Three Gifts
The Young King
The Prince of the Golden City became a king at a very young age. He had a mother, a sister, and a lovely maiden whom he was married to. He loved them all equally.
The Hermit’s Gifts
One day, a hermit visited his palace and presented him with three gifts: a flower, a necklace, and a bead. The hermit then said, “Oh King, give these to those who love you the most. The one who wears the flower will be lovelier than before. The one who wears the necklace will always do good to you, and the one who swallows the bead will have not a care in the world.”
The King’s Dilemma
The king contemplated the hermit’s words and realized that the holy man intended for him to benefit from these gifts. Consequently, he gave the bead to his mother, the flower to his sister, and the necklace to his wife.
Wise Choices
He bestowed the bead upon his mother so that she could live without any worries. He knew that his wife would always think of his welfare, so he chose the necklace for her. As for his sister, if she became more beautiful than before, she could marry the handsomest prince in the world; thus, the flower went to her. The king proved to be wise in his decisions.
