Foresight

A Serene Evening in The Court

One day while King Marthandavarma of Magadha was holding court, his soldiers ushered into his presence a man with an intimidating appearance. Behind him stood a young maiden weeping piteously.

Examining his soldiers, the king queried, “Who are these individuals and what might their transgressions be?” The girl bravely moved forward and retold the night’s horrific events through sobs and tears.

Unveiling a Dark Tale

“Your Majesty, we gave this cruel man shelter in our humble abode because of the torrential rains last night. In return for this act of kindness, he brutally murdered my mother, awakened by her coughing fit during the night not letting him sleep. Luckily, the neighbours, alerted by my screams, apprehended him as he tried to escape,” she narrated.

Eliciting a response from the accused, he indifferently confirmed her tale with a chilling nonchalance. His confession shocked the courtiers, who asked the king with pent-up fury for heavy retribution. Taking them by surprise, the king’s minister proposed a free pass for the murderer as he might come handy in the future.

Faith in Wisdom

Though the king was bewildered by this unusual request, he respected his minister’s prowess and judgement. Agreeing to his counsel, he handed over the prisoner to the minister and consoled the maiden with fitting reparations before sending her home.

The remorseless murderer was imprisoned under the minister’s supervision but was treated well. Excitingly relishing his new lease of life, he utilized his time productively, exercising rigorously and maintaining his strength.

The War And The Strategy

Over the next few months, the King’s dominion was invaded by a nearby ruler. While the King attempted to hold his fort, he received a distressing revelation of yet another Sultan entering the battlefield against him. Nevertheless, his minister assured him, saying they were perfectly capable of facing the neighbouring forces and that he has a plan reserved for the Sultan.

Upon hearing this strategy, the King penned down a letter for the Sultan. The minister summoned the captive and handed him the letter with specific instructions – to deliver the letter and bring back the Sultan’s response.

Towards The Enemy Camp

After being assured by the robust prisoner, the missive was dispatched to the Sultan’s camp. The rudely presented letter from the King was initially viewed as a peace offering, was soon revealed to be heavily insult-ridden. Though taken aback and flabbergasted, the Sultan and his general met the insults with an attack against the messenger. However, the robust prisoner, equipped and ready, engaged them in a duel, eventually leading to their demise.

A Surprising Victory

The sudden commotion drew the Sultan’s guards to the tent, who, upon discovering their deceased leaders, executed the prisoner on the spot. The Sultan’s army, now leaderless, lost their resolve to fight and retreated. The King of Magadha successfully defended the first invasion, thereby showcasing the minister’s foresight that had led to their victory.

A Value-Driven Ruler

Now understanding the logic behind his minister’s decision to spare the prisoner, the king vowed never to question his counsel henceforth, leading his kingdom with increased wisdom.

Intriguingly, one of the resounding queries that remain unanswered is – ‘Which is the most Intelligent Animal?’ Even the most brilliant among humans fail to offer a definite answer. Chimpanzees, dogs, elephants, horses excel in their own ways, but many suggest a sea creature – a dolphin – as the most intelligent. Evidently, this creature can be trained to perform a multitude of tricks, including jumping through a hoop.