The Disguised Pride
“King Vikram’s resolve shines through the storm as he confronts the shadows of pride and desperation, revealing a tale steeped in wisdom and cultural richness.”
The Disguised Pride
It was a dark night, marked by heavy rain and thunder. Lightning occasionally illuminated ghastly faces in the shadows. Yet, King Vikram remained resolute as he climbed the ancient tree to retrieve the corpse.
As he started to cross the cremation ground, the vampire possessing the corpse spoke, “O King! People say you are a man of charity. I knew a merchant who gave alms to the poor daily. But you will be surprised to learn what happened to him. Pay attention to his story, and it may bring you some insight.”
The Merchant’s Generosity
The vampire continued, “Manigupta was the richest merchant in his town, and not a day went by without him distributing alms to the needy. One day, a rishi became his guest, and Manigupta paid great attention to him. The rishi noticed how generously Manigupta shared with the less fortunate.”
When it was time for the rishi to leave, Manigupta stood before him with folded hands, eager to request a boon.
The Rishi’s Verdict
“It seems you wish to have a boon. I can grant one, provided there is sincerity in your prayer,” said the rishi.
“O Great Soul, my only prayer is for the poor of this town. There are many of them. Grant me the means to always satisfy their needs with my alms!” the merchant implored.
The rishi smiled, nodded, and departed. Shortly after, one of his disciples inquired, “Will the boon that Manigupta sought come to fruition?”
“Never!” replied the rishi.
The Downfall of a Proud Heart
Before long, Manigupta fell into poverty, and his charity ceased. The vampire paused to observe, “There is no denying that Manigupta was a pious man. Why didn’t he deserve the boon, King? If you choose to remain silent despite knowing the answer, your head will roll off your shoulders!”
Vikram answered, “Had the merchant genuinely cared for the welfare of the poor, he would have asked the rishi to remove their poverty. Instead, he wanted to remain wealthy to satisfy his ego while helping others. His pride wore the mask of charity; thus, the rishi could not grant his boon.”
As soon as the king finished speaking, the vampire, along with the corpse, vanished into thin air!