The King's Acknowledgment

In a village lived a wealthy landlord. His son had gone abroad on business. Only the landlord, his wife, and his daughter-in-law remained at home.

One day, the daughter-in-law went to the village well to fetch water. She filled her pot, placed it on the edge of the well, and began to wash her hands and face. Just then, four travelers arrived. One of them stepped forward and said—"Sister, I'm very thirsty, please give me some water."

The daughter-in-law was wearing simple clothes at the time. She didn't think it appropriate to offer water at the well. There was neither a glass nor a cup. So she directly asked the travelers—"Brother, first tell me, who are you?"

The traveler replied, "I am a traveler."

The daughter-in-law smiled and said...

"There are only two kinds of travelers on this earth. Which one are you?"

The traveler was speechless. He couldn't answer and quietly moved away.

The second traveler came forward.

"Sister, I am a poor man, please have mercy and give me some water."

The daughter-in-law replied...

"There are only two kinds of poor people. Which one are you?"

The second traveler was also taken aback.

Now the third traveler came forward.

"For God's sake, give me some water, sister, I am an uneducated man."

The daughter-in-law replied...

"There are only two kinds of uneducated people in this world. Which one are you?"

The third traveler was also confused.

Finally, the fourth traveler said...

"Sister, I am a complete fool. I'm dying of thirst, just give me a sip of water."

The daughter-in-law immediately said...

"There are only two kinds of fools in this world. Which one are you?"

The four travelers, disheartened, began to leave without drinking any water. Just then, the daughter-in-law called out...

"Brothers, my house is nearby. Come there, I will serve you water comfortably."

The daughter-in-law picked up her pot and went home by another route, changed into nice clothes, and when the travelers arrived, she served them water and jaggery.  The landlord (father-in-law) witnessed all this. He seethed with anger. He thought to himself...

"My daughter-in-law is alone at home, and she's inviting strangers and laughing and talking with them. If I remain silent today, who knows what will happen tomorrow?"

He went straight to the king and lodged a complaint.

The king immediately sent soldiers to summon the daughter-in-law.

The mother-in-law became worried...

"Daughter-in-law, have you had an argument with anyone?"

The daughter-in-law replied...

"Don't worry, Mother, one who follows the path of truth never fears."

The daughter-in-law said to the soldiers...

"First go and ask the king in what capacity he is summoning me—as a daughter, a sister, or a daughter-in-law?"

The king replied...

"As a daughter-in-law."

The daughter-in-law arrived at the court in a palanquin.

The king asked in a stern voice—"Why did you invite strangers into your house?"

The daughter-in-law calmly replied...

"Maharaja, it is the duty of every householder to offer water to the thirsty. But my condition at the well was not suitable for offering water to travelers. Therefore, I asked them difficult questions to gain some time. When they couldn't answer, I brought them home and offered them hospitality there."

The king was impressed. He asked curiously—"But what were those difficult questions?"

The daughter-in-law said...

"There are two true travelers in this world—the sun and the moon."

"There are two truly poor—the daughter-in-law and the cow, because both are dependent on others."

"There are two illiterates—food and water, because they never read books, they simply follow their own path."

"And as for fools…"

The king became curious...

"Yes, tell me, who are the two fools?"

The daughter-in-law folded her hands and said...

"The first fool is my father-in-law, who tried to defame his daughter-in-law without even asking."

The landlord felt ashamed. He bowed his head.

The king then asked...

"And the second fool?"  The daughter-in-law replied...

"The second fool is you yourself, Your Majesty. You too summoned me to the court without knowing the truth and questioned my honor."

At first, the king was furious, but when he thought about it carefully, he realized the daughter-in-law was absolutely right. He praised her wisdom in front of everyone and honored her with many gifts.

From that day onwards, it was said throughout the village...

"In a house where there is such a wise daughter-in-law, foolishness can never prevail."

Read more : - The Monk and the Prostitute