50. The Great Poet - Raidas

Once there lived a great poet named Raidas. He lived during the reign of Great Emperor Akbar.

In the capital city of Agra, there lived a rich man. Though the man was very well of he was miser. He was known to make promises for charity and good employment fee, however he never gave money for any of the said purposes.

One day Raidas went to the rich man’s home. He told the man that he had written many good poems, sought some one wise who could appreciate his work. Raidas told the man that he could only think of the rich man, as the only person could aptly appreciate his work. The man was indeed happy to hear Raidas’s reason for approaching him. He asked Raidas to recite the poetry.

As Raidas recited his work, the man was elated as some of the poems appreciated the man as well. After Raidas concluded reciting, he asked him to come next day for taking his reward.

Next day Raidas went to the man’s house to accept the reward. Now as expected, the rich man refused to reward Raidas. He explained, ‘Raidas, I appreciated your poetry to encourage you. I cannot reward for any such work’.

Raidas went away. On his way to home he met Birbal. After exchange of gestures Raidas told Birbal about the rich man and his miser attitude. Birbal thought for a while. Then he gave five gold coins to Raidas and said, ‘Send an invite to the man for a dinner on the coming full moon night’.

Raidas had a very good friend named Mayadas. Raidas arranged for the dinner in Mayadas’s house. An invite was send to the man. He was told that the dinner would be served in served in gold pots. The guest would be honored well and shall take the gold pots with him. The man was exhilarated to hear this. He readily accepted the invitation.

Finally the full moon night came. The dinner was arranged. When the rich man came for the dinner, he found that Raidas and Mayadas had already completed the dinner. They seated the man and talked a lot. All this while, they kept talking about all the worldly matters except the dinner and food. Time passed and midnight fell. The rich man was now crazy with hunger.

The man finally thought of reminding the hosts about the dinner.

Hearing the man Raidas exclaimed, ‘Dinner? What are you talking about?’

The man said, ‘Didn’t you invited me for the dinner’.

Raidas smiled musingly and said, ‘Friend, the invite was not actually for dinner. In fact we invited you because you are wise and we wanted to spend time with you’.

Just then Birbal came and reminded the man how he dishonored Raidas and send him unrewarded for what he deserved.

Hearing this, the man realized his mistake. He asked for forgiveness and affirmed that Raidas’s poetry is worthy of appreciation. He promised to reward Raidas and at the same moment he took out his necklace and gave to Raidas. Raidas thanked him for the reward and appreciation.

Mayadas asked his servants to arrange for the grand meal they had set. They all enjoyed the meal and poetry sang by Raidas and Birbal.