the selfish begger
In a certain village lived a poor fellow named Ashok. His poverty was so severe that he struggled to feed and clothe his family adequately. Consequently, Ashok decided to leave his village in search of a new livelihood elsewhere.
Unhappy Hours and a Hopeful Encounter
Despite his best efforts, he found no one willing to employ him. His repeated bouts of starvation had rendered him thin and weak. Disgusted and disheartened with his fate, he chose to end his life and jumped into a swiftly flowing river. Fortuitously, a kindly sage rescued him from a watery grave and brought him ashore. Overhearing Ashok’s sad tale, the sage offered to teach him a magic spell. He cautioned Ashok that the spell could only be used for the first three days. After this period, he was to pass on the spell to another person.
Prosper with the Spell
True to the sage’s words, Ashok’s house soon overflowed with food and other essential items, once he recited the spell. On the fourth day, he came across a beggar who was on the brink of death due to starvation. Remembering the sage’s advice, Ashok whispered the spell into the beggar’s ears and instructed him to pass it on after three days.
Greed Takes Over
The beggar used the spell and his humble dwelling quickly filled with food grains. However, a mean idea seized him. He wished all the rice in the kingdom to be his, so he could avoid the fear of starvation. His wish was granted, but led to an unexpected consequence. The kingdom’s residents were shocked to find their rice resources disappearing.
The Kingdom In Crisis
A crisis ensued as the entire kingdom found itself without a grain of rice. Even the king’s granaries were left bare. Alarmed, the king sent his officials to investigate the matter. They chanced upon a parade of rats, a sight which led them to the beggar’s dwelling. Here, they discovered a mountain of rice.
The Culprit Revealed
The beggar couple was arrested and brought before the king. In fear, the beggar confessed how Ashok had taught him the magic spell but neglected to mention his violation of the spell’s rule. The king summoned Ashok who confirmed the beggar’s story and added the crucial detail of the beggar’s disobedience and greed.
Justice Prevails
Incensed by the beggar’s actions, the king had the couple sent to the dungeons. The hoarded rice was distributed among the people. For his honesty and adherence to rules, Ashok was aptly rewarded.