A Beggar Turns Servant
A Unfamiliar Beggar
Govind was a beggar who had recently arrived in the city of Pudupet. Despite his clever daily disguises, no one offered him alms and most of the time, he wandered about, hungry and miserable.
A Man with the Pretense of Wealth
One day he went to the house of Krishnan, a man who pretended to be wealthy despite actually being very poor. Krishnan’s married daughter was about to leave home with her newlywed husband. Krishnan felt that his true financial status should remain unrevealed to his son-in-law, leading to a conversation with his wife.
“Shouldn’t there be a servant in the house when our son-in-law arrives? If we don’t have a servant, our status may be suspect.” His wife agreed and suggested he find a temporary servant. Despite the effort, Krishnan was unable to find anyone for the job.
The Plan of the Beggar Turned Servant
Govind saw this conundrum as an excellent opportunity to earn some money. The next day he disguised himself as a servant and positioned himself at Krishnan’s doorstep. Soon afterwards, the son-in-law arrived, and believing that Govind was Krishnan’s servant, allowed him to assist with the luggage. Unbeknownst to him, Krishnan believed that Govind was the son-in-law’s servant.
Unexpected Rewards
As a result, Govind was well-looked after and received all sorts of gifts. He ran errands efficiently and Krishnan, believing it proper to honour his son-in-law’s attendant, offered him money. When the newlyweds left, Krishnan also gave Govind clothing and more money.
A Confused Departure
As the carriage prepared to leave, the daughter asked about their supposed servant. Realising the misunderstanding, the couple understood they had been tricked by the astute beggar who had taken advantage of the situation. Meanwhile, Krishnan, relieved not to have had to hire a servant, thought his new son-in-law had brought his own servant. For Govind, his clever ruse had worked out perfectly – he not only evaded hunger but received multiple gifts for his temporary ‘service’.