A Clever Judgement

The Friends and their Fortunes

Som and Sundar were two friends living in a bustling city. Som, regrettably a simpleton, was often the target of jests from his friends, particularly Sundar. He led a modest life with his wife by his side. Meanwhile, Sundar, intelligent but envious of his naive friend Som, survived through wit and cunning, scheming to make both ends meet.

Sundar, an eloquent man, had a knack for exploiting his unsuspecting neighbor, Som. He roped him into small wagers which Som, ignorantly, always lost. But unlike Som, his wife was astute. She saw through Sundar’s seemingly innocent gambles, persistently cautioning her husband. Yet, Som remained blind to Sundar’s sly tricks, occasionally tasting victory and diving ever more deeply into their betting games.

The High-Stakes Game

One normal day took an unexpected turn when Sundar proposed a hefty bet, tempting Som with the promise of grand rewards. The man who failed to answer his friend’s question would have to surrender all his assets. Giddy at the prospect of acquiring Som’s wealth, Sundar asked his question.

He sought to confuse Som by asking: “What method of ploughing will increase the yield of paddy from the field: digging the ground and sowing the seeds or ploughing the field and scattering the seeds?” Som, unfamiliar with such matters, guessed and lost.

Wit Meets Judgement

When Som posed his question, “Where does the betel leaf grow, on a tree or on a tendril?” Sundar purposefully gave the incorrect answer, creating a deadlock. According to their wager agreement, both were set to lose their wealth to one another, leaving Som baffled and unsure of his next move.

In the midst of this confusion, he remembered his wife’s warnings and turned to her sage advice before signing any document. She strongly advised against it. Sundar, outraged by this decision, suggested they take their dispute to court.

To The Court of Law

Upon arrival at the court, Sundar unveiled their dispute and Som followed suit, citing his wife’s counsel. The magistrate, after carefully considering the circumstances, decided to issue his judgement the following day.

The Verdict

Upon their return to the court, Sundar, eager to hear the judgement, confirmed his wish to proceed. The Magistrate then stated, “According to the terms of the bet, you each asked a question. Som lost and gave you his wealth; you lost and owe Som your wealth – that includes the wealth received from him and your own assets. Hence, Som reacquires his original property and also gains your wealth. You, Sundar, receive nothing.”

Struck by this outcome, Sundar realized that his eager pursuit for more had led to the loss of everything he owned. Defeated by the simpleton, Som, that he so often belittled, Sundar signed off his assets and left the city, never to return.