There was
once a king who ruled over a large and powerful nation. The king was wise and
intellectually curious, literate and well-spoken. He gave much time to the
affairs of his nation, and he had a reputation for thoughtfulness and
consideration. All enjoyed his company; his wit, humour, and conversation were
renowned.
One day,
his military leaders told him that his enemy- a dangerous and ruthless warlord,
whose militia had committed great violence throughout the region- was nearby, hiding in a densely-populated
city in the neighbouring country. Now this country was weaker than the king’s
country- unstable, poorer and with a very small army. They were unaware of the
presence of the warlord in their territory, and even if they had known, it was
doubtful that they would have been able to capture him.
The king
listened thoughtfully to his generals. They told him that every moment of
hesitation risked the warlord slipping away to attack again, putting the whole
region at risk. But with a quick and forceful attack of mounted horsemen armed
with arrows and spears, the warlord could be killed… but because of the nature
of the city, the generals said, innocent life might also be lost.
The king
listened attentively. He then said to the generals, ‘I must think carefully
before making a decision. How much time may I have?’
‘No more time
than one hour’, they told the king, ‘lest the warlord slip away in the crowds
and out of our reach.’
The king
was visibly troubled. The thought that any innocent life should be lost grieved
him deeply. The king spent the entire hour alone with his thoughts. He imagined
the sorrow of men at the death of their children, and wives at the death of
their husbands. Yet was the price of the few innocent lives not worth paying
for the many lives saved? Was it not better for the entire region to be free
from the fear of the warlord’s violence?
At the end
of the hour, the king appeared again, his face twisted with sorrow. With tears
in his eyes, he told his generals to launch the attack. They did so, sending
ten highly-skilled mounted soldiers at high speed toward the warlord’s lair.
The king
waited anxiously for news of the attack. Soon, his generals came to him saying
that the warlord was dead. ‘But the news is not all good’, they told him. ‘Very
close to the warlord’s location, a wedding party was being held, the wedding of
a poor man’s beloved only daughter. As our soldiers charged, several guests, as
well as the poor man’s daughter, fell under the horse’s hooves, killing them
instantly. Indeed, our soldiers have reported seeing the poor man holding his
daughter’s lifeless body, weeping greatly in the street.’
Upon
hearing this, the king wept bitterly and was inconsolable. He took no food or
drink, and refused to be seen for three days.
After some
time, this king was no more, and another king rose to the throne. This king was
foolish and disliked learning, reading very little and speaking crudely. He
gave little thought or time to the affairs of his nation, and he had a
reputation for distraction and inattentiveness. Many of his advisers disliked
his company; he was thin-skinned, took offense easily and was suspicious of all
who dared disagree with him.
One day,
his military leaders told him that his enemy- an ally of the dangerous and
ruthless warlord killed by the previous king- was nearby, hiding in the same
densely-populated city in the neighbouring country.
The king
listened with irritation to his generals. ‘Why do you waste my time with long
speeches about foreigners about whom I care nothing? Is not our enemy within reach?
Order the attack!’ The general’s did so, as before.
The king then
went to his other palace on the coast of the country to enjoy the cool air.
After waiting for the king a full day in the capital, his general’s traveled to
the coastal palace to give him news of the attack, waiting many hours for an
audience while the king enjoyed himself feasting with wealthy friends. They
informed him that the warlord was dead. ‘But the news is not all good’, they
told him. ‘Very close to the warlord’s location, a widow was eating a meal with
her only son. As our soldiers charged, one of their arrows went through the
window of the house, killing the son. Indeed, our soldiers have reported seeing
the widow holding her son’s lifeless body, weeping greatly.’
Upon
hearing this, the king did not even look up in their direction ‘Again, you
waste my time with news of people for whom I care nothing. My enemy is dead and
I appear strong! Now leave me alone with my feasting and entertainment!’
When news
of the king’s reaction reached those who had loved the former king, they were
outraged. ‘Truly’, they said, ‘the former king was the better king. Did he not
think carefully before acting, and did he not weep bitterly at the news of the
innocent’s death?’
But a mystic,
who knew of all these matters and had been listening to them, rebuked them. ‘Does
a poor man take comfort that his daughter was killed by a wise man and not by a
fool? Does a widow wish that her son was murdered by a righteous man rather
than an evil man?
Do not
place your hopes in any great man. Misery inflicted by a wise man is as bitter
as the misery inflicted by an imbecile.’
