The True Strength

Once Upon a Time

In days gone by, there was a king named Dhanapal who ruled over a certain land. He believed that maintaining a large army and accumulating immense wealth would ensure his safety. To him, strength, stability, and fame were synonymous with military might and treasure.

Heavy Taxes

To bolster his treasury, Dhanapal imposed heavy taxes on his people. Half of the revenue was spent on the army, while the other half was deposited in the royal treasury. As his wealth increased, so did his happiness. However, he failed to allocate even a single coin for the well-being of his subjects.

A Wise Minister’s Attempt

Dhanapal had a minister who was an enlightened man. He continually tried to convince the king that the true strength of the kingdom lay not in the army or the treasures amassed, but in the people themselves. He argued that the revenue should instead be spent on the welfare of the citizens.

The King’s Fury

However, the minister’s advice displeased the king greatly. One day, infuriated with his constant complaints, Dhanapal ordered the minister to leave his kingdom. “If I see you tomorrow, you will lose your head!” he exclaimed.

Captured by Dacoits

The minister had no choice but to take to the road, entering a nearby forest. Unfortunately, he was soon captured by a gang of dacoits. They took him to their chief, who recognized him and assumed he had come to learn about their gang. Furious, the chief decided to execute the minister.

A Desperate Bargain

When the minister learned of the chief’s intention, he said, “The king ordered me to leave his kingdom, threatening my life if I did not comply. It seems my death is imminent. However, I have one wish: if you can fulfill it, I will die in peace. The king has amassed great wealth. If you can plunder his treasury and put that idle money to good use, it would be a worthy cause.”

A Dangerous Proposition

The chief suspected it was a trick to lure them into the capital for an easy capture by the king’s army, as they had always avoided the capital due to fear of its formidable forces. Nevertheless, the chief finally agreed, stating, “We will act as you suggest, provided you stay with us throughout the operation. If I sense any deceit, I will kill you immediately. Do you agree?”

The Raid

“I do!” answered the minister. He took the opportunity to inform the chief that the king’s soldiers were largely idlers, lacking any real combat skills. Late that night, the dacoit gang raided the royal treasury. It took little time for the chief to discover the soldiers were ineffective, as most were soundly asleep and those who were awake were too frightened to resist.

Seizing the Opportunity

The dacoits not only emptied the treasury but also took the king prisoner. After loading their loot onto their horses and preparing to leave, the minister approached the chief. “Live happily with this wealth, and abandon the practice of dacoity. Now, let me leave freely,” he said.

A New Idea

The chief replied, “Well, minister, now that I have captured the king, I could easily claim the throne for myself. What do you think?”

“This is an excellent idea,” the minister responded. “In that case, why not return the wealth to the treasury? As the new king, you can enjoy it yourself!”

A Clever Trap

Following the minister’s suggestion, the chief ordered the wealth to be returned to the treasury. While the entire gang was inside, the clever minister seized the moment and suddenly locked the iron doors, trapping them.

A Lesson Learned

After freeing the king, the minister said, “My lord, did you not see how insecure you are despite your wealth and army? All your riches could have disappeared in an instant. What is the point of hoarding wealth that could be used for the welfare of the people? If the people love you, no one can harm you.”

The king finally understood the wisdom in his minister’s words. He transformed into a new leader, dedicating all his wealth and effort towards the betterment of his subjects.