A king’s whim
A king’s whim
The king had his whim
So thought the courtesies.
The wise knew, not the whim
but wisdom which made
The king changes his stand.
The night was still young. The blanket of darkness had not lifted. The hiss of the cobra and the chattering of the monkeys, the heckles of the wired spirits were the only sounds heard in the dark night. King Vikramaditya knew no fear. With his sword held high he moved steadily cutting through the thick forest and moved towards the ancient tree that housed the corpse.
Reaching the tree he lifted the corpse and hung it on his shoulders, just than the Vetal inside the corpse laughed derisively.
O! Righteous king as steady and focused as you are there
are also kings who have ruled here as per their whim and not by the rule of the book.
Let me recount the story of such a king. Listen carefully and give your right judgment for the actions of the king, which did look whimsical.
In the foothills of Girnar was this beautiful kingdom Bhimapur. King Bhimsingh ruled it. The king had framed well-knit rules to administer the kingdom. In every village a chieftain was appointed. It was the job of the Chieftain to look after the welfare of the village and report the activities and problems if any to the king at the end of the year. The grants for the activities were issued every year after examining the report.
Now there were two flourishing villages at the frontier part of the country. They were Ganga nagar and Jaunpur. Ganga nagar was ruled by chieftain Kamal das and Jaunpur was ruled by Rajat singh.
Ganga nagar was a low-lying area. Every year floodwaters ravaged the land and took away the good soil and causing damage to cattle and crops. The chieftain Kamal das was always trying to find ways and means to alleviate his people’s sufferings.
One day a sage came to the village. He heard the problems of the chieftain. He told let me inspect the land. After detailed inspection he suggested a viable solution. He told `Kamal das you can save your people of the hardship if only you will follow this plan. You can cut canals along this route and direct the floodwaters along the canal. At some places the canal can be made wide like a lake. This arrangement will also help to keep your village cool in summer and help to solve any water crisis. Further you can use the mud so removed to raise the land of the low-lying area so that there is no stagnation. Kamal das was highly pleased with this scheme. He sat with the sage to make an estimate for the execution of the scheme. The sage calculating carefully told him `such a scheme will cost you two lakh rupees. However I hear the king is having a tight treasury position and this may be the last year he will be giving money as grant from next year onwards he may be only giving as loan to be repaid.’
`Thanks for giving me this suggestion. I will put forward this proposal at the earliest to the king’ told Kamal das.
The News soon reached Rajat singh the Chieftain of the next village about the sage’s advice. He soon invited the sage to his village and told `Sir, learned one, though our village does not have any lasting problems still I would like you to inspect our village and suggest any ideas for general improvement of the economy. The sage relented. He went around the village lands and thorough examination told the chieftain `Rajat singh, the soil around your village is most suited for coconut plantations. By growing coconut trees you can help the farmers to earn good money and also for the landless you can start a coir workshop where different products can be made from the coir like ropes, gunny bags, mats, carpets etc and the poor people can make a decent living.
Rajat sing too was highly pleased with the sound idea of the sage and requested the sage to give an estimate of the expenses.
Again the sage put his mind calculated the expenditure and told `It will cost you one lakh rupees to carry out this scheme.
However the sage warned him too `I hear the king will be giving grants only this year, from next year the money will be given only as loans due to tight fiscal position in the treasury.
`I am indebted to you for this suggestion and the information sir, I will try to put it across to the king at the earliest opportunity ‘said the chieftain
A month later all the chieftains were called from the kings palace for annual assessment. Both Kamal das and Ranjit Singh were just waiting for that. With great hopes they went to the capital taking their newfound requirements with the sage’s suggestion well tucked in their bags.
The initial meeting was with the finance minister. He was given the charge to review their demands before putting it in front of the king.
First Kamal das was called. He heard the canal plans of the chieftain to save the village from the annual floods. Kamal das further told him `Sir, the funds for this project will be to the tune of two lakh rupees.
Hearing that the minister came close to Kamal das and taking a confidential hushed tone and told `Kamal das what I have come to know is, this time the king is going to grant only half the amount of the funds demanded due to tight position of his treasury. Hence you take my advice and ask him double the amount required.’
Kamal das an honest person was taken aback by this advice, `do you mean I ask him four lakhs instead of two.’
The minister smiled slyly `Yes, four lakh is the double of two lakh. You will be benefited by asking five lakhs from the king.’
`What five lakh? when the king is finding it hard pressed to give even the legitimate amounts. Than what we will do with the extra money? ‘enquired Kamal das.
The minister laughed `don’t worry about the extra money. My daughter’s marriage is scheduled in a short time. The money will come use to me and I am sure you must be having some need of the extra money’ winked the minister.
`Do meet me after getting your grants sectioned’ the minister called out to the perplexed Kamal das as he was departing with a confused countenance.
Next it was Kamal singh turn to meet the minister.
Similar transactions ensued with him too and he was asked to demand three lakh in place of one lakh required by him.
Soon the day arrived when the chieftans were called in the `durbar’ to present their requirements.
