King Kantisen and the Strange Fellows
One day, King Kantisen rode to the frontier of his land, where a vast meadow lay before him. At its center stood a huge tree. It was a quiet noon, and the king noticed three fellows seated under the tree. They saw the king approach, but instead of showing respect, they remained seated.
The king, more surprised than angry, asked one of them, “Should you not stand up when you see the king?” The fellow looked back at the king but said nothing. The one-eyed man beside him replied, “O King, he speaks only when he is angry; otherwise, he is mute. But whosoever hears him becomes deaf and dumb.” At this remark, the king was suddenly overtaken by an eerie fear.
Strangers with Power
“And as for me,” said the one-eyed fellow, “the moment I open the eye I keep shut, you will grow totally blind!” The third fellow, whose hands were twisted backward, added, “You must be wondering why I did not greet you. The moment I raise my hands to salute anyone, their head shall shatter into pieces.”
King Kantisen, who had proven his bravery in many battles, felt nervous now. He turned his horse to leave. “Halt!” shouted the one-eyed man. “Listen to me or your horse will fall dead!” The king stopped and timidly asked, “What do you want of me? Why don’t you let me go? I have done you no harm!”
The one-eyed fellow laughed, while his silent friend stared menacingly. The third fellow grinned. “Let us accompany you to your palace,” the one-eyed man said. “But why?” asked the king. “We welcome no foolish questions! Beware of our wrath,” he growled. Reluctantly, the king started slowly toward the palace, with the three fellows walking alongside him.
A Mysterious Authority
By evening, they reached the palace, and the king arranged for their comfortable stay. The next morning, the one-eyed fellow, leader of the group, warned, “Do not go to your court tomorrow without visiting us first.” The palace attendants and the minister were surprised to see the king paying such attention to these strangers.
“Who are these fellows, my lord?” the minister asked the king in private. “They are a strange lot with great power. They can wreak havoc if we do not obey them,” answered the king. From that day onward, the king had to visit the strangers regularly before attending court. They demanded numerous facilities, which he granted, gradually allowing them to influence his decisions, causing the entire administration to go awry.
The Tyranny Unfolds
One day, the leader announced, “From tomorrow, we will take turns sitting on the throne, one for each day.” When the king protested, they warned, “If not, our wrath will destroy your kingdom.” The king reluctantly agreed. For three days, he did not attend court, as the strangers ruled in turn.
On the fourth day, the king found the courtiers looking somber. The treasurer reported that the royal treasury was nearly empty, with wealth taken to a deserted house on the frontier. He learned that the one-eyed stranger had sat on the throne first, ordering everyone in the capital to keep one eye shut. A young man caught with both eyes open had one of his eyes gouged out.
The silent stranger ruled on the second day, commanding that mouths remain shut. Two passersby who spoke lost their tongues under his order. The fellow with backward hands sat on the throne on the third day, ordering that all hands remain twisted backward. A man who disobeyed him had his hands cut off.
Seeking Help
King Kantisen was overwhelmed with sorrow and could hardly speak. Tearfully, he left the court. The minister followed and said, “My lord! We must put an end to this senseless tyranny. Otherwise, the people will rebel, and chaos will ensue.”
“I understand,” replied the king, “but to save the kingdom from the strangers’ wrath, I have conceded to their whims. If they become angry, they can destroy us all.”
“If that is the case, then surely someone with greater power can rescue us!” said the minister. “True, but where is such a man?” asked the king. “Have you forgotten about the hermit who has been in penance in a cave in the forest for the last hundred years?” reminded the minister.
“But he will come out only if a devotee sacrifices himself before him, as the legend goes,” said the king. “I have found such a devotee. Let us go to the cave; he should be waiting for us,” replied the minister.
A Devotee’s Sacrifice
On a moonlit night, the king and minister stood before the cave. The minister looked around and said, “My lord, it seems the devotee has failed us. Never mind; I will enter the cave and sacrifice myself so that the hermit can rescue you.” The king wished to stop him, but before he could act, the minister rushed inside.
With no other option, the king waited. Minutes later, a roaring voice echoed, and a bearded hermit emerged from the cave. “Lead me to the strangers,” commanded the hermit. Silently, the king showed him the way.
As they arrived at the palace, the courtiers and bodyguards pressed around them. The hermit went straight to the portion of the palace where the strangers resided, shouting for them to come out. Surprised, the three fellows appeared before the crowd. “Ha! Ha!” laughed the hermit as he struck the one-eyed fellow on the head with his stick. “This fellow’s powers are gone!” he announced. The crowd quickly subdued him.
The Triumph
The other two strangers shivered in fear as the hermit struck them in turn, declaring that they too had become powerless. The crowd attacked them, and they were taken prisoner. The hermit then led the king into a room, and when they stood face to face, the king prepared to prostrate himself, but the hermit stopped him.
“I lament the sacrifice of my minister,” the king said. The hermit laughed, pulling away his beard and revealing other disguises. There stood the minister! The king was overjoyed and asked, “How did you muster such courage to challenge the strangers?”
“My lord, I knew from the beginning that they were three ordinary fellows. Secretly, I gathered information that they were notorious for their villainy in a neighboring kingdom and had been punished and expelled. Your fear of them was their only strength!”