The One-hundredth Prince
[Obedience to a Wise Teacher]
A long time ago, there was a king who had one hundred sons. His youngest son, Prince
Gamani, was a very energetic, patient and kind chap.
All the princes had their own teachers. And even though Prince Gamani was one-hundredth
in line to the throne, he was fortunate enough to have the best teacher. Someone with the
most learning and the wisest of them all. Nobody knew, but this honourable gentle teacher
was actually the rebirth of a Bodhisattva. He was like a father to Prince Gamani, who adored,
respected and obeyed him.
In those days, it was the custom of the country to send each educated prince to a different
province, to develop it and to help the people
.
When Prince Gamani was old enough for this
assignment, he went to his teacher and asked which province he should request. “Do not
select any province. Instead, tell your father that if he sends you, his one-hundredth son,
out to a province, there will be no son remaining to serve him in his home city,” advised
his teacher. Prince Gamani did as he was told, and pleased his father with his kindness
and loyalty.
Some time later, the prince again went to see his teacher. “How best can I serve my father
and the people here in the capital city?” he asked. The wise teacher replied: “Ask the king to
appoint you as the person-in-charge of fees and tax collection, and of benefits distribution
to the people. If he agrees, always remember to carry out your duties honestly and fairly,
with energy and kindness.”
As with the first time, the prince obeyed his teacher’s advice. Trusting his one-hundredth
son, the king was glad to assign these duties to him. When the young prince carried out his
duties - the difficult task of collecting fees and taxes, he was always gentle, fair and lawful.
When he distributed food to the hungry, and other necessities to the needy, he was always
generous, kind and sympathetic. Before long, the one-hundredth prince gained the respect
and affection of all.
Eventually, the time came for the king to go. His ministers asked him, on his deathbed,
who should be the next king. “All one hundred of my sons have a right to succeed me. The
decision on who should be the next king lies with the citizens,” he replied.
After he died, all the citizens agreed to make the one-hundredth prince their next ruler.
They crowned him King Gamani the Righteous because of his wholesome character.
When the ninety-nine older brothers heard what had happened, they felt insulted. Filled
with envy and rage, they prepared for war. They sent a message to King Gamani that reads:
“We are all your elders. Neighbouring countries will laugh at us if our country is ruled by
the one-hundredth prince. Either you give up the kingdom or we will take it by force!”
After he received this message, King Gamani took it with him to his wise old teacher, and
sought his advice.
“Tell your brothers you refuse to wage war against them. Tell them you will not help them kill
innocent people you have come to know and love. Tell them that, instead, you are dividing
the king’s wealth among all one hundred princes. Then send each one his portion,” advised
the wise teacher. Again, the king obeyed his teacher.
Meanwhile, the ninety-nine older princes had brought their ninety-nine small armies to
surround the royal capital. When they received the king’s message and their small portions
of the royal treasure, they held a meeting. They decided that each portion was so small it
was almost meaningless. Therefore, they would not accept them.
But then they realised that, in the same way, if they fought with King Gamani and then
with one other, the kingdom itself would be divided into many small worthless portions.
When that happened, each small part of the once great kingdom would be weak in the face
of any hostile country. So they sent back their portions of the royal treasure as offerings of
peace, and accepted the rule of King Gamani.
The king was pleased, and invited his brothers to the palace to celebrate the peace and
unity of the kingdom. He entertained them in the most perfect ways - with generosity,
pleasant conversation, providing kind instructions for their benefit, and treating all with
even-handed courtesy.
The king and the ninety-nine princes became close friends. Their ties were much stronger and
closer than they had been as brothers. It was also a well-known fact in all the surrounding
countries that they strongly supported one another. Thus, no one dared threaten the kingdom
or its people. After a few months, the ninety-nine brothers returned to their provinces.
In gratitude, King Gamani the Righteous invited his wise old teacher to live in the palace.
He honoured him with great wealth and many gifts, and even held a celebration for his
respected teacher, announcing to the full court: “I, the last-born among one hundred worthy
princes, owe all my success to the wise advice of my generous and understanding teacher.
Even the unity and strength of this kingdom are due to my beloved teacher. Likewise, all
who follow their wise teachers’ advice will earn prosperity and happiness.”
The kingdom prospered under the remaining rule of the generous and just King Gamani
the Righteous.
The moral is
✏
one is rewarded a hundred times more for following the advice of a wise
teacher.
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