Emphasis of carelessness (narrative) –

One day, Akbar the king was sitting in the court when an elephant got out of control and got loose. When the king turned towards the window, he saw that a young man had caught the tail of a running elephant and forced it to stop.

The king asked Birbal showing the spectacle of his courtship. “Think about it. Where did this force come from?

Birbal submitted. “Where shelter! It’s just the emphasis of thoughtlessness. It was not easy for him if he was worried about his work and livelihood or if there was any problem.

The king was surprised by the minister’s words. He started to think that if someone is truly carefree and free from all sides, then such strength develops in him. Birbal saw that the king was lost in thought, so he realized that he had doubted his words. Birbal immediately called this Shah Zor in the court and said. “He was very happy to see your shelter where you are.” From today one rupee will get you a daily salary and the only task is to light a lamp at such and such a monastery outside the city at the exact evening time. But remember that if you arrive even one day ahead of time, you will be hanged.

The young man followed the rules and started lighting a lamp at the monastery every day as instructed. But a few days had passed that someone’s ox got lost. Coincidentally, the young man who was going to light the lamp at the monastery, saw this scene and wanted to catch the tail of the bull too, but failed. What would he do to stop the bull, he himself went far away with it. The bull’s tail slipped from the young man’s hands and the bull ran away and fell to the ground.

Someone conveyed this news to Birbal and Birbal told the king. Then, Akbar was convinced of Birbal’s genius and said, “Indeed worry is a very bad thing.”

(Selections from Indian Tales)

Comments