Creating generosity, while moving up the ladder

One day, a king named Bhoj was passing near a field outside his city. There he observed something very peculiar. As he and his soldiers 

approached the field, the farmer of the field screamed and shouted, “Stay away, stay away, you and your horses will destroy the crops. Don’t you have any pity on poor people such as me?” Surprised by the behaviour of the cantankerous farmer, Bhoj moved away. 

But as soon as he turned his back, the farmer changed his tune to say, “Where are you going, my king? Please come to my field, let me water your horses and feed your soldiers . Surely you will not say no to the hospitality of this humble farmer?” 

Not wanting to hurt the farmer, though amused by his turnaround, Bhoj once again moved towards the field. Again the farmer shouted, “Hey, go away. Your horses and your soldiers are damaging what is left of my crop. You wicked king, go away.” Bhoj once again turned away. Again the farmer changed his tune, “Hey, why are you turning away? Come back. You are my guests. Let me have the honour of serving you.”

Bhoj wondered what was happening. This happened a few more times. Bhoj observed the farmer carefully. He noticed that whenever the farmer was rude, he was standing on the ground. But whenever he was hospitable, he was standing on top of a mound in the middle of the field. Bhoj realised that the farmer’s split personality had something to do with the mound. He immediately ordered his soldiers to dig the mound in the centre of the field. Naturally, the farmer did not like this and began protesting. But Bhoj paid scant attention to him. 

Within the mound, the soliders found a wonderful golden throne. As Bhoj was about to sit on it, the throne spoke up, “This is the throne of Vikramaditya, the great. Sit on it only if you are as generous and wise as he was. If not, you will meet your death on the throne.” The throne then proceeds to tell Bhoj thirty-two stories of Vikramaditya, each extolling a virtue of kingship, the most important virtue being generosity. Thus through these stories, Bhoj learnt 

what it takes to be a good king. 

The “32 tales of Vikramaditya’s throne” is part of Indian folklore. They are often inappropriately referred to as children’s stories, but in fact they were never meant to entertain children ; they were meant to shape the mind of future leaders. 

And so very few people notice the most interesting part of this story —what does the king’s throne do the farmer? It makes him generous. The farmer is insecure and selfish when on the ground. As soon as he is on top of the mound, he becomes generous. On the ground, he is the common man. On top of the mound, he is what a king should be. 

The second part of the story is equally interesting . The throne does not let Bhoj sit on it. “Are you as worthy and generous as Vikramaditya ?” it asks through its many stories. So we are left wondering — does the throne transform a man into a king, hence generous, or must a man first transform into a generous soul and thus become worthy of the throne? 

Either way, generosity seems to the hallmark of kingship, hence leadership, at least in Indian folklore. 

Animals do not give. They can only take. Through strength and cunning, they take food and shelter, in order to survive. Humans however can give food and shelter enabling others not only to survive but also to thrive. Thus generosity is most peculiar to humans; and the one who displays it most magnificently, is recognised as king. A king or leader is ‘creator of opportunities’.