Once there lived
a king named Chandra. The King's son kept rams and many monkeys as pet.
The monkeys were
treated lavishly. They were feed with good food and were given good care. The
monkeys gradually grew fat with no much work to do.
The head of
monkeys was wise and learned. He learned sciences and encouraged other monkeys
to learn. But the other monkeys were laid back and showed little or no
inclination for leaning.
The rams were
strong and pulled the prince's carriage. One of them was glutton and escaped
into the kitchen often. It was hit by the cooks every now and then. The head of
monkeys saw the cooks hitting ram and was worried. He was mindful and reasoned
that such action could lead to destruction if the cook threw something with fire.
So he summoned the monkeys and said,’ The cooks here are reckless. They target
the ram with whatever comes in their hand. This can cause accident any day
here. I suggest that as a cautionary step, we all should move from here'.
But the monkeys
in the troop refused give up the privileges of palace and to return to forest.
Rather they thought that head monkey had been aging and was gripped by unusual
thoughts.
The head of
monkeys was wise and decided to leave the palace alone. He left the troop
saying, 'Life has more value than privileges. You all are unable to foresee the
impending danger'.
Days passed by. One
day the cooks were preparing to serve the king when the ram escaped into the
kitchen. The cook was infuriated. He blew a half burnt log on the ram.
The ram's wooly
fur caught fire and it soon spread to dry grass in the stable. A terrible fire
grew and gripped the entire surroundings.
The palace
keepers rushed to extinguish the fire. The king's horses in the stable had
severe burns. So he called the veterinary practioner to prescribe remedy. The
vet indicated that since the burns were deep and use of monkey fat could help
in early recovery. So the king ordered his men to slaughter all the pet
monkeys.
The head of
monkeys came know about the mishap and the king's decision to slaughter the
monkeys for their fat. He decided to teach a lesson to the wicked king, but
could not think of way out.
The head of
monkeys deeply traumatized. He felt utterly lonesome at lose of family and
refused food for several days.
One afternoon
when he was roaming, he came across a lake. It was a beautiful lake with
bright, beautiful bloomed lotus flowers. The monkey was thirsty and went near
the lake to drink water. When he came near, he saw footprints around. The monkey
had great presence of mind and observed that all footprints led into the lake
and none of them directed out. He came suspicious and cautious. He used a lotus
stem to suck water and kept distance from the lake.
While the monkey
drank water, a monster appeared from the lake and said, 'I dwell this lake.
Anybody who enters this lake to quench thirst or use its water, is gullied deep
inside to become my food. But never before has anyone adopted the tactic you
have. I am pleased by your intelligence. Ask for a wish and I shall grant it'.
The grieved
monkey said,’ The king is my enemy. He betrayed me and my family. I want to
bring his family to destruction. Lend me your necklace and I shall use it to
persuade king and his family to come here'.
The monster agreed
and gave his necklace to the monkey. The monkey wore the necklace and reached
the palace. He entered the court and received immediate attention from council
due to necklace he wore.
The king and his
men in court became curious about grand embellished necklace and asked the
monkey about it. The monkey told the king, 'O King, fortunately I have come to
know about a secret treasure hidden by Kuber in a lake in the forest. I have
learned that anyone who bathes in that lake on Sunday can carry home as much treasure
as he can. This necklace is nothing to the treasure that has been preserved in
the lake'.
The king was
delighted to hear this. He asked the monkey, 'Can you take us to the lake? I
will take all my men and my family to it to fetch as much treasure as we can'.
The monkey agreed.
So the following
Sunday, the monkey escorted the King. The entire palace workers, princes,
queen, the council and all relatives of the king followed. When they reached
the lake, the monkey instructed, 'King you should wait. I shall show you a
special way to enter the lake. Besides king, you all should enter the lake
together to ensure all get equal blessing of treasure'.
So the king' men
and family enter the lake together. Some hours passed by and the king asked the
monkey to show him the way to enter, but the monkey did not reply. The King
grew anxious and asked the monkey, 'Its been quite sometime. Why was it taking
so long for them to return?'.
The monkey looked
revengeful and was breathing hard. He jumped on the nearby tree and angrily
replied, 'O King! You are wicked and mercilessly killed my family you once
cared as you pet. Now I have avenged you. This lake is dwelled by a monster who
eats men who enter the lake. All your men and relatives are now dead. I learned
from the wise in your council that it is not a sin to return evil for bad
deeds. My action is justified. You were my master once and I have spared you to
take the same pain and grief I which have been going through'.
The king grieved
bitterly over his misdeeds. He returned aimlessly to the palace alone.
Moral: Do good
and good will come to you. In other words, as you sow so shall you reap.
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