The Charitable Prince

Long ago, the Kingdom of Samarpur was ruled by a King named Santhasimha. He had a combat-trained elephant named Gajendra, making him invincible in battle.

The Generous Prince

Santhasimha’s son, Sargunasimha, was well-versed in the various arts. He was a gentle prince with a benevolent heart, always willing to give freely to all. Upon reaching manhood, he was married to Princess Malini of Madhavpur and began his training to become a good king. He would tour the city on the back of his beloved war elephant, Gajendra, which made his enemies envious of his growing reputation. They plotted to strip him of his power by taking the elephant away, exploiting his charitable nature.

Sacrifice of the Elephant

These enemies sent poor people who asked the Prince for the elephant as a gift. The ever-compassionate Prince could not refuse their request and gave them the elephant. The citizens, witnessing the loss of their formidable war elephant, protested to the King, fearing potential unrest in the kingdom. The King, worried by the citizens’ outrage, requested the Prince to take back the elephant, but the Prince, remaining steadfast to his philanthropic principles, refused.

The Prince’s Exile

Choosing to leave his kingdom rather than break his word, the Prince, along with his family, retreated into the woods. In the forest, they faced numerous hardships. Regardless, the Prince remained committed to his charitable principles, even giving away his children to a reclusive hermit requesting them.

The Heavenly Recognition

This extreme act of selflessness resonated in Heaven, causing Lord Indra’s throne to shake. Intrigued, Indra decided to personally test the Prince and asked for his wife as alms, disguised as an old brahmin. The Prince readily agreed, reaffirming his commitment to charity. Impressed, Indra revealed his true identity, praising Sargunasimha’s virtue and predicting his rule over the Gandharvas.

The Reunion and Ascension

Back in the Kingdom, the King learned of his son’s selfless act and was filled with joy. He decided to visit his son in the forest, leading to a heartfelt reunion. During this touching meeting, a celestial elephant descended from the heavens, carrying the Goddess Sridevi. She invited Sargunasimha and his family to ascend to the heavenly abode of Indra, riding on the back of the celestial elephant. This auspicious event was seen as a fitting reward for a life of virtue and charitable deeds.