Folk-lore of the Telugus/A Wise Counsel
XXXII.
A WISE COUNSEL.
In Bengal there was a king who built a huge fort and lived in it with a very large retinue, and was invincible so long as he remained in the fort.
Now, a tributary king (polygar) conceived the idea of somehow drawing the king out of his fortress, confining him in prison, and occupying his vast dominions. With this object, he went to the king one day and informed him that on the morrow his son's marriage was to be celebrated, and requested the king to be present on the auspicious occasion. The king consented, but his minister heard the news, approached him, and said:—"You have entertained, I hear, thoughts of going to the Poly gar's house. He is a man full of tricks and has large forces. I am sure he will do you some mischief, once you are away from the fort. Do not go to the Polygar." To which the king replied:—"What care we how full of tricks he is? He has been so long faithful to us, and, judging him from his antecedents, he will not, we think, do us any harm. Had he entertained such thoughts, why did he not invade our dominions while we remained in the fortress?"
The minister replied:—"As you are invincible, so long as you remain in the fort, he dare not do you any harm. He therefore seeks your friendship. But should you once go out of the fort, you are helpless. He will not suffer the auspicious moment to pass away. He will show you then his spite. To give you an example, the lotus, so long as it remains in water, spreads forth its petals despite the heat of the sun, the sun all the while aiding it. But once it comes out of its proper element (water), the same sun makes it wither away. It is the same with the Polygar and yourself.
The king was exceedingly pleased with these words and refrained from going to the Polygar.