A Lesson Well Learnt

Long-long ago, there lived a mighty king called Shreshtha. He was a good ruler, just and kind. His only shortcoming was that he was very quick to anger. When angry, he often said things without giving them a thought. Being the mighty king that he was, everything that he said was treated as an order. Now this lead to some funny situations.

One day king Shreshtha found his chief counselor Shivsena missing from the court. Since some very important matters had to be discussed, the king promptly dispatched two soldiers to inquire about the reason for Shivsena's absence. On reaching the counselor's house, the soldiers found him down with high fever. The old man told the soldiers that his whole body was burning so he won't be able to attend the court that day.

The two soldiers went back and conveyed the message. The wait had not left the king in the best of his moods and he roared, "His body is burning? Then go throw him in the river." Saying this, the king walked away. An order is an order. So the two confused soldiers went to the chief counselor's house, carried the outraged, protesting old man to the river, and threw him in. Later they even carried him back to his house apologizing profusely, but poor Shivsena could not get out of the bed for another fifteen days.

When the king heard this, he found it very funny. Although he felt sorry for Shivsena, he did not see the folly of his own actions. Shivsena made a silent pledge to himself that he will make the king realize his mistake one way or the other. Soon he hit upon a plan.

Next day there was a huge commotion at the door of king Shreshtha's court. The king was told that a Brahmin wants to see him urgently. The king granted the wish and in walked an innocent looking Brahmin holding a small cat close to his heart. "O great king," said the Brahmin, "I have come here to seek your blessings for a happily married life. Nobody in this kingdom has agreed to bless me and my wife. So we have come to your doorstep."

"What," exclaimed the king, "Nobody agreed to bless you and your wife? This is strange. Please call her in and I will personally bless you both." "She is right here my lord," said the Brahmin, placing the cat on the floor before the king.

King Shreshtha was shocked. "Is this a joke Brahmin," the king roared. "It is not a joke my lord," pleaded the Brahmin. "Yesterday, when I was taking parikrama around the holy havan-kunda at the temple, this cat started following me. No matter how hard I tried to shoo her off, she refused to go. So when the seventh parikrama was completed, she obviously became my wife."

Everybody in the court was doubled-up with laughter. "Brahmin," said the king chocking with mirth, "I bless you both for a happily married life. I just realized how long it has been since everyone in my court laughed so heartily. From today I appoint you the court jester and my personal assistant." "I am honored Sir," replied the Brahmin, "My name is Pandu and I will follow every word of yours as God's command. Just promise me that you will never punish me for anything I do to follow your orders." "Why would I do that Pandu," said the king, "I give you my word for that."

One day, when king Shreshtha was in discussion with his army commanders, Pandu came rushing in shouting "My lord...My lord..." "What is it Pandu," asked the king angrily, "Can't you see I am busy." "My lord," said Pandu, "I only wanted to know what your majesty would like to have for lunch?" Now this really agitated the king. "You have come to disturb me for such trifles you fool," shouted the king, "I will eat whatever you burn in the kitchen. Now go away and don't disturb me." Pandu bowed and left.

Came afternoon and king Shreshtha was very hungry. As he entered the dining hall he saw that the table had not been laid. The king shouted for an explanation. In came Pandu, carrying a silver tray covered in fine muslin. "Your wish is my command my lord," he said as he placed the tray before the hungry king. "Here is the delicacy of the day," said Pandu as he swept aside the cloth to reveal a pile of shiny black coal.

"Are you out of your mind," the king roared, "am I supposed to eat coal? How dare you misbehave like this? I will have your head chopped off this moment." "Easy my lord," said Pandu, "I was just following orders. You said you will eat what I burn in the kitchen. I burn coal in the kitchen. Today I did not even light the fire so that I could choose the best pieces for your lunch. How can I go against the wish of a mighty ruler like you?"

He is right, though the king. Since Pandu was only following orders, king Shreshtah could not even punish him. The poor king went hungry the whole day.

For the next few days the king was very careful while giving orders, but old habits die hard. One evening king Shreshtha came back from the court in a rather foul mood and ordered the servants to prepare a hot bath for him. Soon he heard the very last thing he wanted to hear. In came Pandu, in as great a hurry as ever. "Oh no, not you again," said the king distastefully, "what is it now?" "Nothing your majesty," said Pandu, "I just come to ask how warm your bathing water should be?" "Are you insane Pandu," the king shouted, "just for this you have disturbed my peace? Keep the fire burning till I arrive alright!" "Very well Sir," said Pandu as he bowed out.

Quite some time later king Shreshtha got up and still half-asleep proceeded towards the bath. A hoard of attendants helped the king out of his robes and jewelry. With Pandu at his side, the king approached the bath and splashed in.

What followed was a scream of agony as the king scrambled out of the water. The sleepy, tired and now steaming king was really furious. "Traitors, you want to kill me," he bellowed, "I will have you all hanged." "What is the matter your majesty," asked Pandu, "What makes you turn all red with anger?" "I haven't turned red in anger you fool," roared the king, "I have turned red because I almost got burnt. Who made the bathing water so hot? Tell me this moment or all of you are dead."

"I did my lord," said Pandu humbly, "but I was only following orders. You asked me to keep the fire burning till you arrive for your bath. I am sorry we ran out of firewood and the water cooled off a little before you arrived."

"Cooled off Oh yes," said the king with a savage smile, "Soldiers, arrest this man who just tried to kill me. Tomorrow I shall pronounce the death sentence to him in the court." Before Pandu could say anything, the soldiers bundled him off to the prison.

Next day king Shreshtha narrated the whole story to Shivsena. "Shevsena," said the king, "Pandu has plotted against my life. I am sure he is a spy from an enemy kingdom." Trying to conceal his laughter, Shivsena said "My lord, when you took him in your service you promised not to punish him for anything he does to follow your orders." "I know," said the king, "but when he made me take a dip in those scalding waters I thought I would die." "I understand your plight my lord," said Shivsena slowly, "I felt exactly the same when I was thrown into freezing river waters while running a high fever."

The words struck king Shreshtah like a blow. In a flash everything was clear to him. "So, you decided to teach me a lesson didn't you. It was your plan to make Pandu stay with me so that I suffer at the hands of my own thoughtless remarks," asked the king. "Everything you say is correct my lord," said Shivsena, "I present myself for any punishment that you may want to give, but I had no choice." "No Shivsena. No punishment for you or Pandu," said the king. I am thankful to you both for teaching me that one should always think before speaking anything. I promise to remember this lesson for the rest of my life."