The Needy

A Jataka tale
Somadutt was a son of a poor farmer. They had a small piece of land which his father cultivated and made enough to barely live on. As a young boy, Somadutt was saddened to see his father toil from morning to night. He thought an education followed by a good job would make a big difference to the situation. He didn't think that helping his father on the small piece of land would make much of a difference. So, he told his father, "Father, let me go to Takshashila and get educated, hopefully our woes will see their end."

Somadutt studied under a guru at Takshashila. After completing his studies, he found employment in the king's court in Benaras. He asked his parents to join him in Benaras but his father declined.

He kept toiling on the small piece of land. Soon, one of his bullocks died, and Somadutt's father became dejected. He decided to ask his son for help. He knew that Somadutt wouldn't have the money but he could probably ask the king for a favour. With that in mind, he set off to Benaras to meet his son. 

He met his son and told him about his troubles. Somadutt said, "O father, you're too old to toil; so is mother. Why don't you both come and stay with me? You'll be comfortable here." "No, son,the old man replied, I've lived on that bit of land all my life, and I intent to die there. Get me a bullock, and I shall live happily, cultivating my land."

Somadutt told his father that he couldn't ask the king for a favour as the king would think of him as greedy. He said, Besides, it is not fit for an employee of the court to beg for favours. You can tell the king about your problems and plead him to gift you a bullock. He may not deny you.

He promised his father that he would take him to the court the next day. He also taught him a couple of lines to tell the king. He learnt it by heart with great difficulty. At the court, he bowed to the king and his ministers. The king then asked him about the purpose of his visit. In his confusion, he garbled the lines and instead of asking for a bullock he offered the other bullock to the king.

Everyone burst out laughing. Somadutt hung his head in shame. "Have you come here to offer me your second bullock?"the king teased the old man. "Yes, your majesty", the old man replied boldly. "It has given me enough trouble already."

He then narrated all that had taken place. The king was very pleased with Somadutt's behaviour. Every employee in the court was in the habit of seeking petty favours from the king under some pretext or the other. But even in dire need, Somadutt had not done it.  The king ordered that eight pairs of oxen be dressed, decorated and handed over to the old man.