Two Interpretatios

Once some sepoys of King Rudradev produced a stranger in his court. The stranger, who hailed from another country, was accused of robbing an innkeeper.

The king heard the evidence and pronounced a death sentence against the accused. Suddenly, the accused began to speak, but it was in a language the king did not understand.

“My learned minister, can you interpret what he says?” asked the king.

“My lord, he says that you are a just king and is confident that you will be kind towards a foreigner,” replied the minister.

“In that case, reduce his punishment to imprisonment for a year,” declared the king.

However, one courtier interjected, “My lord, I understand the criminal’s language. He is cursing you!”

The king fell silent, reflecting on the situation. Then he stated, “I suspected that the minister was lying, but his lie was intended to save someone’s life. You are speaking the truth, but it leads to someone’s death. Therefore, I choose to accept the minister’s interpretation of the criminal’s language.”