A Trivial Action That Raised a Riot

The Sage and His Disciple

A sage wandered from village to village, accompanied by a lone disciple. The disciple, a restless young man, often spoke recklessly and engaged in unnecessary activities. “My boy, you must try to exercise some control over your speech and your actions,” the sage often reminded him.

A Hot Noon

One hot noon, the two travelers rested under a shed at the center of a bazaar. Across from them was a grocer’s shop. At that moment, the shopkeeper was idly examining his stock of goods. While doing so, he dipped a finger into a jar of honey and wiped it against a pillar, leaving a sticky patch behind.

An Idle Action

<p“It was quite idle of him and also unnecessary to do that,” the sage remarked to his disciple as they prepared to leave the shed. He sighed, “It may cause harm to many!”

Questioning the Sage

<p“But, Master, what harm can come from such an innocent action, even if it serves no purpose?” the disciple questioned. The sage considered the young man’s perspective for a moment. He realized that the disciple had developed a tendency to see fear where there was none. “My boy, let us wait here for an hour and see,” he replied.

The Consequences Unfold

They remained under the shed, quietly observing the shop. Soon, a swarm of flies gathered around the patch of honey. As these flies fought for access, they attracted the attention of a lizard resting on the wall. The lizard slowly approached the pillar and devoured several flies with quick flicks of its tongue.

The Cat and the Dog

The shopkeeper’s cat, lounging on a pillow at its master’s back, suddenly sprang at the shiny lizard, clawing it to the ground. The lizard attempted to escape, and the cat chased it onto the road. Suddenly, a clever little dog rushed at the cat and bit it. The cat yowled in pain, prompting the shopkeeper to rush out, pick up a heavy brick, and throw it at the dog.

The Escalation of Conflicts

The dog, a beloved pet of the landlord, was injured and barked ferociously, drawing attention to its plight. The landlord, while passing by, immediately turned to confront the shopkeeper. The landlord’s community had long been rivals with that of the shopkeeper, and when the landlord saw his dog harmed, he raised a loud outcry, claiming that the shopkeeper had insulted him.

A Riot Erupts

Within minutes, the landlord’s supporters stormed towards the shop, while the shopkeeper called for help. His friends soon arrived to defend him. In the chaos, an overly enthusiastic servant of the landlord set fire to the shop. Quickly arming themselves with sticks and other weapons, the shopkeeper’s friends retaliated against the landlord’s supporters.

The Aftermath

A riot ensued, and several thatched roofs went up in flames. Many were injured amidst the turmoil. As flames and smoke darkened the sky, the sage and his disciple left the bazaar. Once they were in the open air, the disciple touched the sage’s feet and said, “I learned a great lesson today, my Master!”