How the true knowledge helps is illustrated by the following story.

There was a poor Brahmin in the realm of King Bhoj. Brahmins were usually poor because they lived on alms given by others in return of performing rituals etc.

He gave it a deep thought and ultimately decided to do theft.But where? He thought it would best to get into the king's palace.

So, he wore saree and got into the King's bedroom along with other maid servants and then holed up beneath the King's bed. When everyone was asleep, he came out of the hiding. But whatever he touch for stealing, his knowledge of scriptures would tell him the effect of his action that which hell he would be heading to on stealing the touched object.

And the whole night passed away in this fashion. He could not steal anything.

Those days, in the morning many activities were done to wake up king. On getting up, King uttered three lines of self made stanza. The lines were:

How fortunate am I. All relations and friends are cordial to me. Beautiful ladies are singing dancing to wake me up, Brahmins are reciting scriptures. Rhythmic drum beats are being heard. Horses are neighing and elephants are trumpeting.

Brahmin who was hiding beneath the bed completed the fourth line.

On closing eyes (death) nothing of this will remain. (Everyone has to go alone. No other soul can accompany any soul in after death journey.)

King was shocked to know that someone intruded in his bedroom. He called his attendants who found out Brahmin from beneath the bed.

King was very much impressed with uninvited guest. He asked Brahmin, 'Who are you and why are you here?' Brahmin told him the whole story. King had developed respect for Brahmin for his scriptural knowledge and mainly because the brahmin's line was an eye opener for him. He realized that whatever he had gained would be no use after death, It was shear waste of time to get entrapped in worldly opulence and pleasures. King at once made Brahmin the main priest of the kingdom, gave his kingdom to his son and went for spiritual practice in forest.

Correct knowledge is ALWAYS an asset.