A Tribute to Pay

 

A long time ago, a distant land was ruled by a king. He was brave and kind but he had one flaw, he was very greedy. He didn't always want an expensive gift but he wanted to be given some gift or the other.

One day, the king decided to tour his kingdom. He stepped out of the palace gates and there, he found a Iman standing with a nice, fat hen in his hand. The man bowed low and said, "Your Majesty! I am Gopal. I won this hen by gambling in your name. It's yours!" The king was very pleased indeed. He beamed at Gopal and said, "Give the hen to my poultry keeper." Gopal agreed and went away. The king was so pleased with what had happened and he promptly forgot about his tour and returned to the palace.

The next day, he again decided to go out. Yet again, he saw Gopal standing outside. But this time, he had a healthy sheep with him. "Well my man what have flaw: fault or defect; bowed to bend over; gambling: playing games of chance for money or any reward beamed to smile with obvious pleasure; pleased: to or show pleasure and satisfaction feel promptly: immediately with no delay you won in my name today?" asked the King. "Your Majesty, I won this sheep. It's yours," replied Gopal bowing low. The king was really pleased.

He said, "Excellent, give it to my shepherd," and returned to the palace.When the third day came, the king couldn't wait to see what gift Gopal had brought for him. When he went out, he found Gopal standing between two tough men. There was no sign of the gift today. The king was disappointed and asked, "What have you brought for me, Gopal? I don't see anything!" Gopal simply bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I don't have anything to give you today." "What? Didn't you gamble in my name?" asked the king. "I did, your Majesty but I didn't win anything. In fact, I lost all my money and I owe these men five hundred gold coins each," replied Gopal.

"Since I played in your name, you owe me five hundred gold coins each," he continued. The king was shocked and said, "Owe them? It was you who gambled, not I!" Gopal smiled and said, "Well, Sir! That's true. I was the one who gambled but I did it in your name and gave you all my winnings. Similarly, all my losses are also yours!"

The king realised his folly and thought, "I've been very foolish and greedy. Now, I've to pay for it." He turned to his minister and told him to get the money from the treasury. The king paid to the men and turning to Gopal, he said, "I accepted your gifts without realising that there could be a price to pay. I've paid your debt today but don't ever let me catch you gambling again." Gopal bowed low and promising never to gamble again, went away.

 

D. Answer the questions.

1.       How would you describe the king?

Answer: The king was described as brave, kind, but also very greedy.

2.       How did Gopal win the hen and the sheep?

Answer: Gopal won the hen and the sheep by gambling in the king's name.

3.       Why was the king pleased to meet Gopal?

Answer: The king was pleased to meet Gopal because he brought him gifts won through gambling.

4.       Why did the king forget about his tour and return to his palace?

Answer: The king forgot about his tour and returned to his palace because he was pleased with the gifts Gopal brought.

5.       What did the king decide the next day?

Answer: The next day, the king decided to go out again to see what gift Gopal would bring him.

6.       What happened on the third day?

Answer: On the third day, Gopal appeared before the king with two tough men, having lost all his money in gambling.

7.       What did the king realize at the end?

Answer: At the end, the king realized his own folly and greed. He also understands that there could be a price to pay for his desires.

8.       Why did the king pay the money to the men?

Answer: The king handed over money to the men because Gopal convinced him that since Gopal gambled in the king's name, the losses were the king's responsibility.