Timely Advice

The Kingdom of Kalapur

Long ago, the city of Kalapur was ruled by King Kaarmegha. He had a son named Gajamukha, a valiant prince who excelled in all martial arts. Despite his prowess, he often longed to showcase his skills but was closely guarded by the orders of his affectionate father, which left him unable to act independently.

The Prince’s Request

One day, Gajamukha approached his father with a request to travel and see the realm over which he was to rule. The king replied, “Yes, you should travel and see things for yourself. However, remember three things: firstly, never go anywhere alone. Secondly, whenever you leave a place, mark its location well. Lastly, when travelling through the forest, be very careful of bears. Do not provoke them. If a bear comes your way, lie down as if you were dead, and it will not harm you.”

A Wish to Venture Out

Despite his father’s wise advice, Gajamukha set out on his travels with some bodyguards, a fact that irked him. Ignoring his father’s counsel, he encouraged his guards to scout the area: “Go and see for yourselves how safe the path is. Then I will decide whether or not I should enter the forest.”

A Thrilling Encounter

Once the guards had disappeared from view, Gajamukha plunged into the dense forest in search of prey. He was soon thrilled to encounter a tiger charging at him with a booming roar. Seizing the opportunity, he drew his sword and attacked, ultimately piercing the heart of the beast, which collapsed lifelessly at his feet. Elated by his victory, he thought he could tackle any danger on his own. What use did he have for bodyguards?

The Bears’ Challenge

As he ventured further into the forest, Gajamukha heard sharp growls and turned to see three fierce-looking bears approaching him. In a panic, he reached for his sword only to realize with dismay that he had left it behind after resting post-hunt. Suddenly remembering his father’s advice, he lay prostrate on the ground and held his breath. After what felt like an eternity, the bears sniffed him and eventually walked away without causing harm. Once they were gone, the prince stood up and retraced his steps to retrieve his sword.

A Disheartening Discovery

After picking up his sword, he set out to find his guards, but they were nowhere to be seen, having gone off to search for him. Alone again, Gajamukha came to a stream. Dusty and weary from his struggles, he decided to bathe, leaving his clothes on the bank as he plunged into the water.

The Mischief of Monkeys

Upon emerging from his bath, he was annoyed to find his clothes missing. Looking around, he saw several monkeys chattering excitedly, waving the clothes they had taken. Realizing that if his guards were present this wouldn’t have happened, he began throwing stones at the monkeys. They, in turn, imitated his actions, tossing the clothes back at him. When Gajamukha retrieved them, he discovered that they were in shreds. With no other option, he donned the torn remnants and set out to search for his guards.

A Lesson Learned

Just then, his guards arrived at the stream, and the prince was reunited with them. From that day forward, Gajamukha took his father’s advice seriously, having learned a valuable lesson about caution and the importance of listening to wisdom.