The King’s Choice

The Conflict of Tradition

King Rudradev of Ratnagiri was not only able but also popular as a ruler. Among his ministers and courtiers, there was nobody who held a view different from his. Yet, such a popular king faced great worry when it came to appointing a new general for his army following the death of the old general.

The king’s wish conflicted with the tradition of his land. According to this tradition, the late general’s son, Utpal, was to succeed to the post. However, the king knew there was a more capable young man available: Ratnakumar, the son of the court physician.

Witness to Bravery

It is important to note how King Rudradev came to be so impressed with Ratnakumar’s bravery and presence of mind. One day, while hunting in the forest, the king and his party, which included Ratnakumar, camped near a lake. The king took a stroll alone, and his bodyguards, unfortunately, were not alert.

While the king was lost in thought under a tree, a ferocious rhino charged at him. The king was at a loss as to what to do. Suddenly, Ratnakumar appeared on the scene, having kept a close watch on the king’s movements. Seeing the danger, he rushed forward with his sword drawn.

Everyone knows how thick a rhino’s skin is; it would not be easy to kill or scare away the beast with an ordinary sword. Ratnakumar understood this well and quickly devised a plan. He cut down a banana plant and readied its trunk. As the rhino came within reach, he hurled the banana trunk at its horn.

The soft banana trunk struck the rhino’s horn, obstructing its vision. Although it continued to charge at the king, it missed him. Ratnakumar then swiftly killed the beast with precise strikes.

The King’s Dilemma

King Rudradev realized that he would have been killed without Ratnakumar’s intervention. After a careful inquiry, he found that no other youth in Ratnagiri matched Ratnakumar’s martial prowess. However, when the king expressed his intention to appoint Ratnakumar as the new general, the chief minister warned him that many would raise eyebrows if they deviated from tradition. The courtiers agreed with him, leaving the king deep in thought.

Noticing the king’s somber mood, the court magician, Rangaraj, approached him. “My lord, there is nothing wrong with violating a tradition when you are certain that what you are doing is for the greater good,” Rangaraj advised in private.

“But I do not want to upset my ministers and courtiers,” replied the king.

“You won’t have to anger them if you follow my suggestion,” whispered the magician, encouraging the king to reconsider the appointment.

A New Approach

After some discussion, the king felt optimistic about the possible solution. The next day, he addressed his ministers and courtiers, saying, “Times change, and old traditions often lose their relevance. Don’t you agree?”

All responded positively. The king continued, “While Utpal, our late general’s son, is undoubtedly capable, we must be extremely cautious regarding the defense of our land. I believe there are other eligible youths. Let us give all aspiring candidates a chance to prove their worth.”

No one opposed this suggestion. Many young men stepped forward to participate in a contest of strength, valor, swiftness, and cleverness. Four candidates emerged as worthy of consideration for the general’s post, with Ratnakumar clearly shining as the best among them, alongside Utpal and two other commendable youths.

The Choice of Providence

The king addressed the court: “We all agree that these four young men deserve consideration for the general’s post. How should we choose one?” A silence fell over the room. “Well, gentlemen, since it is challenging to reach a consensus, let us leave the decision to Providence,” proposed the king.

Still met with silence, the ministers awaited his next instruction. The king requested four slips of paper and envelopes. He handed the slips to the chief minister, asking him to write the names of the four candidates.

Once completed, the king asked the queen for her cooperation. “Please, take these slips into another room and place them in the envelopes,” he instructed. The queen complied and returned with the envelopes.

“Now, please hand over the envelopes to the minister one at a time. As I utter the names of the candidates, he will open the corresponding envelope. When the names match, we will know that we have received the Providential answer to our question,” the king explained.

First, the king called out Utpal’s name, but the envelope contained Gautam’s name. The second name was Harisingh, but the envelope had Utpal’s name. For the third name, when the king said Ratnakumar, the envelope also contained Ratnakumar’s name.

The court erupted in applause, and Ratnakumar was declared the new general.

A Shared Success

That evening, the king thanked the queen, saying, “Fortunately, you did not forget our magician’s instruction.”

“I remained vigilant to hold the envelope containing Ratnakumar’s name in the middle while handing it to the minister, just as the magician advised. Thankfully, you too remembered that hint!” the queen replied with a laugh, and they both shared a light moment.