In a small Indian city, a weary Brahman arrives, seeking to live a life of prayer and asceticism. He becomes well-known for his wisdom, attracting many who pay him for advice. However, he becomes obsessed with the wealth he accumulates, hoarding money and jewels in a hidden hole in the forest. His double life as a holy man and a miser continues until one day he discovers his treasure has been stolen. Devastated, he vows to starve himself in a pilgrimage, prompting concern among the townspeople who admire him. The king, Prasnajit, learns of the Brahman's plight and vows to recover the stolen treasure or compensate him. The Brahman, seeing a chance for restitution, reveals the location of his hidden wealth. The king, feigning illness, gathers doctors to learn about the town's ailments. One doctor mentions a merchant's servant who had sought a medicinal plant in the forest, leading the king to suspect the servant of theft. The servant, terrified, is summoned and ultimately confesses to taking the Brahman's treasure. Instead of punishing him harshly, the king orders him to return the stolen goods. The servant, remorseful, retrieves the treasure and returns it to the king. Prasnajit instructs him to reform and not steal again. The Brahman, overjoyed to have his wealth restored, is admonished by the king to use it wisely. However, he is displeased with the king's advice and demands punishment for the thief. The king, firm in his decision, dismisses the Brahman's complaints, emphasizing the importance of personal responsibility and the futility of greed. The story concludes without revealing the Brahman's fate, leaving readers to ponder the moral implications of wealth, greed, and the true nature of wisdom.
By S.M. Mitra · First published 2023 · Genre: Fable, Fantasy, Adventure · 12 chapters