The Kings Test

In the ancient city of Amaravati, there lived a poor family of four: a Brahman, his wife, their son, and their daughter-in-law. Despite their poverty, they were all highly educated, known as both pandits (scholars) and poets. Their reputation for learning was so great that the locals referred to them as "the pandit-family."

Struggling with poverty, the family heard of King Bhoja of Dhara (modern-day Ujjain), who was known for his generosity towards scholars and poets. Hoping for a better life, they embarked on a journey to his city.

As they neared their destination, they encountered an old Brahman carrying a heavy bundle, walking away from the city. The old man inquired about their destination, and upon learning of their intent to meet King Bhoja, he humorously remarked that the king must not be able to read at all. He jested that if the king could read the curse of poverty written on his forehead, he wouldn't have given him so much wealth. This clever compliment to the king's generosity encouraged the pandit-family.

Before entering the city, the family needed permission from the Court. They set up camp under a large banyan tree outside the city walls and sent word to the king. In response, a messenger arrived with a tumbler filled to the brim with milk - a symbolic message from the king indicating that the city was already full of pandits. The elder Brahman, understanding this, added sugar to the milk and sent it back, conveying that they would blend in sweetly with the existing scholars.

Intrigued, King Bhoja decided to test the family further. Disguised as a common citizen, he visited them at sunset, finding only the women at the camp. He then went to the river, where he found the Brahman's son. Through a series of silent gestures involving drinking water and throwing a stone, they engaged in a witty exchange about their respective castes.

Still curious about their poetic abilities, the king disguised himself as a wood-cutter and joined the family for the night, claiming he had been locked out of the city. The family, wary of thieves, decided to take turns keeping watch. Throughout the night, the king initiated poetic exchanges with each family member:

1. With the elder Brahman:

   King: "In this unhappy world, Three things are deemed pleasant."

   Brahman: "Life in Kasi, serving the good, And taking the name of God."

2. With the Brahman's wife:

   King: "In this unhappy world, Two things are deemed pleasant."

   Wife: "The sweet-meat made of sugar, And the holy feet of God."

3. With the son:

   King: "In this unhappy world, Pleasant is the wife's birthplace."

   Son: "Shiva lies on Snow Hill, Vishnu on the Ocean of Milk."

4. With the daughter-in-law:

   King: "In this unhappy world, Woman is the only pleasure."

   Daughter-in-law: "She who gave birth to one, Like you, O King Bhoja."

The young woman's clever response revealed that she had seen through the king's disguise. Impressed, King Bhoja returned to his palace before dawn.

The next morning, the family received an invitation from the king. He honored each of them in the finest manner and offered them permanent employment in his court, recognizing their exceptional wisdom and poetic skills.

The moral of this story encompasses several important lessons: 

1. Wisdom and education are valuable assets, even in poverty

2. Perseverance and wit can lead to success

3. A good ruler recognizes and rewards talent

4. Appearances can be deceiving; judge people by their abilities, not their status