CHATURBHUJ
- Double Crosser

“Please excuse me for some time, O Sage!  All of a sudden I am feeling sick.”  King Narendra requested Chaturbhuj.

The minister agreed and the King hurriedly went away.  The eyes of Chaturbhuj showed that he was satisfied with the way his plan was progressing so far.

More than a day passed by.  In Amrapalli, King Sukhdeva knew that his minister could arrive any moment now.  As he was anxiously waiting for Chaturbhuj, he found a sage entering his chambers.  “Chaturbhuj!” he exclaimed and ran towards him.  Sukhdeva hugged his minister and said joyfully, “Oh! Chaturbhuj!  You have come back safely!”

“Yes, Maharaj!” responded the wise minister without much enthusiasm.

“What’s the matter, Chaturbhuj?  You look dejected.  Did everything work out as planned?”  the King asked looking at his minister.

Chaturbhuj removed a small gold-plated box and opened it.  There was a golden ring inside having a red pearl in the middle!  However, the King was not too pleased seeing it!

“Who’s ring is it, Chaturbhuj?” he asked his minister.

“Maharaj, Narendra tell s me that this is the divine ring which one of our ministers sent him.  He believes that this is the ring gifted to one of your ancestors!”

“What!  But this is not that ring!” the King exclaimed in dismay.

“I know, Maharaj!  From the description of the ring you gave me, I knew that this was not the one I was looking for.  But Maharaj, I could not tell Narendra about it for obvious reasons.  I feel that Salya has double-crossed him as well.  Let’s go and meet him.”

Sukhdeva agreed and both of them went to the prison cell where Salya was held captive.  After much grilling and threats, finally, Salya blurted out the truth, “Maharaj, after I returned to my chamber with your ring, a thought came to my mind.  King Narendra felt that the divine ring had a red pearl in it’s outlet which was not the case with the actual ring.  Therefore, if I send him some other attractive ring having a red pearl as it’s outlet and tell him that this is the priced possession of my King, he was likely to believe in it.  As Narendra was planning to make me the ruler of this kingdom, it would come to my advantage if I kept the real ring with me.  I was confident that Narendra would be able to defeat you, even without the possession of the divine ring, for he was superior to you in warfare.  A thought came to me that things might turn absurd for me if tomorrow some calamity befalls Narendra’s kingdom despite him having the ring.  But then I ignored this thought, thinking that such things would be seen into when they occur.  As I was in a hurry to attend the meeting you had called, for the time being I kept the ring in my locker and removed another one that was kept in a gold-plated box.    I called for my aide and gave him this ring alongwith a write-up where I mentioned as to how I did this theft.  In that write-up I also falsely wrote that I had somehow managed to get the description of the ring from you in one of our conversation.  I wrote this only to make him believe that the ring which I was sending him was genuine.  After the meeting you conducted that day was over, I came back and pondered as to where should I keep the ring so that it is not located even if a search is conducted in my house for it later.  Soon, I decided the spot and at that time, a guard informed me that you wanted to see me.  I first decided to keep the ring at the place I had decided and then come to meet you. I went to the garden that was to the back of my house.  I dug the ground, kept the ring inside it, filled up the dug-out place with mud and kept a flowerpot on it.  As there were similar pots around in the garden, I was sure that it would not raise anybody’s suspicions if my house is checked later for the ring. That was the actual reason as to why I was delayed to come to you and not because some subjects had come over to see me. Even though I am here in the prison, I felt that it was only a matter of time before Narendra attacks this kingdom that would enable me to cherish my dreams.” 

Both the King and Chaturbhuj were shocked to hear these words of Salya.  He had even betrayed a King who had promised to make him a ruler! 

Thereafter, Salya led the royal men who were accompanied by some guards to his wonderful garden that was replete with all kinds of lovely flowers that gave a sweet fragrance and made the atmosphere were lively and refreshing.  In one end of the garden, there were a few flowerpots, which were neatly arranged one after the other.  Salya went and put aside one flower plot and removed some mud, which was underneath it.  The King and Chaturbhuj stood beside watching with interest.  After some time, Salya’s muddy hands touched upon a red box which he handed over to the King who opened it and lo! There was the magnificent ring sparkling in gold and had a white pearl in the outlet which, too, shone like a diamond!  The King kissed the ring and looked at Chaturbhuj with wet eyes.  He embraced his minister who held him tightly saying, “I am happy for you, Maharaj.” 

Such was the radiance of the ring that the entire garden was filled with a brilliant ray of light and all the flowers and trees swayed in bliss as if expressing their joy on seeing this heavenly gift of the Lord! 

King Sukhdeva asked his guards to take Salya back to prison.  He returned to his chambers with Chaturbhuj and the ring.  “Now tell me all that happened in Narendra’s kingdom!” he told his minister completely relaxed. 

Chaturbhuj narrated everything in great detail and then concluded, “…Narendra was so upset by all that I said that he retired to his chambers for some time.  I was feeling very happy that things were working out just as I had wanted.  Soon, he returned and confessed that the ring was with him and that he was now feeling guilty for everything.  He told me that I had opened up his eyes and had now decided to return the stolen ring to you.  As he did not muster the courage to personally come and hand over the ring to you, he gave it to me and asked me to give it to you which I agreed.  When he gave me the ring, I was shocked!  I knew that this was not your ring!  I, soon, realised that Salya had betrayed Narendra by giving him some other ring.  Later, I told him that I would not proceed with my peace mission in his kingdom for my preaching to the people to follow the path of righteousness would hold no meaning when the King himself is so greedy and can go to any extreme for want of power.  After all, in the long run, his subjects will take an inspiration not from what I said but from the actions of their ruler, I pointed out to him.  He tried to change my mind but I was adamant.  I took the ring and came back to you.  I must admit, Maharaj that I felt my plan to be a failure when I did not get the divine ring from Narendra. Salya did give me the jitters!”  Chaturbhuj concluded. 

“That traitor!  He will have to spend the rest of his life behind bars!”  the King thundered.  His angry expression turned into a smile as he looked at his minister, “Thanks for all, Chaturbhuj.  Without you, I would have been in trouble!” 

“I only did my duty as your loyal servant, Maharaj.  One thing is certain, O King.  Narendra has great faith and veneration for sages which is what worked in my favour.  His faith in sages is tantamount to the trust you repose in all those who work under you which is what prompted Salya to commit the theft and get the confidence in him that he won’t be caught.”  the wise minister observed to which the King agreed.

Sage Suryananda who was narrating this story concluded, “King Sukhdeva did keep the ring back in that locker for he did not want to break the tradition followed by his ancestors.  It did not matter to him if Chaturbhuj was aware about this fact. The King’s trust in Chaturbhuj had only consolidated after the minister had helped him get back the ring.

So, dear children, both Salya and Chaturbhuj were very intelligent.  However, the difference lay in the fact that while Chaturbhuj used his intelligence for the benefit of the King and the kingdom as a whole, Salya utilised his aptitude to meet his own selfish ends which is what proved to be his undoing.  Also, never get very arrogant in life like King Sukhdeva.  He may have had to pay a very heavy price for this bad quality if not for his clever minister.”