பயன்மரம் உள்ளூர்ப் பழுத்தற்றால் செல்வம்
நயனுடை யான்கண் படின்.
Once there lived a king called Dhanasekara Pandiyan. He ruled a region near mysore. He was a wise king. He always worked and thought of the welfare of his people. He was known for his good and kind deeds. People lived happily in his reign.
One day he went for hunting. He saw an oldman who was cutting trees and gathering firewood for his livelihood. The king was worried why the oldman was working so hard even in this age. The king stopped there and asked the oldman, “Why are working so hard? You don’t have kids to take care of you.”? The old man replied, “I have two sons they are married and living in town with their kids. They are already struggling for their livelihood. So I don’t want to disturb them. I’m living with my wife in the near village.
When the king heard this, the king provided a portion of the land in the forest with sandalwood trees from his region as relief to the woodcutter in his own country. As a result, the woodcutter was filled with immense joy. The king was delighted because he had offered the woodcutter’s relief as a generous gift. However, the woodcutter continued to cut down the sandalwood trees. Each tree fetched a price of one lakh. With that, he considered himself fortunate to have a house, land, and wealth.
Years passed by, and the king once saw a wealthy merchant on the way to his palace And also all the people respected him when he crossed by. The king was eager to know about the merchant and why people weree fond of him. So he called upon his soldiers to bring that wealthy man to his palace.
That respected man stood before the king with great joy and humility. The king looked at that respected man and asked, “Sir, who are you? What is the reason that these people hold you in high regard?”
Immediately, that respected man looked at the king and said, “O king, don’t you recognize me? I was the woodcutter who approached you many years ago. I saw the hardship in poverty and you provided me with the relief of the sandalwood trees. I sold those trees for a good price and became a wealthy man.”
The king was filled with immense joy. Then he looked at that respected man and asked, “What is the reason that the people hold you in such high regard?”
“O king, with the wealth I obtained, I have built schools for the poor and established a hospital. I have helped some start their own businesses by providing them with capital,” he replied.
Therefore, he said, “That is why the people show affection towards me.” That respected man understood how his actions are bringing about all the blessings and counted them in his heart, feeling delighted.The king praised that respected man as well.
Performing acts of charity is noble. When each of us shows kindness to others, many people benefit from it. Therefore, we should all cultivate the habit of performing acts of charity.
