A Riddle for the Princes

A certain king had two sons by his two queens. The elder queen had passed away, leaving behind her wise and conscientious son. However, the younger queen insisted that her son was far superior to the elder prince and should thus succeed the king to the throne.

In the spirit of fairness, the king decided to test both princes. In consultation with the queen, he invented a riddle, writing down its answer and entrusting it to her custody.

He called the two princes before him and posed the riddle: “What should we do if our elephants turn to cows, our cows turn to cats, and our cats squeak like mice?”

“The younger prince answered, “We should call a tantrik and do what is necessary to change the situation.”

In contrast, the elder prince replied, “We must work hard, plan for better crops, optimize our water usage, and develop commerce.” The answer in the queen’s custody stated: the riddle suggests a condition of famine. With hard work and proper planning, the situation can be changed.

Following the riddle and their responses, the younger queen ceased to repeat her claim of her son’s superiority.