The Dull Prince
Once upon a time, the king ventured into the forest with his four sons to hunt birds and beasts for sport. The king was an exceptional marksman, with arrows flying from his bow like bolts of lightning, rarely missing their target.
The eldest prince matched his father’s skill, capturing two boars and one tiger while the king felled two tigers and one boar. The second and third princes also showcased their prowess, enthusiastically bringing down bird after bird and deer after deer.
However, the fourth prince was quite different. Reluctant to shoot, he often missed his mark, and his face betrayed no enthusiasm for the hunt. At day’s end, as the king relaxed by a waterfall and reflected on his sons’ achievements, he felt immense pride in his eldest son and was satisfied with the middle two, but he was thoroughly disappointed with the youngest. “I ought to feel ashamed of him,” he murmured to himself.
An Encounter with the Sage
As evening approached, the king instructed his party to proceed to the palace with their catches. Only a few bodyguards and his sons remained, as the king wished to spend some time with a wise sage residing in the forest, who he held in high regard. He often sought the sage’s blessings, either to overcome crises or simply to pay his respects.
Shortly after sunset, the king and his party reached the sage’s dwelling, which consisted of a cave and a few huts. They prostrated themselves before the sage, who welcomed them with delicious fruits and milk. Following the feast, tradition dictated that all but the king leave him alone with the sage.
The Prince’s Dilemma
“What troubles you, my dear king? You appear pensive,” the sage inquired. “You have correctly guessed my mood, O blessed soul!” the king replied. “I am worried about my youngest son. He is so dull! I wonder what I am going to do with a good-for-nothing boy like him.”
“What makes you think he is dull and good-for-nothing?” asked the sage. “There are numerous reasons, O sage,” the king lamented. “For instance, while my other three sons hunted successfully, he returned empty-handed.”
A Lesson in Observation
“I see,” said the sage. He then summoned the youngest prince and asked why he had been unable to hunt any creatures. The prince looked remorseful and responded softly, “To kill just for sport is useless, great soul!”
Meanwhile, the sage and king summoned the other three princes. With all four standing before him, the king whispered to the sage, “I will give them the same task. I am almost certain the youngest will take longer to complete it than the others.”
“I went near the stream; no one was there, and I ate the guava,” he reported. The second prince followed shortly, saying, “I went to the stream as well, but I spotted a monkey watching me. I hid behind a bush and ate the fruit there.” The third prince arrived soon after, explaining, “I apologize for my delay. I was aware that owls can see at night, so I went into the meadow to eat the fruit.”
The Youngest Prince’s Revelation
Finally, the youngest prince returned—but not until just before dawn! He still held the guava in his hand. “You failed to find a place where no one could see you eat the guava, didn’t you, fool?” the king exclaimed.
The prince looked at his father with sad eyes but remained silent. The sage rose and greeted the boy warmly. “If I am not mistaken, I know what you wish to say, even if you choose not to. Please, share with us why you didn’t eat the guava.”
“O great soul! I was instructed to eat the fruit when and where no one observed me. I failed. When is there a time when God does not observe me? Where could I possibly go that is beyond His sight?” the prince replied.
