The Wisdom of Age: A Tale of King Andaka
The King’s Peculiar Idea
The Aravalli mountains were ruled by a king named Andaka. One day, he proposed an unconventional idea. He contemplated whether it would be beneficial to banish the aged from his kingdom to lighten the societal burden and to bring happiness to others. Thus, under Andaka’s rule, all the elderly were expelled.
The displaced seniors had little choice but to relocate to the neighbouring valley, creating a society devoid of elders. The law mandated that anyone who reached the age of sixty was required to leave immediately.
A Son’s Undying Love
A young man named Kanta found himself in a difficult situation when his father reached the mandatory age of exile. He was expected to send his father away, but Kanta’s love for his father compelled him to create a secretive plan. Under the pretense of adhering to the law, they gave an appearance of parting ways during the day, but his father was secretly brought back to his son’s home at night.
This act of defiance went unnoticed as public discontent with the king’s policy grew. Sensing this growing unease, the king’s advisor approached King Andaka to voice his concerns about the potential intellectual decline in the kingdom due to this law.
The Tests of Wisdom
Frustrated and incredulous at the criticism, the king devised a plan to debunk the advisor’s concern. He proclaimed that everyone had to exhibit a rope made from ashes. The seemingly impossible task left the citizens, including Kanta, dumbfounded. After receiving guidance from his wise father, Kanta fulfilled the king’s peculiar requirement.
Despite the king’s assertion that Kanta’s accomplishment was proof of intelligence in the kingdom, the advisor remained unconvinced and proposed another test. The task now required the people to thread a conch shell—an equally daunting challenge.
The Revelation and the King’s Realisation
Perplexed citizens, Kanta turned again to his father, who provided an ingenious solution. Kanta executed his father’s plan perfectly and displayed the threaded conch shell to the king. Despite this, the suspicious advisor remained doubtful about Kanta’s solitary accomplishments and pressed him to unveil the truth.
Feeling cornered, Kanta confessed that his exiled father taught him the solutions. The advisor seized the opportunity to enlighten the king about the invaluable wisdom that comes with age. King Andaka, finally comprehending the value of his elder subjects, revoked the bizarre law—reuniting the young with the elderly.
