The Brahman's Gold
Intermediate · ≈ 6 min story · 3 min read
An old Brahman hides his life's savings under a layer of lentils and leaves the pot with a neighbor he trusts. The gold vanishes while he is away, and there is no witness at all. So Maryada Rama hides one small listener where the truth cannot help but be spoken aloud.
Once upon a time, in a quiet little village, there lived an old Brahman and his loving wife.
They had worked hard their whole lives, and saved every single gold coin they owned.
One day they decided to go on a long pilgrimage.
The old Brahman placed all of his gold coins inside a large brass pot. Then he covered the gold with ordinary lentils.
"No one will suspect a thing," he smiled.
Before leaving, they carried the pot to their trusted neighbor.
"My friend, please keep this safe until we return."
The neighbor gladly agreed. "You may leave it here. No one will touch it."
The old couple set off with peaceful hearts.
A few days later, the neighbor had many unexpected guests.
His wife became worried. "We have no food, and it is far too late to visit the market."
Her husband looked at the Brahman's pot.
"We will borrow a little lentil. We can replace it tomorrow."
He opened the pot.
As the lentils poured out, bright gold coins came tumbling with them.
The couple froze. Their eyes widened.
"So much gold," the wife whispered.
Greed filled their hearts.
"Let us keep the gold, and fill the pot with fresh lentils."
The husband agreed. They hid every single coin, and filled the pot to the brim with lentils.
Many weeks later, the old Brahman and his wife returned. They thanked their neighbor and carried the pot home.
When they emptied it, only lentils came out. The gold was gone.
The old couple burst into tears and hurried back to their neighbor's house.
"Our gold. Please return it. We trusted you."
But the neighbor frowned. "What gold? You left me a pot of lentils. I know nothing about any gold."
The helpless Brahman went to the court of the wise judge, Maryada Rama.
After listening carefully, Maryada Rama asked, "Did anyone witness the gold being stored?"
The old Brahman replied sadly, "No, Your Honor. I trusted my neighbor."
Maryada Rama thought quietly. Then he smiled.
"I have an idea."
He secretly called for a basket maker.
"I need a hollow idol, large enough to hide a child inside."
Soon a beautiful idol was ready.
Maryada Rama chose a clever young boy and hid him inside it.
"Sit quietly," he said. "Listen carefully to everything you hear."
Then he summoned the neighbor and his wife, and handed them the idol.
"Carry this around the temple of the Goddess. Then swear before her that you never took the Brahman's gold."
The frightened couple lifted the idol and began to walk.
When they reached a quiet corner, the husband whispered angrily.
"See what you have done. Now we must lie before the Goddess herself. She will never forgive us."
Hidden inside the idol, the little boy heard every word.
After the procession, the idol was carried back to the court.
The child climbed out, and repeated everything he had heard.
The courtroom fell silent.
The dishonest couple realized they had been caught. They dropped to their knees.
"We confess. We took the gold. Please forgive us."
Maryada Rama looked at them with calm disappointment.
"Return every single coin to its rightful owner. And because you betrayed the trust placed in you, you shall be punished as well."
The neighbor returned all the stolen gold. The old Brahman and his wife were overjoyed, and thanked Maryada Rama for his wisdom.
From that day onward, everyone in the kingdom learned that greed can hide the truth for only a little while. Wisdom always uncovers it.
Trust is a priceless treasure. When we protect someone else's trust we grow richer in character, but when greed takes over we lose far more than gold.
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