Home is Heaven
The King’s Disguise
Once upon a time, the king of a certain land and his minister disguised themselves as ordinary citizens to observe how their subjects lived.
The Old Woman’s Lament
As they passed through a village, they noticed an old woman seated on her doorstep, lamenting her fate loudly.
“Oh! Lord, why do you trouble me? Gather me unto you quickly!”
A King’s Compassion
The king approached her and asked, “Grandmother, what troubles you? Why do you complain so?”
The old woman replied, “Son, sit here with your friend. I will tell you what burdens my heart. I have a granddaughter who is married, but her mother-in-law does not permit her to visit me. I feel lonely and sad.”
Moved by her story, the king offered, “Grandmother, here are a hundred rupees. Take them, and may they bring you happiness.”
A Return Visit
A week later, the king happened to pass by again and found the old woman once more lamenting on her doorstep.
“Oh! Lord, when will my troubles be over? When will you call me to paradise?”
The surprised king asked, “Granny, aren’t you happy with the money I gave you?”
“Of course, I am happy,” she replied, “but I have hidden the money in a secret place, hoping to give it to my granddaughter. I fear a thief may steal it.”
A New Home
“Don’t worry, Grandma! Come live with me in my palace. I will send my guards to escort you there,” the king said.
The old woman moved into the palace, and a few days later, the king visited her to see how she was adjusting.
“Well, it’s not too bad,” she said. “But I wonder what has happened to my old cottage.”
“Why worry about that?” the king laughed.
“You see, my granddaughter may come to visit me, and she will be disappointed not to find me there,” the old woman replied.
A Discontented Granddaughter
The king arranged for the granddaughter and her baby to visit the palace, but the girl felt uncomfortable in the luxurious surroundings. She feared offending the high officials and hardly spoke to anyone, least of all her grandmother. After two days, she abruptly announced her intention to return home, taking the money given to her by the old woman.
Disappointed, the grandmother lamented to the king, “If I had stayed home, I would have been busy with chores. Here, I have nothing to do.”
Seeking Contentment
The king instructed the princess to give the old lady small chores, but the grandmother was still unhappy and longed for her humble cottage. She often gazed at the keys to her old home, sighing gently.
Noticing this, the princess asked, “Granny, are you still unhappy?”
“If I could just go back once and look at my cottage, I think I would be happy. Please ask your father to let me return for a few days,” the old woman replied.
A Journey Home
The princess spoke to her father, the king, who then disguised himself and took the old woman back to her cottage.
Upon arriving, the grandmother excitedly entered her home and began cleaning. She spread her bed on the floor and sighed contentedly.
“Thank God, I have truly come home. Life in the palace is not for me. My humble cottage is my heaven.”
A Lesson Learned
The king overheard her murmuring to herself and realized that true happiness can be found in simple places, emphasizing that it’s not the grandeur of one’s surroundings but the love and comfort of home that truly matter.