The Wisest Man

One day, the King of Vidarbha posed a question to his courtiers and ministers: “Who is the wisest man? The one who can answer will be rewarded.”

“You are the wisest man, to the best of our knowledge,” one of the ministers suggested.

“To say this much is not enough. You must prove what you claim!” the king responded, demanding evidence of their assertion.

All the courtiers fell silent, but then the jester spoke up. “My lord, my father used to say that one who knows the answer to a particular question is the wisest.”

“What is that question?” asked the king, intrigued.
“What happens to one’s soul immediately after death?” the jester replied.
“And what is the answer?” the king pressed on, eager for insight.

“My lord, I learned the answer from my father, but I promised never to divulge it,” the jester replied, smiling knowingly.

“You intend to prove that you are the wisest man then?” the king asked, curious.
“No, my lord. I mean to prove that the king who has been able to retain a wise man like me in his service is, without a doubt, the wisest,” the jester responded confidently.

Impressed by the jester’s cleverness, the king awarded him the prize, realizing that true wisdom often comes in unexpected forms.