| My 4 year old son was very excited. I had | | | | them outside the garden. The garden now looked |
| promised him | | | | clean and fresh."Ah! you have finished! here's |
| to tell a wonderful story tonight.As usual, I got | | | | your reward, delicious |
| engrossed in my work till late evening | | | | sugar candies! Thank you friends"Just as the |
| when I suddenly remembered about my | | | | young man was wondering what he should do |
| promise.I hurriedly searched my personal library to | | | | next... a potter came by and stopped his cart."Is |
| find a suitable | | | | that heap of firewood for sale?...""Yes of |
| story for my loved one.But, what I found | | | | course...""Here are sixteen coins. Please help me |
| astonished me...I'd never read that book before. I | | | | load my cart. |
| might have bought it | | | | Now I have all the wood I need to fire the pots |
| a couple of years ago but never managed to | | | | specially |
| read.This was a collection of short stories called | | | | ordered by the King"The young man then went |
| "The Jataka Tales"One of the stories was so | | | | with the potter to the market."Have you heard? |
| good and full of great stuff, | | | | The horse dealer will be coming tomorrow" |
| I wanted to share it with all of you.-- Sidebar-- | | | | the young man overheard a conversation in the |
| The Jataka Tales are based on the folklore, | | | | market."Yes, yes, I hear he will be bringing five |
| legends and ballads of ancient India. Although no | | | | hundred |
| definite | | | | horses to sell"The young man thought for a |
| date cannot be assigned to the tales, taking into | | | | minute..."Aha! that's useful information..."Hurriedly he |
| account | | | | went to the grass-cutters and said "Friends, I |
| the archeological and literary evidence, it appears | | | | seek a favor from you""At last! tell us what we |
| they were compiled between 3rd century B.C. | | | | should do" replied the |
| and 5th | | | | grass-cutters."I want a bundle of grass from |
| century A.D. | | | | each of you" |
| --Sidebar--Here goes the story...In the city of | | | | told the young man."We are five hundred in all. |
| Varanasi, a young man was once on | | | | So, as many bundles |
| the lookout for a suitable job.It so happened that | | | | of grass will be delivered to you tonight" |
| the King's Treasurer, accompanied by | | | | the grass-cutters happily agreed.The young man |
| a friend, passed by."The King values your work. | | | | continued..."And I want you to promise that till |
| The treasury is overflowing | | | | tomorrow afternoon |
| with riches. What is the secret of your success?" | | | | you will not sell anyone any grass at all"The |
| asked the treasurer's friend."Initiative & | | | | grass-cutters replied, "You are our friend. |
| Enterprise. I'll explain what I mean..." | | | | You have given us sweet, flavored water when |
| replied the wise treasurer and continued, pointing | | | | we |
| to a | | | | were thirsty without getting anything in return. |
| dead mouse on the street..."Do you see that | | | | We will do what you ask without question"The |
| dead mouse?... Yes?... Even without | | | | next morning the horse dealer arrived with five |
| any money, anyone with initiative could just pick | | | | hundred horses at the outskirts of the |
| up | | | | city."Strange! no one has come yet to sell me |
| that mouse and start a business""A dead mouse | | | | grass |
| as capital?!!!... Ha..Ha..Ha.." | | | | for my horses"He went to the market."No grass |
| laughed the treasurer's friend and the duo went | | | | in a city like Varanasi?""Where have all the |
| away.The young man stopped and gazed at the | | | | grass-cutters gone?"Just then the horse dealer |
| dead mouse."It sounds like an absurd idea... But | | | | came across the young man's |
| the treasurer must | | | | house and saw a big heap of grass |
| surely know what he is talking about!" thought | | | | bundles."Grass! At last! Young man, will you sell all |
| the young | | | | this grass to me? I'll pay you well for it" |
| man and hesitantly picked up the dead | | | | enquired the horse dealer.The young man said, |
| mouse."But what can I do with it? Who would | | | | "The grass is yours, Sir""Good! then help my man |
| want to buy | | | | load the cart""Here you are Sir, five hundred |
| a dead mouse?""Hey, pussy cat, come back! Ah! | | | | bundles of grass""And here's your payment--one |
| Now I know what has | | | | thousand coins"The young man was excited."One |
| attracted him" yelled a man who was passing by | | | | thousand coins! I can put these to good use"A |
| with | | | | day later..."Why is it so quiet here today? Is |
| his pet cat.The cat, attracted by the dead | | | | anything the matter?" |
| mouse, had jumped out | | | | enquired the young man, while strolling in the city |
| of it's owner's arms."My friend, will you sell your | | | | market."Everyone is away making preparations to |
| mouse to me? | | | | receive the boats |
| I'll pay you one coin for it." asked the cat | | | | that will be arriving tomorrow" replied a passer |
| owner."The mouse is yours!""The first coin I've | | | | by."Boats... arriving tomorrow?"An idea flashed like |
| earned!" the young man was excited."But what | | | | lightning. He bought new clothes |
| can I do with this small coin?... The wise | | | | and then went to hire a carriage."Send the |
| treasurer has said one must have | | | | carriage to my house early tomorrow morning. |
| enterprise...Hmm""Oh! I've got it. I must find out if | | | | Here's some money as advance"Very early the |
| there is a | | | | next morning, the young man rode in style |
| demand for something and then arrange to | | | | to the river harbor with his two friends and |
| supply it!" | | | | waited |
| thought the young man and went into a grocery | | | | to receive the visiting merchant.He was, naturally, |
| shop..."Give me one coin's worth of jaggery | | | | the first to greet the visiting merchant."Welcome |
| (sugar) please..."The next morning, the young man | | | | to Varanasi""I'm happy to meet you, Sir"The |
