The Most Popular Poet
The King’s Dilemma
Kamal Verma, the King of Chandragiri, was a great lover of art and literature. In his court, he assembled a number of gifted musicians, dancers, dramatists, and literateurs. Among them were four poets: Nandakumar, Akshay Sharma, Krishna Shastri, and Vanmohan. A large crowd would flock to hear them when they recited their poetry or competed with each other in composing verses on the spot.
The king felt proud of these poets but wondered who among them could be the most popular in the land. One day, he posed this question to his minister. “I want to appoint one of the four as the poet laureate of my kingdom. However, I must choose the one who is most loved by the people,” the king declared.
A Plan to Discover Popularity
“My lord, let the poets tour our kingdom separately. Our officers will follow them in disguise and report back on which poet receives the most enthusiastic public ovation. That will answer your question,” suggested the minister.
The king accepted this suggestion, and royal messengers were dispatched across all four provinces to announce the poets’ visits.
Public Reception
The poets, touring individually, were well-received almost everywhere they went. However, the most tumultuous welcome each poet received was in his own province. When Nandakumar returned to his hometown in the southern province, the town celebrated his arrival, and he was awarded the title “The King of Poets.” The other three poets enjoyed similar honors: the people of the northern province honored Akshay Sharma as “The Poet Sovereign,” Krishna Shastri earned the title “The Poet Paramount” in the east, and Vanmohan was hailed as “The Crown of Poets” by his native province in the west.
Yet, when Nandakumar visited areas outside his native province, he encountered lukewarm receptions. At two or three places, he was even booed by crowds who understood little of his art. The same experience befell the other poets as well.
The Minister’s Quest
After the poets and the accompanying officers returned to the court to report their findings, the king was puzzled. “Who, then, is the most popular poet? All have returned with equally grand titles. Whom should I appoint as the poet laureate?” he questioned the minister, requesting him to tour the land once more to find out which poet was loved most by the people.
The minister traveled throughout all four provinces. In the south, he heard praises for Nandakumar as the greatest poet in the land, with some scholars passionately criticizing the other poets to highlight Nandakumar’s worth. Meanwhile, the people of the other provinces spoke with equal fervor about their local poets.
A Bright Idea
The minister returned to the capital feeling quite contemplative. How could he provide the king with a definitive answer? However, as he entered his home, he was greeted by a delightful sight. His daughter had given birth to a son, and she was lovingly cradling the babe, murmuring, “O my sweet prince, my charming little prince!”
The minister’s face brightened at the sight. Shortly thereafter, he visited the king.
Wisdom of the Heart
“Welcome, my minister,” said the king, pulling him aside. “Who do you think is loved most by the people?”
“My lord, first answer a humble question of mine. Every mother sees her child as a prince or a princess. Should we take her sentiment as truth?” the minister inquired.
“That would be foolish,” the king replied.
“Exactly, my lord. This is precisely what has happened with the poets. Each poet is regarded as the greatest by his hometown. Their admiration stems from sentiment, not from an objective sense of poetic judgment. We should honor all four as our court poets. If you appoint one as the poet laureate, his province will celebrate, but the others will resent it. It would be wiser to follow the example of King Krishnadeva Raya, who embraced the ‘Triumphant Eight’—eight great poets—enjoying equal royal patronage in his court.”
A Royal Decision
The king found great wisdom in the minister’s words. He declared all four poets as court poets and honored them with gifts, celebrating their contributions to the kingdom’s cultural tapestry.