Vikram and Betal story
Once there lived an old and pious man, renowned for his honesty.
One day his neighbor, a rich merchant came to him with a request.
The merchant was leaving on a voyage and wanted the old man to safeguard his wealth, until his return. The old man agreed and with God as witness, promises to protect and safeguard the merchant’s wealth.
The old man then entrusted the safe keep of the merchant’s wealth to his son, from whom he took an oath of propriety and honesty.
Slowly the son started dipping into the merchants wealth, people noticed this and warned the old man of the son’s misdeeds.
The old man called his son asks him to explain, he also reminded him of his oath on following the right path. The son rubbished the accusations as rumors and the idle gossip of jealous people, who could bear to see his prosperity. The old man accepted the son’s explanation and things go on as before.
The merchant returned and demanded his wealth. The old man called his son, who handed over a quarter of the merchant’s wealth saying that is all there was.
The merchant realizing that he had been cheated approached the King. The King listened to the merchant’s complaint and summoned the old man.
The old man came to the court with his son and handing him over to the King said, “your majesty, the merchant is right. My son has confessed to the crime. Please punish him.”
The king had the son flogged and imprisoned. He then praised the old man's honesty and dismissed the case.
But the merchant demanded punishment for the old man saying, “I have still not received justice. I had entrusted my wealth to the old man which he swore by God to safeguard. The old man’s integrity is intact, but what of me, I have been robbed of my life’s savings and made a pauper. It was the old man’s decision to entrust my wealth to his son for safekeeping. As far as I am concerned the old man is the culprit, and should be punished."
The old man, was neither a party to the theft nor did he benefit from it. In fact, he had sent his son to jail. Yet, the merchant was asking for the old man’s punishment.
The Betal asks Vikramaditya, “What should the King's decision be?”
Vikramaditya replied, “Though the old man is innocent of the actual theft, he is guilty of dereliction of duty. The son’s crime was a straight forward one, the old man’s was a graver crime. He did nothing to protect the merchant’s wealth. Far from being vigilant he failed to take action even when he was warned of his son’s misdeeds. Because of his laxity the merchant is condemned to a life of penury. He should be punished.”
It is justice, more than charity, that is wanting in the world today. Justice is a collective conscience of the whole humanity. Justice is in reality is a Truth in action. Where there is justice, there is peace. It lies in finding the right and upholding it against any odds. "Blessed are they who maintains Justice, who constantly do what is right" Psalm 106:3
Once there lived an old and pious man, renowned for his honesty.
One day his neighbor, a rich merchant came to him with a request.
The merchant was leaving on a voyage and wanted the old man to safeguard his wealth, until his return. The old man agreed and with God as witness, promises to protect and safeguard the merchant’s wealth.
The old man then entrusted the safe keep of the merchant’s wealth to his son, from whom he took an oath of propriety and honesty.
Slowly the son started dipping into the merchants wealth, people noticed this and warned the old man of the son’s misdeeds.
The old man called his son asks him to explain, he also reminded him of his oath on following the right path. The son rubbished the accusations as rumors and the idle gossip of jealous people, who could bear to see his prosperity. The old man accepted the son’s explanation and things go on as before.
The merchant returned and demanded his wealth. The old man called his son, who handed over a quarter of the merchant’s wealth saying that is all there was.
The merchant realizing that he had been cheated approached the King. The King listened to the merchant’s complaint and summoned the old man.
The old man came to the court with his son and handing him over to the King said, “your majesty, the merchant is right. My son has confessed to the crime. Please punish him.”
The king had the son flogged and imprisoned. He then praised the old man's honesty and dismissed the case.
But the merchant demanded punishment for the old man saying, “I have still not received justice. I had entrusted my wealth to the old man which he swore by God to safeguard. The old man’s integrity is intact, but what of me, I have been robbed of my life’s savings and made a pauper. It was the old man’s decision to entrust my wealth to his son for safekeeping. As far as I am concerned the old man is the culprit, and should be punished."
The old man, was neither a party to the theft nor did he benefit from it. In fact, he had sent his son to jail. Yet, the merchant was asking for the old man’s punishment.
The Betal asks Vikramaditya, “What should the King's decision be?”
Vikramaditya replied, “Though the old man is innocent of the actual theft, he is guilty of dereliction of duty. The son’s crime was a straight forward one, the old man’s was a graver crime. He did nothing to protect the merchant’s wealth. Far from being vigilant he failed to take action even when he was warned of his son’s misdeeds. Because of his laxity the merchant is condemned to a life of penury. He should be punished.”
It is justice, more than charity, that is wanting in the world today. Justice is a collective conscience of the whole humanity. Justice is in reality is a Truth in action. Where there is justice, there is peace. It lies in finding the right and upholding it against any odds. "Blessed are they who maintains Justice, who constantly do what is right" Psalm 106:3
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