The Greedy King and Wise Teacher

Once upon a time, in the grand city of Banaras, there was a wise and noble king named Brahmadutt. He had two sons, both brave and intelligent. As the king grew old, he decided that his elder son would be the next king, while the younger son would serve as the commander-in-chief of the army.

However, on the night before the coronation, the elder prince made a surprising announcement. 'I do not wish to be king. Let my younger brother rule in my place.' With these words, he left Banaras and set out on a journey of simplicity and hard work. He found shelter in a distant land, where he worked for a rich merchant and earned his living with honesty and diligence.

One day, officials from Banaras visited that place to inspect lands and collect taxes. They recognized the elder prince and paid him great respect. Seeing this, the rich merchant asked the prince to request his brother, the king of Banaras, to reduce his taxes. The prince agreed, and his brother, the king, granted the request. Soon, other people came to the prince, asking for his help in lowering their taxes as well. The prince sent all their requests to his brother, who always granted them.

As time passed, the people of this land began to see the elder prince as their true leader. They brought their petitions to him and followed his advice. Slowly, the prince began to enjoy his new role. The desire for power, which he had once given up, returned to him. He started taking control of neighboring lands, always informing his brother of his actions. The king of Banaras never objected.

After some time, the elder prince ruled over all the tributary states, with only Banaras left beyond his reach. Finally, he sent messengers to his younger brother with a bold question: 'Will you give me the throne, or must I take it by force?'

The kind-hearted king of Banaras replied, 'You do not need to fight me. The throne was always yours. Take it back whenever you wish.'

Thus, the elder prince became the king of Banaras, and the younger brother became his commander-in-chief. However, the hunger for power is never easily satisfied. The new king demanded that his brother conquer more lands for him. He wanted more and more, but no amount of land or riches could make him truly happy.

One day, Indra, the King of swarga, looked down upon the earth and saw the king's growing greed. Concerned, he decided to teach him a lesson. Disguised as a noble young man, Indra visited the king and said, 'O King, I know of three great cities overflowing with wealth. I can conquer them for you.'

The king's eyes sparkled with excitement. 'Tell me more!' he exclaimed. But before he could ask any further, the young man disappeared. The king searched for him everywhere, but he was nowhere to be found. Frustrated and obsessed with the thought of these rich cities, the king fell ill. No doctor could cure him, and his condition worsened.

At that time, a wise teacher named Bodhisattva returned to Banaras after completing his studies in Takshashila. Hearing of the king's illness, he visited him.

The king said, 'A young man offered me three great cities and then vanished! I have been sick with disappointment ever since. Can you help me?'

Bodhisattva smiled and said, 'O King, do you believe that worrying will bring you these cities?'

The king shook his head. 'No.'

'Then listen,' Bodhisattva continued. 'Everything in this world is temporary. Even the greatest of kings must one day leave behind their wealth and power. The real disease is not your illness—it is Desire. If you let it grow beyond your needs, it will never stop. Like a tailor cutting cloth to fit the body, you must trim your desires to fit your needs. Only then will you find true happiness.'

The king listened carefully. Bodhisattva's words lifted the burden from his heart, and he began to recover. From that day onward, he ruled wisely, always seeking Bodhisattva's guidance. With wisdom in his heart and peace in his mind, he finally found the happiness that power alone could never give him.

And so, the kingdom of Banaras flourished, not with endless conquests, but with wisdom and contentment.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi