The Story About a Lesson for Kings in English

The short story, a lesson for kings, revolves around the kind, faithful, and truthful king named Brahma-Datta. After the death of his father the king, Brahma-Datta took the responsibilities of the kingdom and heard people's worries and issues with his full heart and determination. He always strives to solve everyone's issues to come to his hall of justice.

But when after a while, no one came to his hall of justice to seek answers and solutions to their problem he started doubting himself. He left the kingdom behind and went to places looking for someone who was brave enough to tell him his faults.

Origin of the Jacobs Lesson 

Jacob Joseph was a writer of English literature as well as an Australian folklorist. He wrote many books and series of stories in his fables and fairytale books. And the story of a lesson for kings is known as one of the Jacobs lesson in his well-renowned book Indian fairy tales. His book Indian fairy tales have multiple short stories that are famous among kids.

Explanation of a Lesson for Kings Summary 

Once upon a time, there was a king named Braham-Datta reigning in Benares. After a few months, he had a little boy and when the time came to name his son they called him 'prince Braham-Datta’. Soon with each passing day, as prince Braham-Datta turned 16, he went to Takkshasila to learn multiple artforms.

A few years later prince Braham-Datta's father died and he was named the king. Now, king Braham-Datta was ruling the kingdom with his ministers and delivering justice to everyone who came to his hall of justice. He was known for his righteousness and unbiased judgments among all. Everyone in his kingdom praised him and told him how he had always worked for his people.

After the last few hall of justice sessions, people stopped coming to the king's hall of justice, and he wondered why? He tried to find out but got no luck. The king was tired and started blaming himself for people not attending his judgment sessions. Soon after this, Braham-Datta decided to ask everyone in his kingdom to list his faults and weaknesses, but all he heard was his praise. Tired of this he handed over his kingdom to his ministers and decided to go look for someone who was able to list out his flaws and tell him his weaknesses.

He searched towns, borders, and different cities, but everyone he met was talking good about him. He felt helpless and was returning from one of the borders, where he met the king of Kosala, Mallika. He also ruled his kingdom with complete honesty and was facing the same issue as Braham-Datta.

When meeting each other, they stood in front of each other's way with their charioteers. Both kings' charioteers requested each other to make way for their kings, but both refused to do it first. They both talked and came to no conclusion. Then, king Mallika's charioteer said let's see who among both the kings is younger so the young will leave the way for the older, but both of them were of the same age.

After this, both the charioteers decided to make the decision upon their king's wealth, but that was equal. Moments passed with no conclusion, so they thought to decide based on righteousness. Braham-Datta's charioteers asked what kind of righteousness your king has?

He said:

"The strong he overthrows by strength,

The mild by mildness does Mallika;

The good he conquers by goodness,

And the wicked by wickedness too.

Such is the nature of the king"

Then king Braham-Datta's charioteer said

"Anger he conquers by calmness,

And by goodness, the wicked;

The stingy he conquers by gifts,

And by truth, the speaker of lies.

Such is the nature of this king"

Upon hearing this, Mallika's charioteer realised that his king had wickedness and righteousness both, whereas the king Braham-Datta had only righteousness in his decisions; therefore, he moved out of their way.

A Lesson for the King

Moral for the Story- A Lesson for Kings

By the lesson for kings summary, the moral of the story is very clear, which is to not take the blame for people's actions on yourself and never question your own decisions and righteousness. 

Note to Parents 

Parents must take time to narrate this simple yet fun short story about two kings and their search to find their weaknesses to the kids. With this story, kids will learn that in the end, if you are right and truthful, you must not find unnecessary evil in your judgments and decisions.