practice. Whether it’s in technology, medicine, or social work, true mastery comes when we can blend knowledge with experience and wisdom.
Conclusion
The story of the Four Friends from the Panchatantra teaches us a timeless lesson: knowledge is important, but wisdom is indispensable. Knowledge without wisdom is like a ship without a captain, adrift in a vast and uncertain sea. The real value of knowledge comes not from its possession but from its thoughtful application.
Let us strive to be like the wise individuals who not only acquire knowledge but also have the wisdom to use it effectively in every aspect of our lives. Only then can we navigate the complexities of life and truly make a meaningful impact.
Inspire Positivity 