| filled a pot with drinking | | | | young man continued, "I want to buy all the |
| water mixed with jaggery and went to the | | | | merchandise |
| outskirts | | | | you have brought""Right. It's a pleasure to do |
| of the city."I'll wait here for the flower-gatherers | | | | business with you" |
| to | | | | replied the merchant.The merchant quoted a |
| return from work"In the forest, workers were | | | | price to which the young man readily |
| busy collecting flowers. | | | | agreed and said, "I need time to arrange the |
| It was late in the afternoon when they finished | | | | payment. |
| their work | | | | Meanwhile, here's my signet ring as a token of |
| and began returning to the city."It's so hot! and | | | | advance and security"Then the young man set |
| I'm so thirsty! There won't be any water | | | | up a small tent and said to |
| to drink till we reach the city", the workers | | | | his friends, "When the city merchants come, |
| felt."Ah! here they come!..." stood up the young | | | | bring them |
| man."Brothers, you must be tired. Have some | | | | in with due courtesy"At day break, a hundred |
| sweet-water...""Thank you, friend... May you live | | | | city merchants came to the harbor |
| long... All we can | | | | and met the visiting merchant."My friend, we |
| give you is this bunch of flowers from each one | | | | have come to do business with you!""I'm sorry, |
| of us. | | | | Sir. I've already sold everything" |
| How refreshed we feel after drinking that water! | | | | said the visiting merchant.The city merchants |
| May these flowers also make you happy..."Each | | | | were taken aback, "When?? To whom??""To that |
| of the workers gulped some water and gave him | | | | young merchant over there" came back the |
| a | | | | reply.The city merchants were shocked..."He's not |
| bunch of flowers in return. "Bring us water | | | | one of us! We can't let any new persons into |
| tomorrow as | | | | our trade or we'll be ruined! We'll lose our |
| well, my friend"--the workers left.The young man | | | | precious |
| took the flowers to the temple in the city. | | | | customers! let's buy him out! We'll make him an |
| There he sold sold them for eight coins.With the | | | | offer |
| money he earned, the young man bought a | | | | he can't refuse!" discussed the city merchants."All |
| bigger | | | | right, let's go to him" they decided."Welcome |
| pot and larger quantity of jaggery (sugar).The | | | | gentlemen! Welcome! Well, gentlemen, have you |
| next day he went back to the forest to give | | | | a proposal to offer?" the young man asked |
| drinking | | | | courteously."Sir, we would like to buy a share |
| water to flower-gatherers and even further | | | | each of the |
| away, | | | | total merchandise. We'll pay you handsomely... |
| to the fields where grass-cutters were | | | | thousand |
| working."Is anybody thirsty?""You won't find | | | | gold coins each... That will make it a hundred |
| anyone here who is not thirsty. | | | | thousand |
| Give me some water, son..." the grass-cutters | | | | gold pieces since there are hundred merchants |
| gracefully | | | | here. |
| drank the sweet-water."Brother, you are kind to | | | | But we need all the merchandise--all of it"Having |
| us. What can we do for | | | | agreed to the deal, the young man returned |
| you in return?""Nothing at present" replied the | | | | home. |
| young man."But... don't hesitate to ask us when | | | | "I still have a big amount left after paying |
| you need our help"A month passed by.One | | | | the visiting merchant. And I owe it all to |
| evening, the young man was returning home | | | | the treasurer's wisdom!"To express his gratitude, |
| when a | | | | the young man went to call |
| storm broke out.Everywhere the wind blew | | | | on the treasurer, taking half of his profits with |
| down leaves and dry branches."If there's money | | | | him."Sir, permit me to present you with these |
| in a dead mouse, there should be money | | | | coins as my |
| in these leaves and branches, too!"The next | | | | humble tuition fee for the lesson I learned from |
| morning he went to the palace garden and spoke | | | | you""But, I haven't seen you before! Haven't |
| to the gardener."You look worried, uncle. Can I | | | | taught |
| help you?""How can you? The garden is littered | | | | you anything!" said the surprised treasurer."Yes, |
| with branches... | | | | you have! I came by all my wealth in four |
| And the King is expected any moment now... I | | | | short months, simply by following your teachings" |
| don't know | | | | said the young man.Then he narrated the |
| how to clean the mess before he comes" wailed | | | | treasurer the whole story, |
| the gardener."I'll help you if I can keep the fallen | | | | starting with the dead mouse.The wise treasurer |
| branches" | | | | listened carefully and thought, |
| offered the young man."Take them, son... Only | | | | "This young man is extraordinarily clever. |
| take them away soon""I'll be back in a minute" | | | | Just the person I'd choose for my lovely |
| the young man left | | | | daughter"So, he married the young man to his |
| the messy garden.He didn't have to go far to | | | | daughter and |
| find a group of playing kids."Would you like to | | | | gave him all his family estates and happily said, |
| have some sugar candies?""Candies? Oh, | | | | "The goddess of success smiles on those who |
| certainly!" the kids shouted."Then come on, boys. | | | | show |
| I'll give you some. Everyone will | | | | INITIATIVE and ENTERPRISE. May you always |
| get his share... "The little kids were happy."Would | | | | be |
| you like to have some more? But you must earn | | | | so fortunate, my |
| it""Tell us what we should do! We are ready!" | | | | *************************** |
| shouted the excited kids."Then come with me. | | | | Copyright (C) 2004 Raam Anand With Raam's |
| You must collect all the fallen | | | | Joint |
| branches in the garden and heap them outside. | | | | Venture Manager, you could make 10.. 20.. even |
| That's easy! and fun too!"Quickly they gathered | | | | 30-times more money! |
| up the fallen branches and heaped | | | | |