The Mysterious Mendicant
Encounter with the King
Once, a mendicant appeared before a king and said, “Pity, I know what needs to be done, but I don’t know how to do it.” He returned the next day and repeated his statement. The king asked him, “How can I help you solve your problem?”
“If you give me the money I need now, I will return the sum to you in due course; indeed, I will give you ten thousand times more than what you give me now,” replied the mendicant.
The King’s Decision
The king promptly ordered his treasurer to provide the amount the mendicant required. However, the king’s minister was skeptical. He whispered to the king, “How can we know that the man is not a cheat?” The king, nevertheless, dismissed the minister’s warning.
As days passed, the king almost forgot about the mendicant. However, the minister was not so easily reassured and remained convinced that the innocent king had been swindled by a fraud.
A Year of Deceit
A year later, the mendicant appeared before the king again. “My lord, give me some more time and additional money. I am on the path to success.”
“My lord! Instead of more time and money, this man deserves a term in our jail,” the minister claimed. But the king instructed his treasurer to give the mendicant the amount he needed, stating, “I feel that the man is no cheat. I can afford to take a risk.”
The Second Year
Another year passed, and the mendicant returned to the royal court. “My work is nearly complete. I just need a little more money.”
“How dare you take advantage of our king’s generosity?” the minister blurted out. “What have you done with all the money you have received so far?”
Yet, the king remained patient. He smiled and asked the minister to calm down and grant the mendicant his request for more funds.
The Final Preparations
Six months later, the mendicant returned once again. “Do you still need more time and money?” the minister questioned harshly.
The mendicant ignored the question, turning to the king and saying, “My lord, my work is finished. Please join me; you will leave feeling rewarded.”
The king made preparations to accompany the mendicant.
A Risky Venture
“My lord! It is unwise to go out alone with a stranger. Take a few bodyguards with you,” the minister advised.
“That might ruin the plan,” cautioned the mendicant. “However, if the minister desires, he may join us.”
The mendicant led the king and minister to the seashore, where a small boat awaited them, manned by two boatmen. The mendicant asked them to board, and he did as well.
The Enchanted Island
The minister appeared anxious, his eyes darting in all directions, frequently placing his hand on his sword. The mendicant took no notice of his uneasy demeanor.
The boat reached a tiny island covered in ash, with a wooden plank at its center blocking an opening.
“My lord! Go down into the underground chamber and see what is there,” the mendicant suggested, lifting the plank.
The king complied, while the suspicious minister unsheathed his sword, holding the mendicant by his arm and declaring, “This sword will pierce through you if any harm befalls the king.”
A Surprising Discovery
The mendicant showed no fear. Moments later, the king emerged, surprised and delighted. He urged the minister to descend and see for himself what lay inside the chamber.
Upon returning, the minister was equally amazed. “What is all this? Where did such a heap of pearls come from?” asked the king.
“My lord! I was a trader. On my voyages to various ports, I came across this tiny island, where I noticed countless cranes gathering here. During low tide, they collected oysters from the mud around the island. Those weren’t ordinary oysters, but pearl oysters. The cranes ate the meat and left the remains, which included pearls.
The Mendicant’s Revelation
I had planned to collect those pearls, but after an epidemic took my wife and children, I turned my back on worldly life and became a mendicant. However, the pearls of this island haunted me. I realized that unless I took steps to put them to use, I would not find peace.
With the money I received from you, I bought a boat, hired two boatmen, and brought sackfuls of ash to the island. I spread the ash so when the cranes dropped their oysters, they would be covered. Unable to find them, the cranes continuously brought more oysters.
I also dug the underground chamber and stored the pearls there. Now it is for you to continue the work. My only desire is that the wealth I have uncovered be used for the benefit of your subjects. Now, my last attachment to the world is severed.”
The king and the minister expressed their gratitude to the mendicant, who soon departed for the forest.