Many times it so happens that slap works not only in spiritual but in material world too. The story of Kalidas illustrates this point.

There was a princess Vidyottama, who was so intelligent that none of scholars of those times could defeat her in the debate on scriptural knowledge. Her father wanted to marry her with some suitable person but she put the condition that she would marry only to that person who would defeat her in the debate. No one could defeat her. King was a worried person but could not do anything to change her resolve.

All those men who were defeated by her were extremely jealous of her and worked out a ploy to deceive her into accepting the defeat. They decided to stage some fool as a decoy challenger who didn’t know anything. They began their search and found out one person who was cutting the branch of a tree while sitting on the tip side of the same branch. They thought no one could more dumb than him. He was Kalidas.

They told him, ‘See, we can give you a luxurious life in King’s palace. But you have do as we dictate.’ Kalidas was so gullible that he at once accepted their proposal. They got a nice dress for Kalidas so that he would look like a scholar. They told him ,’Listen, we are taking you to King’s palace. The condition is you will not utter a single word. If any question is posed to you, you reply by gesture by hand, eyes etc. If you will speak, you will have to return back to cutting wood.’ He promised not to talk at all.

All those men approached Vidyottama and said,’O! Princess! We have found a match for you at last! He is such a scholar that he is in search of someone who could defeat him. We have brought him with us. He is ready for the debate. The only problem is, he is under the pledge of not speaking. You know only person with high resolve can be under such oath of always keeping mum. He will talk only after the marriage.’