The Parrot’s Prophecy

The Foolish Farmer

Long ago, there lived a farmer named Kapurchand. He was not the brightest individual and could hardly do anything right. His parents were disgusted with his foolishness and paid him little attention. Even his wife began to think poorly of him.

The Fortune Teller

Feeling humiliated by the scorn of those around him, Kapurchand decided to run away from home. On his journey, he noticed a man sitting on the footpath with a caged parrot. This man was a fortune teller who used the parrot to reveal the secrets of the tarot cards.

The Prophecy

As Kapurchand observed, he saw numerous people consulting the fortune teller. Encouraged, he dropped a coin in front of him, and the parrot picked up a tarot card to present to him. Kapurchand read what was inscribed on the card:

“Now is your lucky period. Whatever you do will bring you profit. If you slap a man on his cheek, you will get money in return. If you kick someone, wealth will come to you. Even if you drag a man by his hair, you’ll receive riches. You will soon acquire a chest full of treasure. The parrot’s words are never wrong.”

The First Encounter

Kapurchand was overjoyed, especially by the parts of the prophecy related to slapping, kicking, and dragging a man by his hair. He was particularly fond of a good fight. As he made his way, he repeated to himself the order in which he should engage: to slap, to kick, and then to drag a man by his hair.

By the riverside, he encountered a father and son. The older man appeared pensive, with swollen cheeks on either side. Kapurchand strode forward and slapped him with force.

To his surprise, the older man exclaimed, “Ah! Thank you, Sir! Long have I suffered from an incurable toothache. Even the doctors were hesitant to extract my teeth. In one blow, you have freed me from my suffering. Here, take these ten rupees as a reward for your good deed.”

The Second Encounter

Kapurchand was astonished that the first part of the prophecy had come true. He continued on his path and soon saw another man, who was swaying and holding his hip. Kapurchand approached him and kicked him with all his might. The man fell with a cry but quickly got back up, joyfully exclaiming, “Brother, you have relieved me of a terrible pain in my hip that threatened to cripple me! How can I thank you enough? Here, take these fifty rupees as a token of my gratitude.”

The Final Encounter

After a few hours, he arrived at a hamlet bustling with wedding preparations. Sitting beneath a decorated canopy, a musician played a long pipe. As he moved about, his knotted hair came loose.

Pleased with yet another opportunity, Kapurchand approached and seized the pipe player by the hair, dragging him aside. The musician raised an outcry, prompting others to rush forward to confront Kapurchand.

Just then, the canopy collapsed, and everyone praised Kapurchand for his foresight in averting disaster. He was celebrated by the village elders and presented with new clothes.

Wealth and Greed

The next day, Kapurchand attended the wedding. In a corner, he spotted a large pot filled to the brim with essences, mistakenly believing it contained money. He knocked it over, and once again, people rushed toward him, thinking he had gone mad. However, as the contents spilt out, they praised him for saving them from certain death, for drinking the liquid would have been fatal. Once more, he was showered with gifts, and everyone saw him as a seer who could save mankind from disaster. He was lifted onto a golden palanquin and carried home in honour.

A Lesson Learned

When the procession reached Kapurchand’s home, his wife was astonished to see him descend from the palanquin like a royal prince, surrounded by costly gifts. Kapurchand proudly explained how he had come by his newfound wealth.

“If I can slap, kick, and drag more people by the hair, I’ll get even more money!” he declared boastfully.

His wife replied, “No, please don’t fight anymore. Let us be happy with what we have.” But Kapurchand ignored her advice and set off on another quest.

The Bitter End

Eventually, he found himself in another village where a man was reciting from the holy scriptures. Kapurchand strode forward and slapped the holy man. Enraged by this insult, people surrounded Kapurchand and beat him mercilessly until he fled for his life.

Returning home, Kapurchand bitterly recounted to his wife how the parrot’s prophecy had failed him. She replied gently, “Never mind. I told you we had enough. You refused to listen, and your greed has punished you. Have you learned a lesson?”

Kapurchand sadly admitted that he had indeed had enough. From that day on, he transformed into a wise man who relied on his efforts to earn a living.