The Priest’s Wisdom
The Wise Priest of Puliyangudi
In the town of Puliyangudi there lived a temple priest named Gopal. He was a wise man who took great pleasure in settling disputes among his neighbours to the satisfaction of all. He performed these good deeds freely, and never expected any rewards in return.
The Visit of the King
The king had heard about Gopal’s wisdom and decided to see for himself how this virtuous man dispensed justice to all. Alongside his minister, they set out for the town of Puliyangudi in disguise. They saw Gopal at work in the temple, and without disturbing him, quietly left.
A Surprising Encounter in the Forest
The townspeople of Puliyangudi had a routine of collecting firewood from the nearby forest. One day, a man went off to the forest as usual, but was surprised to encounter an old prophet sitting under a tree. Intrigued, he asked the prophet to forecast his future.
The Series of Unsettling Visions
The prophet offered to show him a vision. If the man could interpret it, the prophet promised to decipher his future. The man agreed, and then saw a stunning palace appear before him. However, a loud clap of thunder accompanied by lightning reduced the majestic palace to rubble. When asked to explain the vision, the man remained silent, and the prophet promptly turned him into a statue.
The Consequence of Silence
This pattern repeated with two more townsfolk. Both asked the prophet to predict their futures, both saw different visions but failed to interpret them, and both were turned into statues as a result.
The Intervention of the Wise Priest
The news of the strange occurrences spread across the town. The worried townspeople, thinking the prophet to be a wizard, went to the humble Gopal for help. Gopal patiently listened to the townsfolk, then journeyed into the forest to converse with the prophet. With great respect, he implored the prophet to restore the men to their original forms.
The Test of Wisdom
The prophet agreed to consider on the condition that Gopal must decode the visions he had projected to the other men. Gopal rightly interpreted all three visions and was rewarded by the restoration of the afflicted townsfolk to their former selves.
A Reward for the Wise
Impressed by Gopal’s wisdom, the prophet — who revealed himself to be a wizard sent by the king — predicted that Gopal would be honoured by the king the next day. True to the wizard’s prophecy, the king summoned Gopal and lavished him with several gifts. Gopal, however, chose to return to his town, where he continued to serve the people with humility and wisdom.
