Useful Indeed

The zamindar of Shobhanagar was deeply interested in the system of Ayurveda. As we know, Ayurveda relies on herbs that are native to the soil. His trusted advisor was an expert physician named Shridhar Sharma.

One day, while Shridhar Sharma was away, a fellow pretending to be a youth from the Bhil tribe approached the zamindar, presenting a stack of herbs. “Sir!” he exclaimed, “this is a rare herb that is useful for many purposes. If Shridhar Sharma were here, he would have paid me at least one hundred rupees for it!”

“What if Sharma is not here? We can pay you the amount you deserve! But tell me the truth, is this really useful?” asked the zamindar.

“I assure you in the name of God that this herb is very useful,” the young man replied confidently.

The zamindar was about to hand over the money when, rather unexpectedly, Shridhar Sharma appeared. He examined the stack of herbs and declared, “This is useless!”

“Useless? Didn’t that young man assure me in the name of God that this herb is useful?” exclaimed the zamindar, bewildered.

The physician chuckled and replied, “He has not lied to you. It was useful to him, for he was about to receive a hundred rupees for it!”