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| Sunday, 13 June 2004 |
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The camel and the king Sunday parable by Sunanda Mahendra Once there was a camel who was of real service to a certain king. It so
happened that in the middle of a fearful battle, this camel would Once the battle was over, the camel was made to relax in a royal shed erected specially for it. The camel lived peacefully for sometime. One day the royal potter failed to bring the required clay pots to the royal kitchen. The royal cook told the King that the royal potter had failed to bring the pots. "Summon him immediately" ordered the King. The royal potter showed himself before the King in a solemn manner. "Why didn't you supply clay pots to the royal kitchen?" Asked the King. "Oh great Majesty, it's not my fault." "Then whose fault is that?" "It's the fault of the bull who helps me in bringing clay from the field, and burned pots from the kiln." "What had happened to the bull?" "The bull, oh lord, is dead." "Don't you have another bull?" "No great lord." "How long will it take to buy a new bull?" "A few days." Then the King thought of his royal camel who was relaxing in the royal shed erected for him. "This camel could be utilized for that matter" thought the King. "Alright," said the King. "You may use the royal camel for a few days." The royal camel came to know about this matter. "Why should I serve this potter, to fetch clay and bring pots from the kiln to the kitchen? Am I not a royal camel who served in the battle field? Am I not considered as a symbol of luck by the King himself? Why is that he tries to put me to shame? No I should not cow down and bow down for an inferior service. After all, am I not the creature who used to bring royal weapons from the royal armoury?" When the royal potter arrived at the royal shed of the camel, it made a reluctant bray, which reverberated a "No...o..o." With the greatest difficulty the camel was removed from the shed, but he was aggrieved. Then a certain royal consultant or pundit was walking in a pensive mood. The camel approached him and said, "Look here, you learned man of the royal palace! Do you know that I served as a courier who brings weapons from the armoury to the battle field?" "Yes, I know. You are that lucky royal camel." "Oh great learned man! See my plight today, The King has forgotten all about it, and he wants me to serve this potter who wants to keep all mud, clay, and pots on my back, giving no proper considerations for my past glorious services rendered to bring back peace and good will." "So what do you want me to do?" asked the pundit. "You are a pundit who can talk over this matter to the King and save me from the shame of being a slave to a potter, and in turn a shame to the King himself." The pundit quickly met the King. The King listened to the pundit, and found that he was at fault. "Yes I realise that fault of mine. I didn't feel the dignity of the royal camel." Saying thus, the King released the camel and ordered the potter to buy a bull immediately for that purpose. "A good ruler knows who to be given the right position" said the pundit, leaving the royal palace. |
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bring
extra weapons from the armoury, kept in a bag that hung from either sides
of his hump. The camel was also regarded as a symbol of luck, a mascot at
all times, and it would not grumble about it at all. This symbol of luck
was well looked after by the King who considered that no other work could
be given to it.
