In a small Indian village, a lazy man named Hari-Sarman and his equally indolent wife, Vidya, struggle to provide for their large family. Tired of their impoverished life, they decide to move to a city where Hari-Sarman plans to pose as a wise man capable of revealing secrets. Upon arriving, they are taken in by a wealthy merchant who offers them work, while their children are sent to a farm. As preparations for the merchant's daughter's wedding unfold, Vidya becomes engrossed in her new life, neglecting Hari-Sarman, who feels lonely and unappreciated. In a bid for attention and food, he devises a plan to steal the merchant's prized mare, believing that once the mare is discovered missing, he will be called upon for his supposed wisdom. After successfully hiding the mare, the merchant's daughter discovers the theft, prompting the merchant to offer a reward for its return. Vidya suspects Hari-Sarman's involvement and convinces the merchant to summon him. Initially resistant, Hari-Sarman eventually agrees to help, revealing a fabricated location of the mare. The merchant, pleased with the recovery, rewards Hari-Sarman, who continues to harbor resentment towards Vidya for her neglect. However, trouble arises when a significant amount of gold and jewels goes missing from the king's palace. The king, hearing of Hari-Sarman's previous success, demands he reveal the thief. Hari-Sarman, terrified, requests time to think and is imprisoned when the king refuses. In despair, he reflects on his situation, inadvertently invoking the name of Jihva, a servant girl who had aided the thief. Jihva, fearing exposure, sneaks into the prison to plead with Hari-Sarman. She confesses her role in the theft, and he cleverly negotiates for her money in exchange for silence. After she leaves, Hari-Sarman devises a plan to lead the king to the hidden treasure without revealing the thief's identity. When brought before the king again, Hari-Sarman pretends to need more time but ultimately leads the king's men to the treasure's location. The king, delighted, rewards him handsomely, but wise men at court grow suspicious of Hari-Sarman's abilities. They devise a test involving a closed pitcher, and Hari-Sarman, in a moment of luck, inadvertently reveals the presence of a frog inside by recalling a childhood nickname. The king, convinced of Hari-Sarman's wisdom, grants him further riches and a home, while Hari-Sarman, aware of his narrow escapes, plans to flee with his newfound wealth. Before he can execute his plan, he disappears, leaving his family with the rewards, while the king remains oblivious to the truth of Hari-Sarman's deception. Only one wise man, Deva-Jnanin, harbors doubts but chooses to keep them to himself, concluding that the man's past is irrelevant now that he is gone.
By S.M. Mitra · First published 2020 · Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure · 8 chapters