The Reward

King Raj Varma once rewarded a village watchman with a gold ring for capturing a notorious bandit. The watchman was overjoyed to receive this token of appreciation.

One day, a retired principal of the Vedic college witnessed a burglar snatching a silver chain from a little boy’s neck. Without hesitation, he ran after the burglar, shouting, “Thief!” Passersby followed his lead, and together they managed to catch the culprit. The king recognized the old man’s bravery and rewarded him with his bejeweled necklace.

Later, a courtier approached the king and asked, “My lord, if you rewarded the watchman with only a ring for capturing a notorious bandit, why did you bestow the elderly man with a more precious item for helping to catch a minor thief?”

The king smiled and replied, “What is the purpose of a reward?”

“To make the recipient happy,” answered the courtier. “That’s right. It is the watchman’s duty to catch thieves and bandits, and he is regularly paid for that. The gold ring was merely an added encouragement for his service. On the other hand, the extraordinary sense of duty displayed by the old man, a scholar rather than a retired police officer, entitled him to a greater reward. His status, age, and exemplary behavior as an ideal citizen warranted this recognition,” explained the king. “How right you are, my lord!” said the courtier, appreciating the depth of the king’s insight.