The durbar opened to its full strength. All the ministers, sevaks and the respective chieftans were seated in their appointed places. The king was in the throne. Each chieftain was called out separately and their cases was asked to be presented.
Chieftains were presenting their cases. The king was hearing and the cases were being noted down. When it was Ranjit singh turn, he presented his case and told `Majesty I will be requiring a sum of three lakhs to carry this scheme’.
Hearing that Kamal das was surprised as he well knew Ranjit singh required only a lakh of rupees to execute his plan.
Than came Kamal das turn. He explained the problems faced by his village due to regular floods and told about the canal-digging scheme.
When he was asked `How much funds you will require for this scheme? He replied, `Majesty if you grant a sum seventy thousand rupees I should be able to carry it out.’
He looked intently at Kamal das, `Are you sure this amount will suffice for you to carry out this much amount of work.’
`Sir, this might cost me about two lakh rupees. But my villagers who will help to make the canal will be ready to work free of cost. Than the rich villagers will contribute money to help this. That way I can bring down the cost and hope to complete it with the amount now I have asked for.’
There was silence in the durbar hearing Kamal das. The king kept quiet for a while.
Than he turned to the minister and ordered `Take back the amount from the chieftains for whom already the funds have been granted. Henceforth they are removed from their chieftain’s post. We will select new chieftains for their villages.’
Than he turned to Kamal das and told `I am granting you a sum of two lakh fifty thousand rupees. You can use the funds for the village as you deem fit and need not give any accounts.’
The people in the assembly were surprised by this whimsical command of the king but they had to comply with his order.
Thus Vetal finished the story and addressed the king who was listening carefully and walking along.
`O! King, known for your fair judgment Tell me why the king acted in this whimsical manner? Why did he grant Kamal das with a huge amount though he had asked for a much lower amount and why did he ask the other chieftains to return the purse?
Think carefully and answer. If you keep mum or give a wrong answer your head will be severed and roll off. Hence tell me the reply, which is fair and correct.
King Vikramaditya replied in a tone with no fear or rancor. `The king was not whimsical. On hearing Kamal das sincere and clean analysis of the scheme, management ideas and sum specified for carrying out the work, the king realised in a flash the demands of other chieftans were highly escalated and they were not honest. Hence he ordered them to return the purse and also stripped them of their post.
While in Kamal das he found an honest person whose heart is in the real welfare of his people. Hence he knew the money would be properly utilized. So he granted him a larger purse than what he asked for and also relieved of the duties of presenting the account.’
Hearing the correct answer, the Vetal with the corpse flew out of Vikramadityas hands and went and once again settled in the ancient banyan tree
The king had his whim
So thought the courtesies.
The wise knew, not the whim
but wisdom which made
The king changes his stand.
The night was still young. The blanket of darkness had not lifted. The hiss of the cobra and the chattering of the monkeys, the heckles of the wired spirits were the only sounds heard in the dark night. King Vikramaditya knew no fear. With his sword held high he moved steadily cutting through the thick forest and moved towards the ancient tree that housed the corpse.
Reaching the tree he lifted the corpse and hung it on his shoulders, just than the Vetal inside the corpse laughed derisively.
O! Righteous king as steady and focused as you are there
are also kings who have ruled here as per their whim and not by the rule of the book.
Let me recount the story of such a king. Listen carefully and give your right judgment for the actions of the king, which did look whimsical.
In the foothills of Girnar was this beautiful kingdom Bhimapur. King Bhimsingh ruled it. The king had framed well-knit rules to administer the kingdom. In every village a chieftain was appointed. It was the job of the Chieftain to look after the welfare of the village and report the activities and problems if any to the king at the end of the year. The grants for the activities were issued every year after examining the report.
Now there were two flourishing villages at the frontier part of the country. They were Ganga nagar and Jaunpur. Ganga nagar was ruled by chieftain Kamal das and Jaunpur was ruled by Rajat singh.
Ganga nagar was a low-lying area. Every year floodwaters ravaged the land and took away the good soil and causing damage to cattle and crops. The chieftain Kamal das was always trying to find ways and means to alleviate his people’s sufferings.
One day a sage came to the village. He heard the problems of the chieftain. He told let me inspect the land. After detailed inspection he suggested a viable solution. He told `Kamal das you can save your people of the hardship if only you will follow this plan. You can cut canals along this route and direct the floodwaters along the canal. At some places the canal can be made wide like a lake. This arrangement will also help to keep your village cool in summer and help to solve any water crisis. Further you can use the mud so removed to raise the land of the low-lying area so that there is no stagnation. Kamal das was highly pleased with this scheme. He sat with the sage to make an estimate for the execution of the scheme. The sage calculating carefully told him `such a scheme will cost you two lakh rupees. However I hear the king is having a tight treasury position and this may be the last year he will be giving money as grant from next year onwards he may be only giving as loan to be repaid.’
`Thanks for giving me this suggestion. I will put forward this proposal at the earliest to the king’ told Kamal das.
