Stories - MERCHANT DANTIL
Once upon a time, there lived a merchant, Dantil in a city called Vardhamanpur. He handled the city and royal business. The king was always happy with Dantil’s work.
While he handled the business, he had his daughter married. He invited all the townspeople for the wedding. He honored everyone with gifts of garments.
At the wedding a house cleaning worker named Gorambh occupied a higher seat in the presence of the king. Dantil did not like this and gave him a cuffing.
Dantil: “Gorambh!!! You do not belong here and hence cannot sit here. So move out of the palace now.”
Upon hearing this Gorambh felt humiliated.
Gorambh: “What an insult? I cannot bear this humiliation? I have to teach him a lesson.”
One morning as he was sweeping the king’s bed room, he saw the king half awake.
Dantil : “What guts! I cannot believe that Dantil is laughing and playing with the queen!!”
King: “Is it true, Gorambh? Did Dantil really laugh and play with the queen?”
Gorambh: “O’ King, I was awake all night. I am feeling sleepy and I do not know what I said.”
But the king became jealous.
King: “Dantil has free entrance to my palace. So does Gorambh. May be he actually saw Dantil.”
Feeling sad, he withdrew his favor from Dantil. He forbade his entrance to the palace.
Dantil: “I am surprised. I never acted unfriendly against the king or anyone else. Why did this happen? I should go and meet the king.”
But Dantil was stopped at the palace gate. Gorambh saw him, laughed aloud and said to the guards
Gorambh: “King’s favor spoiled this man’s temper. If you stop him, you will get a cuffing just like me.”
Dantil: “O” now I understand why King withdrew his favor. It was Gorambh’s doing. I should ask his forgiveness and please him.”
He summoned Gorambh in the evening and gave him garments as an honorable present.
Dantil: “My good fellow, on the day of wedding I did not drive you out by order of the king. I am sorry if I humiliated you.”
Gorambh felt intense satisfaction upon hearing Dantil and receiving the garments.
Gorambh: “Friend Dantil, I forgive you. You will soon see the reward of honor shown me in the king’s favor”
Next day Gorambh entered the palace and said
Gorambh: “The king eats a cucumber in the bathroom.”
King: “What are you talking? Have you ever seen me doing that? Why do you blabber like this? Since you are a house servant I am leaving you with a warning.”
Gorambh: “O’ King, I was awake all night. I am feeling sleepy and I do not know what I said.”
The king realized upon hearing him.
King: “What he says is not true about me. So must be the case with Dantil. With out Dantil even the business is getting affected.”
King: “Gorambh!!! You are awake most of the nights gambling and do not know what you blabber in the morning. I am herewith ordering you to work as a night guard. This shall keep you from gambling and babbling.
He summoned Dantil and returned all the favors shown earlier.
MORAL: Know all people as thy brethren and treat them as such.
(Story from Mitrabhedamu of Panchatantra adapted with a revised ending by Sister Padmaja Gudipati.)