Sunday Parable

A royal joke that cracked too soon

Professor Sunanda MAHENDRA

“Look!” Said King Yasalalakatissa, who ruled our country long time ago.

“This royal guardsman looks exactly like me. His facial appearance and physical appearance shows that we are like twins.” King said this to one of his close reliable associates. “But Great Majesty, he is a very serious minded subordinate of yours.” Said the royal courtier who was so close to thinking.

“Do you mean to say that he lacks wit and humour like me?” Asked the king smiling.

“Yes, exactly Great Majesty! He never smiles like you.”

“In that case that is the only possible difference between both of us.”

The king was so witty that he thought of cracking a personal joke about this similarity of the two characters.

“But this must be done so secretly,” thought the king. Day by day king watched his royal guard whose name was Subha.

“Subha, come here,” The King told the royal guard, “Subha, how is that you look the same as me?” The king asked.

“Well I cannot possibly answer your question Great Majesty.”

“I want you to do me a favour Subha, and you should keep this a secret.”

“What is it Great Majesty?”

“I wish we change our positions.”

“Sorry I don’t understand Great Majesty.”

“You change your clothes with mine and sit in this throne, and I will get into your clothes and do your duties.”

“For what purpose Great Majesty?”

“It’s just for the sake of fun. I wish to see what my courtiers in the palace react to such a thing.”

The royal guard was silent for a moment. He went on thinking what an impending disaster. The King once again stressed what he wished to do.

“Subha, you be the King just for a day, and see what happens. I will be a royal guard for a day.” The king went on smiling as if in a self elation over a trivial action.

“This is what you call royal confidence. Do you follow Subha?”

“Yes, Great Majesty.” Said Subha rather reluctantly.

“All right, get ready for the great play tomorrow. You should come early.”

“As your Highness pleases.” Said Subha.

On the following day King Yasalalaka handed over his royal clothes and crown to Subha taking the guard’s uniform and lancer. Subha ascended the throne which Yasalalaka descended from it standing closer to him. There was a smile cast on the face of the disguised king while there was a stern face of a king cast on the face of Subha. One by one the royal courtiers arrived.

“Good day to you Great Majesty.” They all said one by one, as they entered the courtroom. A smile and a giggle appeared on the face of the royal guard.

“Keep silent.” Came the stern voice of the King. But the royal guard could not resist his natural tendency to smile and giggle.

The royal courtiers felt that there is a certain grave sense of change taken place, inside the palace. But out of fear to express their voices they in their usual manner of allegiances behaved in the best form possible. The king was trying to say something and the royal guard was seen behaving unruly, smiling and giggling. The King turned his head towards the royal guard.

“What makes you laugh and giggle like a jack ass?” Asked the king.

“I am the king” said the royal guard.

“You call yourself king? Look my courtiers, This man calls himself the king while in the position of the guard.”

The royal guard laughed again. The situation reached an unlimited height when the king in his stern voice ordered.

“This royal guard is unruly and up to mischief. Take him out and behead this moment.”

“Oh I am Yasalalaka the King. He is Subha my royal guard.” Cried the real king. But the royal order has to be obeyed. The stern order came once again.

“This is the royal order! Get the royal executioner to behead him this moment.”

“Oh god, oh god” Cried the real king in agony.

“Please take this seriously. I am the real King. He is the royal guard.” But the royal courtiers had to carry out the order of the King seated on the throne. Needless to say, the real king who cracked a practical joke was beheaded. What happened to Subha? Some of the royal courtiers knew the nature of the joke. But they had to purse their lips for there was no freedom of expression by that time.

(Retold from the historical chronicle Mahawamsa)