The Pigeon’s Message
The Kingdom of Shripur
In days gone by, the kingdom of Shripur was ruled by King Subirsen. Shripur was a prosperous land, and the king was a man of vision and wisdom. The people were happy. Unfortunately, the more prosperous Shripur became, the more jealousy it raised in the heart of the neighboring king, Ranvir.
The Jealous Neighbor
Ranvir’s kingdom, Merupur, was a small land. He desired to create chaos in Shripur so that he could wage war and annex some areas of Shripur. However, his plans never succeeded because King Subirsen was alert and vigilant. Subirsen had no designs on the lands of his neighbors; in fact, he harbored nothing but goodwill even for Ranvir. But Ranvir was not the type to appreciate that.
The Appointment of a New Scholar
When Subirsen’s court-pundit died suddenly, the king sought to appoint another scholar to the post. As word spread, several scholars arrived at the king’s court, offering their candidacies. The king, a well-read man, found that two scholars outshone the rest: Ram Shastri and Prabhu Bhatta. He decided to examine them further, and both scholars were lodged in the royal guest house, waiting for the king’s final decision.
A Mysterious Message
At sunset, while strolling on the palace terrace, a pigeon flew to the king, holding a folded piece of paper in its beak. The king took it and opened it. The message read, “You must appoint Ram Shastri as the court-pundit. Otherwise, you shall meet with dire consequences!” The pigeon flew away, leaving the king terribly annoyed. His anger fell on Ram Shastri; he concluded that Shastri, afraid of possible rejection, was trying to secure the post through intimidation.
The Imprisonment
The king ordered Shastri to be thrown into gaol. Poor Ram Shastri had just finished bathing in the river and was returning to the guest house while reciting sweet hymns. Suddenly, the king’s sepoys surrounded him, allowing him only to change his clothes before leading him away.
A Visit to the Gaol
At night, the king entered the gaol alone. Shastri sat quietly, muttering God’s name.
“You must be surprised to see me, aren’t you?” asked the king.
“I am surprised, but not as much as I was when I was arrested!” replied Shastri.
Clarifying the Misunderstanding
The king showed him the letter brought by the pigeon and asked who had written it. After thoughtful consideration, Shastri responded, “My lord, it is not unnatural for you to think that I had written this. However, by now you must have started reconsidering. I could not have authored such a vague threat. It is absurd to think I could gain your favor through intimidation. I was confident that, had you examined me and Prabhu Bhatta, you would have found that he was not a genuine scholar. You would have appointed me in the proper course.”
A Change of Heart
“I think you are right. Perhaps someone played a practical joke on me, and I was foolish enough to fall for it. I must release you immediately,” said the king.
“My lord, you need not be in a hurry to release me,” said Shastri. The king looked surprised. Shastri smiled and stated, “I am afraid there is some conspiracy behind this letter.” He then advised the king on how to act.
Prabhu Bhatta’s Appointment
The next day, Prabhu Bhatta was informed of his appointment as the court-pundit. He received a warm welcome in the court and was shown to a fine house. Four servants were assigned to him, one of whom was deaf.
“Although deaf, he is a very good worker,” Prabhu Bhatta was told.
Feeling flattered, Prabhu Bhatta sent all his servants away on various errands, except the deaf one.
The Plot Unraveled
“So, you have heard the good news, haven’t you? Our plan succeeded thanks to the pigeon. Return to Merupur tonight and inform our king that I will soon gather all the defense secrets of Shripur. Thereafter, it will be easy for King Ranvir to defeat King Subirsen,” Prabhu Bhatta told his visitors.
Unbeknownst to him, the deaf servant was none other than the chief of the king’s detectives. He immediately passed word along, and within minutes, Prabhu Bhatta and the two spies were arrested.
A New Dawn for Ram Shastri
Ram Shastri was appointed not only as the court-pundit but also as a minister, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the kingdom of Shripur.