A Parable

A parable
P. K. Routray

Once upon a time in India, there lived a king named Dharma Dev. He had a little daughter named Soma. As time passed the little princess grew up into a beautiful young lady. Since the princess grew up and attained marriageable age it started bothering the King and the Queen to find a suitable match for their adorable daughter.

King Dharma Dev held many rituals and religious functions as suggested by priests and astrologers in order to find an eligible handsome match for his daughter Soma.

During this period of uncertainty in finding a suitable match for Soma he had sleepless nights. But one night by God’s grace he had a deep and sound sleep. During his sleep King Dharma Dev dreamt a way to find a suitable groom for his daughter Soma.

And according to his dream, he had to arrange for a competition. The very next day King Dharma Dev announced for the competition and also its terms and conditions.

1. To each participant in the competition a goat would be given. He has to train the goat in two days and come back. On his return the goat should not eat a blade of grass.
2. If the goat refuses to eat a blade of grass then he would be declared the winner.
3. The winner would be awarded half of Dharma Dev’s kingdom and would marry princess Soma.
4. But if a participant failed he would have to serve for life as a slave in the King’s palace.

Aspiring to get half of Dharma Dev’s kingdom and also marry his daughter many young men far and wide including Princes’ of neighbouring kingdoms wished to participate in the competition. Moreover, the conditions looked very simple and stupid.

Many participants took the goat and fed it full stomach. When they returned with smile of certain victory, they failed and became slaves to Dharma Dev’s palace. Some were even assigned to serve the princess.

Participants failed miserably and the King was disturbed lest his only daughter would remain a spinster. But following his dream, he could not alter.

Both King and Queen prayed to the lord and made offerings to find them a suitable groom for their daughter as blessings.

As the days passed, Dharma Dev was getting restless. Suddenly one fine morning appeared a village rustic man who looked foolish and poor.
He returned with the goat after two days. When the goat looked at a blade of grass he thrashed it on its face.

The result paid dividend as the goat was afraid even to give a glance at a blade of grass. So it didn’t dare to even eat a blade of grass. This surprised the King as he knew that he has got the man he was looking for his daughter.

To everyone’s surprise the village rustic won the competition. He was crowned with half of Dharma Dev’s kingdom and also married princess Soma thus ending Dharma Dev’s anguish.

Unfortunately I was not there for the celebrations.

But the moral of the story goes like this…

Our senses are like the greed of a goat. With possession of material wealth the desire shoots up. With unfulfilled desires come sorrows and sufferings. Our life remains at hell and we run hither and thither in search of solace or heavenly blessings.

King’s goat teaches us a lesson. We must thrash at the growth in desire of senses to keep it under limitation.