Wisdom Worth One Rupee
The Merchant’s Son and the Scholar
While passing by a scholar’s house, a merchant’s son noticed a peculiar signboard: “Wisdom is sold here.” Amused, he entered the house and inquired about the price of wisdom.
“The price ranges from one rupee to ten thousand rupees,” replied the scholar.
“If I buy one rupee worth of wisdom, will it do me any good?” asked the young man.
“Who knows! It may bring you benefits worth a lakh of rupees!” the scholar responded with a smile.
The young man decided to invest a rupee and purchased a piece of palm leaf inscribed with the phrase, “Never make any unnecessary comments or debate among them.”
The Father’s Disapproval
When the young man returned home and showed the wisdom leaf to his father, the miserly parent chastised him for wasting money. He insisted that his son return to the scholar and retrieve his rupee.
The young man complied and approached the scholar, returning the palm leaf and requesting his rupee back. The scholar obliged only after the young man promised not to utilize the wisdom he had acquired.
A Royal Dilemma
A few days later, the king of the land was passing through the streets with his two queens. They spotted a exquisite necklace adorned with blue diamonds at a jeweler’s shop, and both were captivated by it. After returning to the palace, each queen sent her maid to purchase the necklace.
Both maids arrived at the shop simultaneously, which left the shopkeeper unsure whom to sell to. A quarrel ensued between the two maids.
Just then, the young man happened to be passing by and couldn’t help but comment, “What a comical situation! Who will take home the necklace? Ha ha! God knows!”
The shopkeeper explained, “I have only one necklace. I will sell it to the person who arrived first.” Unfortunately, both maids claimed they had arrived first, and after much argument, they left the shop empty-handed.
The Consequences of Comments
The two queens overheard everything and appealed to the king to determine who deserved the necklace. The king replied, “First, I must know which maid reached the shop first. Was there anyone nearby who could attest to that?”
“Yes, a certain young man, the merchant’s son, was present,” they said.
Had the young man refrained from making unnecessary comments, he might not have drawn attention to himself.
Seeking Help from the Scholar Again
Summoned to the king’s court, the young man felt anxious, afraid of displeasing either queen. In a panic, he sought advice from the scholar.
The scholar stated, “The advice that can save you from this immediate crisis will cost five hundred rupees. However, if you wish to protect yourself from any future crises, you will need to pay two thousand rupees.”
“Please just give me the advice worth five hundred rupees to save me from this immediate crisis,” the young man insisted.
The scholar handed him a palm leaf inscribed with the words, “No value is given to a madman’s statement.”
The Madman’s Act
Understanding the hint, the young man acted like a madman when he arrived at the court. The king, puzzled, commanded him to leave. The young man felt a wave of relief wash over him.
However, the queens’ maids were furious with him for pretending to be mad. “We will teach you a lesson for your trickery,” they threatened.
In his desire to escape their wrath, the young man ran back to the scholar. “Didn’t I warn you about a future crisis? Now, my advice will cost you two thousand rupees,” the scholar reminded him.
A Generous Gesture
Desperate, the young man and his father paid the amount. The scholar then provided another piece of palm leaf, which read, “Buy the necklace yourself and present it to the king.”
The young man’s father purchased the necklace for a lakh of rupees and gifted it to the king. The king was delighted, causing the maids of the queens to think twice before seeking revenge on the father and son.
Realization of True Wisdom
It was in that moment that the young man realized the true value of the wisdom worth one rupee. Had he heeded its advice, he could have avoided so much trouble and expense. The scholar’s teachings had warned him against making unnecessary comments, and perhaps, just perhaps, a single rupee of wisdom could have saved him from a world of issues.