The Merchant of Seri

Once there lived a merchant of Seri. 

The went about selling who brass and tinware with his fellow friend. The merchant's friend was greedy. He tried to hoard much as he could with an intention to give as less as he could in return.

One day they went out for selling. In a house there lived an old woman with her grand daughter. The family was once rich and prosperous, but now they were in destitute. The old woman had a blemished gold bowl in which her husband ate. The bowl was not often used and therefore the old woman thought of selling it for some money.

The old woman was not aware that the bowl was of gold. She thought it was an old tainted brassware.

When the greedy merchant passed their lane, the old woman called him and showed him the bowl. She asked him the value of the bowl. 

The greedy merchant scratched the bowl and found it was a thick gold bowl. He became very happy and tried to take it away for nothing. He replied casually, "This is an old tainted bowl of brass. It is worth not even half a penny!".  He threw away the bowl towards the little girl and went away. The old woman and her granddaughter became sad. They kept the bowl inside, until the other merchant passed by the lane.

Hearing the merchant of seri, the girl asked her grandmother, "Grandma, should I should I ask this merchant what he can give us for the old bowl?" But grandma nodded in disappointment.  She asked the girl to not get hasty. But the girl persuaded her and the old woman agreed. They called the merchant of seri and showed him the bowl.

When the merchant took the bowl in his hand, he exclaimed, "This is an expensive gold bowl. It is tainted due to copper mixing. I donot have the money to buy this bowl from you".

The girl and the old woman were taken aback. The old woman said, "A while ago, a merchant came here. He threw away this bowl saying is a worthless brass bowl. If you think the bowl has value, kindly take it and give my granddaughter the dishes she desires. I will be pleased to see her wish getting fulfilled".

The merchant thought for a while. Then he gave all money he had and all his utensils to the girl. He asked them for a eight penny coin (aath aaney) and left.

The merchant of seri gave the eight penny coin to the boatman to take him across the river.

Meanwhile, the greedy merchant returned to the old woman and arrogantly said, "Bring that bowl to me. I will give you something for it".

The old woman exclaimed in anger, "You lied to us. It was a golden bowl. The other merchant was honest. He told us its real value and has taken it. You can go". Saying this, the old woman slammed the door on the greedy merchant's face. 

The greedy merchant was filled with rage over the loose. He immediately threw away his basket of utensil and rushed towards the riverside. He saw the other merchant sailing in the boat to the other side. He cried in anguish, "Stop the boat! Stop, stop. Row it back".

But the merchant of seri realised the intentions of the greedy merchant. He asked the boatman to continue rowing. The greedy merchant kept crying until the boat was lost from sight.

The merchant of seri sold the gold bowl jn the city. He received a big sum for it. He lived well on the money he received and soon expanded his business.