The Bandit’s Son
The Rise of Banditry
The king of Mahendrapur was an able and just ruler. However, his peace was disturbed when a gang of bandits terrorized his subjects living along the frontier of his lands, bordering a forest. As days passed, the king’s concern about the bandits’ activities grew, prompting him to act swiftly.
The King’s Efforts
The king dispatched some of his most capable officers to combat the gang. Unfortunately, despite their earnest efforts, they returned disappointed, having fallen victim to the bandits themselves. Nevertheless, they managed to gather the name of the gang leader.
A Brave Venture
The minister’s young son bravely ventured into the frontier. When he returned, he was dressed in a saree, a symbol of the humiliation the bandits had inflicted upon him. However, he succeeded in gathering crucial information about the gang’s hideout.
Determining a Plan
The king’s general set out next but returned bound to a donkey with colorful powder splattered across his clothes. Despite the disgrace, he gathered vital intelligence: he discovered that the bandit chief would be away from his hideout on a certain day.
A Bold Move
Next, the king himself decided to take action, carefully noting the experiences and information assembled by his predecessors. On the day the bandit chief was away, he reached the hideout and managed to escape with the bandit chief’s infant son, believing that the chief would attempt to rescue his child and thus fall into the king’s trap.
The Bandit’s Desperation
The bandit chief experienced the shock of his life when he discovered his child was missing. News of the kidnapping quickly reached him, and he realized that the king had devised a clever trap to ensnare him. Despite the danger, he felt compelled to rescue his son.
A Disguise and Confrontation
Dressed as a hermit, the bandit chief arrived at the king’s castle, introducing himself as an old acquaintance of the king. The king, trusting in his guise, welcomed him.
“Why do you appear so pensive?” asked the bandit chief. The king led him into a room where two infants were lying in swings, one of whom was the bandit chief’s son.
The Test of Morality
“These children do not appear to be from the same mother!” observed the bandit chief. “They are not,” replied the king. “One is my son, and the other is the bandit chief’s. Since I took the child, the bandits have ceased their operations, but both infants are gravely ill. It is challenging to find the right herb to cure them.”
At that moment, a physician arrived, announcing that he had discovered the necessary herb, but there was enough for only one child.
“I will begin treatment of the prince with the rare herb,” declared the physician.
“No,” said the king decisively. “Save the bandit’s child first. If more herbs can be found, the prince’s treatment can follow.”
Revelations and Surrender
The disguised bandit chief exclaimed, “My lord, do you consider the life of a bandit’s son to be more valuable than that of the prince?”
“The child is not the bandit! I kidnapped him to protect my subjects from the menace of the gang. As long as he is in my custody, it is my responsibility to safeguard him. If the bandit has the heart of a father, he may one day surrender himself to reclaim his child. If I cannot return him safely, I will have no right to try his case!” said the king.
“Oh great king!” exclaimed the bandit chief. “I am the one you seek. Do with me as you will!”
The king was surprised and delighted. The bandit chief soon returned with a portion of the plundered property, surrendering it to the king. He instructed his gang to surrender, and the king provided them with suitable occupations.
In time, both the infant prince and the bandit’s son were cured after more herbs were discovered.