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| Sunday, 6 March 2005 |
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The goatherd, who became king Sunday parable by Sunanda Mahendra "If this fool of a King rules in this manner for a few more years, this country will be devastated by all the natural disasters," said the wandering ascetic, who entered the once upon a time kingdom.
"What are we to do, to alleviate this problem?" "You have to get answers, to three important questions from the King and say, that if he or his royal men fail to answer them, it would soon be doomsday. The fear-struck men wanted the ascetic to tell them what the three questions were. "I see that you are interested in your country and your well-being, so let me tell you, what the three questions are," said the ascetic in a pensive mood. The first question was: Where exactly lies the centre of this kingdom? The second question was: How many stars are there in the sky gazing at this kingdom? The third: How do you prove the divine qualities of a king?" Then the ascetic walked away slowly allowing the common folk to discuss what he had told them. They discussed among themselves and brought the news to the royal men and then in turn the news was given to the King. The King nodded his head and said that he wished to get the answers from anybody in the kingdom. He asked the royal ministers the questions. The Chief Minister failed to answer a single. The King was angry. He ordered the royal executioner to behead the Chief Minister. "Oh do not kill me, I will try to find a person, who can answer the questions." "No I don't want an idiotic Chief Minister like you," said the King in anger. Then he asked the questions from the other royal men. All of them failed to answer. The King once again ordered that they be beheaded. But they wailed asking the King to give them time to answer. "No I cant possibly do that, I want the answers immediately before doomsday. If you all fail, let a common citizen of this kingdom answer," said the King, in dismay. "Don't be worried Majesty," they said, "we will try our best to find a person, who can answer these questions." "Alright, I will give you one more day and if you fail to bring the right person before me, I will behead all of you." So, all of them went in search of a person who could answer the questions. They were then informed of several learned people. But it looked as if most of them feared to appear before the cruel King and did not want to take a chance. Then they were informed of a lonely goatherd, who was a young man and quite learned. When the royal men told the goatherd about their predicament, he laughed and said "Oh how I hate that useless King." "But if you can answer three questions you will be well rewarded," they said. "I don't want any reward from him." "But please save our lives," they pleaded with the young man. Then the goatherd wanted to know what the questions were. They presented the three questions and asked "Will it be possible for you to answer?" "Oh yes they are simple." The royal men were very happy to hear that. Then they ushered him to the royal palace. The goatherd was poor and did not have any new clothes to wear, but he looked happy. "Can you answer the first question? Where is the centre of this kingdom?" The goatherd had his usual goading stick, kevita, held in his hand. He made a circle and kept the stick right in the centre saying "This is the centre and if you want to verify get one of your surveyors to do the measuring part of it," The foolish King was quite happy, with this reply. "So let us go onto the second question. How many stars in the sky are gazing at our kingdom?" He had a goatskin tucked under his armpit. He took it out and laid it on the floor and looked at it for sometime and said "Look Great Majesty, the goat's hair or the fur in this skin is equivalent to the number of stars in the sky gazing at this kingdom. If you feel like verifying the exact number get one of your accountants to do the counting." "Alright I am happy about the first two answers and now we come to the third. How do you prove the divine qualities of a King?" "That is the simplest of the three, great majesty, but I have to do a practical test before I answer that question." "What sort of a practical test is that?" "I have to change my position with you for a moment as I have to see how a king is seated and crowned, for that your majesty will have to wear my clothes for a moment and I have to get into your clothes and only then will I be able to answer the question correctly." The royal men looked at each other in bewilderment. What on earth was going to happen? The King stood up from his throne and handed the crown over to the goatherd and allowed him to dress in royal clothes. A grave silence ensued as they changed their clothes. The young goatherd sat in the throne in a majestic manner. "Now come on answer the third question" cried the King who was now clad in the goatherd's garb. "Who is this man who is shouting, can't he see that I am the King of this country?" At this the foolish King, was angry and wanted to drive the goatherd away from the throne. "This mad man is making a mess out of my royal functions, behead him immediately," ordered the goatherd, who was seated in the throne for a moment. Needless to say the cruel and foolish King was beheaded and the goatherd was appointed King of that once upon a time kingdom. |
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The common folk, as well as the royal men knew about the foolish and
cruel qualities of their King. He was the worst king they had in the past
few years. For the simplest of faults of a person, he would punish him by
beheading the person instantly. The royal men who were close to the King
were afraid to even comment on the foolishness of the King. They kept silent
and talked among themselves as to what they should do to get rid of him and
appoint a new one. So, as the common folk listened to the ascetic, they
asked him a simple question. 
