The Minister nodded his head acknowledging the King's command, puzzled why the King wanted to take him along.
That evening, the King and the Minister disguised themselves as ordinary people and went to a place about ten miles from the palace. It was quite dark when they reached that place.
They got down from the chariot in which they travelled and sent the chariot back to the palace, instructing the charioteer to bring the chariot back to the same spot, the next morning around the time of sunrise.
After entering the village, the King stopped a man walking on the street and asked him, "Sir! We are coming from a far off place. We are heading towards the palace with a desire to see the King. Since it has become dark, we would like to halt at this village and resume our journey tomorrow. Can you suggest a place where we can stay for the night?"
"I can have you stay in my house. But there is a rule in our village that if any stranger visits our village, we should inform our village head about it. So, I will inform our village head about your visit and come back. I will be happy to accommodate you in my house, after I get the clearance from our village head" said that man.
"Why should you inform your village head about a stranger visiting your village? Is your leader an autocrat?" asked the King.
"Sir! Please don't use such words about him. Our leader is a noble person. He has made this rule, only for the purpose of protecting us from any harm from unsavoury visitors" said the man.
"What if someone doesn't inform him?"
"Our village head is a kind man. But, if someone violates rules, he will act strictly against that person. That is why every one in the village loves him, even while respecting him. Till now, no one in the village has acted against his instructions. You can come with me and meet our leader. You can see for yourself what sort of a person our leader is."
When they went to the village head's house, he was reading some palm leaves.
The man who took them there, told the village head about the purpose of their visit.
The village head told them, "My family members are away. So, you can stay in my house. Just a minute, I will arrange some food for you two" and got up from his seat.
"Don't bother, sir. We had had our food on the way" said the King.
The person who brought them there took leave of them.
The King and the Minister took their seats on the pial of the village head's house.
"May I know what book you are reading?" the King asked the village head.
"This is a book on the moral values to be followed by people. Since a leader has to be well versed in ethics, morals and principles of justice and equity, I am reading this book."
"If there is any dispute among some people in your village, will you adjudicate the dispute?" asked the King.
"People will come to me with a request to adjudicate the issue. I will have a wise man sit with me while hearing the dispute, take his advice and then decide" said the village head.
The King and the Minister returned to the palace the next morning.
"What do you think of the village head we met yesterday?" the King asked the Minister.
"Oh, he is a fine man. Even at the young age, he has maturity of thinking. He has the welfare of his people in his mind. He has created a system of getting any visitor to the village vetted by him, by making a rule that any stranger visiting the village should be reported to him. He has been enforcing the rule strictly for the safety of the villagers. Care and concern for his people while also being strict with them if they violate any rule, realizing the need to be well versed in the principles of ethics, morality and justice and reading books on these subjects to enhance his knowledge, taking the counsel of wise men when needed - these are the qualities which we were able to see in him, even during the short period of our interaction with him. He has the noble traits of wisdom, love and affection, learning and firmness. May I know how you came to know of him? Why did you take me along when you went to meet him?"
"During my rounds in various parts of the country, I came to know about this person For a few days, I observed him from a distance. The reason I took you along with me is to facilitate your meeting him and then ascertain from you whether he has the qualities needed in a minister" said the King, with a smile.
"What do you mean, Your Majesty?" asked the Minister, even as he began to discern the meaning of the King's words.
"Sometime back, you have conveyed to me your intention to retire from your post. So, I not find a replacement for you. How is my selection?" asked the King, with a feeling of pride.
"Your choice is excellent, Your Majesty. But, I am wondering whether I possess the traits of the person you are going to appoint as my successor" said the Minister. unpretentiously.
Section 2
Being A Minister
vankaN kudi kAththal kaRRARidhal ALvinaiyOdu
aindhudan mANdadhu amaichchu.
Verse 631
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