Rash action

The Greedy Weaver

In a city, there lived a weaver. One day, when he I was weaving choth, the wooden frames of ha koom goe damaged. He went to the forest, looking for suitable wood to make new frames with. From the forest, he wandered towards the seashore, where he saw a bage tree. He thought that if he could cut wood from that huge tree, it would last him through out his life.

A vaksha lived in that tree. Disturbed by the axe, he called out to the weaver as he started cutting the tree. O weaver, this is not just a tree, it is my home. two. I am protecting it. I'm well settled and very comfortable here, enjoying the cool breeze from the sea. "Sir," said the weaver, if I don't get some good wood, my family will starve and die. So, could you please go to another tree? I need to cut this one'

'If you do not cut the tree, I will grant you a boon,' said the yaksha.

'Sir, in that case,' said the weaver, putting down his axe. 'I will go home and discuss this with my wife and friends. May I ask for the boon later?"

The yaksha agreed and the weaver went home. On his way, he met his friend, a barber.

"Friend, the weaver said to the barber, 'a yaksha has promised to give me a boon. He has given me time to consult my friends and my wife. What do you think I should ask for?'

'Ask for a kingdom, nothing less,' said the barber, promptly. "You'll be the king and I'll be your minister. Then both of us can enjoy life here.

'It sounds good, but, let me also ask my wife,' said the weaver.

The barber warned the weaver against asking his wife. He said, 'A wise man can give his woman fine clothes, pearls and diamonds, but should never con- sult her on his affairs, because women have less wits. A great teacher has said that a home run by women, children or tricksters will be ruined in the end. The weaver said he would, nevertheless, consult his wife. He told his wife about the yaksha and the boon. He also told her that his friend, the barber, had advised him to ask for a kingdom. His wife said, "O my lord, you think a barber

is intelligent? Do not listen to him. No wise man would consult children, barbers, servants or beggars. Kingship has too many problems from conspiracies, many plots and treason, and no peace. It was for the sake of the kingdom that Lord Rama lived in the forest, the Pandava brothers fled into exile, the Yadava dynasty disappeared and King Nala embraced anonymity. Do you still want a kingdom?

"Therefore," said the weaver's wife, 'no wise man will take on kingship since it leads to to hardships of all kinds.

My dear Wife, the weaver replied, 'you speak the truth. Please tell me what I should ask for.

Every day you weave a single piece of cloth, the wife said. "Its sale is barely enough to meet our daily needs. Therefore, ask for another head and two more hands. You can weave two pieces of cloth every day. The first piece will help us meet our daily needs, and the second one, our special needs. We can then live comfortably and happily.

he weaver was happy with his wife's advice. He went to the yaksha.

"Sir,' he prayed, 'you had been kind enough to grant me a boon. I request you to give me two mont hands and an extra head.'

The weaver felt a slight tingling sensation and soon he had four hands and two heads! Dreaming of a rosy future, he walked towards home. On the way, some people mistook him for a monster and beat him up with sticks and stones. The poor weaver died on the spot.

The fourth Brahmin continued, "That's why our elders have said, "Whoever wants the impossible or dreams too much gets much sadness in return, like the miserly Brahmin.""