The News soon reached Rajat singh the Chieftain of the next village about the sage’s advice. He soon invited the sage to his village and told `Sir, learned one, though our village does not have any lasting problems still I would like you to inspect our village and suggest any ideas for general improvement of the economy. The sage relented. He went around the village lands and thorough examination told the chieftain `Rajat singh, the soil around your village is most suited for coconut plantations. By growing coconut trees you can help the farmers to earn good money and also for the landless you can start a coir workshop where different products can be made from the coir like ropes, gunny bags, mats, carpets etc and the poor people can make a decent living.
Rajat sing too was highly pleased with the sound idea of the sage and requested the sage to give an estimate of the expenses.
Again the sage put his mind calculated the expenditure and told `It will cost you one lakh rupees to carry out this scheme.
However the sage warned him too `I hear the king will be giving grants only this year, from next year the money will be given only as loans due to tight fiscal position in the treasury.
`I am indebted to you for this suggestion and the information sir, I will try to put it across to the king at the earliest opportunity ‘said the chieftain
A month later all the chieftains were called from the kings palace for annual assessment. Both Kamal das and Ranjit Singh were just waiting for that. With great hopes they went to the capital taking their newfound requirements with the sage’s suggestion well tucked in their bags.
The initial meeting was with the finance minister. He was given the charge to review their demands before putting it in front of the king.
First Kamal das was called. He heard the canal plans of the chieftain to save the village from the annual floods. Kamal das further told him `Sir, the funds for this project will be to the tune of two lakh rupees.
Hearing that the minister came close to Kamal das and taking a confidential hushed tone and told `Kamal das what I have come to know is, this time the king is going to grant only half the amount of the funds demanded due to tight position of his treasury. Hence you take my advice and ask him double the amount required.’
Kamal das an honest person was taken aback by this advice, `do you mean I ask him four lakhs instead of two.’
The minister smiled slyly `Yes, four lakh is the double of two lakh. You will be benefited by asking five lakhs from the king.’
`What five lakh? when the king is finding it hard pressed to give even the legitimate amounts. Than what we will do with the extra money? ‘enquired Kamal das.
The minister laughed `don’t worry about the extra money. My daughter’s marriage is scheduled in a short time. The money will come use to me and I am sure you must be having some need of the extra money’ winked the minister.
`Do meet me after getting your grants sectioned’ the minister called out to the perplexed Kamal das as he was departing with a confused countenance.
Next it was Kamal singh turn to meet the minister.
Similar transactions ensued with him too and he was asked to demand three lakh in place of one lakh required by him.
Soon the day arrived when the chieftans were called in the `durbar’ to present their requirements.
The durbar opened to its full strength. All the ministers, sevaks and the respective chieftans were seated in their appointed places. The king was in the throne. Each chieftain was called out separately and their cases was asked to be presented.
Chieftains were presenting their cases. The king was hearing and the cases were being noted down. When it was Ranjit singh turn, he presented his case and told `Majesty I will be requiring a sum of three lakhs to carry this scheme’.
Hearing that Kamal das was surprised as he well knew Ranjit singh required only a lakh of rupees to execute his plan.
Than came Kamal das turn. He explained the problems faced by his village due to regular floods and told about the canal-digging scheme.
When he was asked `How much funds you will require for this scheme? He replied, `Majesty if you grant a sum seventy thousand rupees I should be able to carry it out.’
He looked intently at Kamal das, `Are you sure this amount will suffice for you to carry out this much amount of work.’
`Sir, this might cost me about two lakh rupees. But my villagers who will help to make the canal will be ready to work free of cost. Than the rich villagers will contribute money to help this. That way I can bring down the cost and hope to complete it with the amount now I have asked for.’
There was silence in the durbar hearing Kamal das. The king kept quiet for a while.
Than he turned to the minister and ordered `Take back the amount from the chieftains for whom already the funds have been granted. Henceforth they are removed from their chieftain’s post. We will select new chieftains for their villages.’
Than he turned to Kamal das and told `I am granting you a sum of two lakh fifty thousand rupees. You can use the funds for the village as you deem fit and need not give any accounts.’
The people in the assembly were surprised by this whimsical command of the king but they had to comply with his order.
Thus Vetal finished the story and addressed the king who was listening carefully and walking along.
`O! King, known for your fair judgment Tell me why the king acted in this whimsical manner? Why did he grant Kamal das with a huge amount though he had asked for a much lower amount and why did he ask the other chieftains to return the purse?
Think carefully and answer. If you keep mum or give a wrong answer your head will be severed and roll off. Hence tell me the reply, which is fair and correct.
King Vikramaditya replied in a tone with no fear or rancor. `The king was not whimsical. On hearing Kamal das sincere and clean analysis of the scheme, management ideas and sum specified for carrying out the work, the king realised in a flash the demands of other chieftans were highly escalated and they were not honest. Hence he ordered them to return the purse and also stripped them of their post.
While in Kamal das he found an honest person whose heart is in the real welfare of his people. Hence he knew the money would be properly utilized. So he granted him a larger purse than what he asked for and also relieved of the duties of presenting the account.’
Hearing the correct answer, the Vetal with the corpse flew out of Vikramadityas hands and went and once again settled in the ancient banyan tree
posted by Rama Venkataraman at 1:41 AM
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