When the traveler reached the capital of the country, he wanted to meet the king. But the king was not in the palace. He had gone to the border, heading a small regiment of troops, to confront the dacoits, who had been creating trouble for the people living in that region.
"Should the king himself take up the task of fighting the dacoits?" asked the traveler, in amazement.
"The safety of the citizens is paramount to the king. Some dacoits from a neighbouring country have been intruding into our country, attacking and robbing the people in the border region for the past few months. The troops stationed in the border have been driving them out of the border, but the dacoits have been infiltrating into our country repeatedly. After knowing that it was the king of the neighbouring country who had been instigating the dacoits, our king decided to teach him a lesson. That's why he is leading the attack himself. Hearing that the king himself was leading the attacks against them, the dacoits ran away from our country, crossing the border and moving to the other side. The king of the neighbouring country would have realized that if he continued to indulge in such provocative acts, our king won't hesitate to lead our troops into his country and launch an attack. We expect that he won't indulge in such provocative acts again. However, our king has decided to camp in that region for some more time, to infuse confidence in the people of that region" said a palace official.
Unable to meet the king, the traveler desired to visit some places in around the capital.
One of the places visited by him was an old age home. Old people who had no one to look after them were given accommodation in that home. Arrangements were made to give them food and medical care.
The palace employee, who was sent with the traveler as his guide, proudly told him, "There are many such homes at various places in our country."
"There are two blocks in this home. You took me to one block. Who are residing in the other block?" asked the traveler.
After hesitating for a while, the guide told the traveler, "It is a home for the family members of people undergoing prison sentences, for crimes committed by them."
"Why do you have a separate home for such people? Will that home have poor facilities or will it be like a prison?" asked the traveler, derisively.
"Not at all. It is identical to the other home in terms of all comforts and facilities. Our king has provided a home for the family members of people convicted of various crimes, with the noble intension that people should not suffer on account of the wrongdoings of one of their family members" said the guide.
"If that was the intention, why should they be housed in a separate home? They could also have been given accommodation in the same home, where people of old age have been given!"
"There are two reasons. One is that the family members of the prisoners should not feel agonized, wondering what others would think of them, since one of their family members has been convicted of a crime. Secondly, the family of a convicted person will have members of various age groups, from children to women. So, each family should be accommodated together, unlike people in old age homes, which will house either individuals or couples. Moreover, facilities for educating the children in the families of prisoners are also available there" explained the guide.
"I am amazed by the compassion shown by your king even towards the family members of people convicted of crimes. But, when your king is so compassionate, he can as well pardon the culprits and spare them the imprisonment!" said the traveler.
"How can it be justified, sir? If a person committing a crime is pardoned and allowed to go scot free, will it not embolden other people to indulge in wrongdoings? Our king is very firm about punishing people who commit crimes. In fact, people consider our king's firmness towards punishing the wrongdoers another of his positive traits" said the guide, with pride.
vaduvanRu vEndhan thozhil.
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