बुद्धि ओर विवेक
Summary
A king, known for his ability to judge character, took a young man named Amar into his service. Amar quickly proved his intelligence. When the king was busy with foreign diplomats and needed to be told his rice-gruel was ready, Amar cleverly used a coded message, referring to "Dhan Singh's son Mand Singh" and "Sheetalpuri," which the king understood. Impressed, the king promoted Amar. Later, a multi-linguist challenged the court to identify his native region. Amar asked for a day. That night, he secretly entered the man's room and dripped hot wax on his foot. The startled man cried out in Gujarati, revealing his origin. The king then made Amar the city secretary. The jealous old minister told the king Amar was not as wise as he seemed. To prove him wrong, the king devised a test. He gave twenty supposedly wise men, including Amar, a measuring tape and five royal employees each, tasking them with collecting one hundred gold coins each by evening. The twenty men failed, as no one would give them money without a written royal order. Amar, however, returned with five hundred gold coins. He explained that he went to the main market and began measuring the land, telling the merchants that a canal was to be built through their shops. He said the only alternative was to build the canal outside the city, which would cost an extra five hundred gold coins. The merchants, fearing the destruction of their shops, willingly collected and gave Amar the five hundred gold coins to persuade the king to change the canal's route.
Conclusion
This story demonstrates that true intelligence lies not in experience or status, but in creative problem-solving and understanding human nature. The young protagonist, Amar, repeatedly proves his worth through cleverness rather than conventional wisdom, outshining the king’s seasoned advisors. His ability to think on his feet—whether devising a coded message about rice gruel, exposing a multilingual performer’s true origin, or raising gold coins through a fabricated canal project—shows that resourcefulness can overcome any obstacle. The tale’s outcome carries a clear message: those who dismiss youthful ingenuity do so at their own peril. The king’s unwavering faith in Amar is ultimately vindicated, while the jealous courtiers are left humbled. This narrative encourages readers to value wit over pedigree and to recognize that the most capable individuals may not always be the most obvious choices.