A Reward for Acting

The King of Vidisha was a kind-hearted soul. He would never turn away anyone who came to him for help. He generously distributed charity left and right, much to the chagrin of his minister, who found it difficult to curb the king’s munificence.

One day, a woman came to the durbar, crying, “Your Majesty! My husband has passed away!” She wailed before the king, “My only son is bedridden, and I don’t have any money for his treatment. Your generosity is well-known. Please help me!”

The king’s heart melted, and he gave her a hundred rupees. The very next day, she returned to the durbar, this time handcuffed and escorted by the king’s soldiers. “Your Majesty!” the soldiers complained. “What she told you yesterday was all a lie. It was a mere act, and you were carried away by her performance. She deserves punishment.”

The king only laughed. “Is that so? But I was convinced by her story and the way she expressed her sorrow. That shows she’s quite skilled at acting. Acting is an art, and she deserves a reward for her remarkable performance.” The king then handed her another hundred rupees and instructed the soldiers, “You may set her free!”