Don’t speak to offend others | English short story
A king named Vijayavarma came to the country called Vijayapuri. In his court there was a minister named Mahipalan. He was a man full of a sense of humour and wit and had the power to speak according to the situation.
But, he was very dwarf in appearance. Once King Vijayavarma sent him as an ambassador to a neighbouring country. The king of that country was fond of speaking to offend others.
Immediately, he looked at the minister and sarcastically asked, “Isn’t there a better person than you to be sent as an ambassador?. Your King has sent such a dwarf person as an ambassador.”
Hearing this speech, Minister Mahipalan got angry. Knowing the situation he was in, he suppressed his anger. Immediately he looked at the king and said, “O king, there are many proud-looking people in our country.
Everyone will be surprised to see their appearance. When they wake up, their heads cover the sun. If they take one step, they will cover upto a kilometre,” he said.
Hearing this, the king asked, “If such people are in your country, why did they send a dwarf like you here as an ambassador?”
The minister was greatly distressed by this. Immediately he said, “O King, our country has a custom, according to that custom they have sent me here as an ambassador.”
“What is the custom of your country?” asked the king sharply. Immediately the minister replied as follows, “Sir, it is the custom of our king to send ambassadors according to the nature of each country.
Our king sends wise ambassadors to the wise king’s ruling country. And a foolish ambassador to the fool king’s ruling country. I am the biggest idiot in our country. That is why he has sent me as an ambassador to this country,” he said.
Hearing this, the king bowed his head in shame. He thought to himself that he should not hurt anyone’s feelings from now on. That’s how he followed in life.
Moral : One should not speak to offend others. Those who speak like that will be disgraced themselves. So, always talk in a way that pleases others.