King Vijendra and His Three Sons: A Test of Nobility

Once again, as King Vikram carried the spirit Betal on his shoulders, Betal began to recount a tale of wisdom and virtue.

Long ago, there was a king named Vijendra who possessed a rare and precious pink pearl, a jewel of unimaginable beauty. As he grew older, the king began to wonder which of his three sons was most worthy of inheriting this valuable treasure, as well as his kingdom. Unsure of their true character, he devised a test to determine who among them was most noble.

Calling his sons together, King Vijendra instructed them to live among the common people for a full year and to return only after they had each done a noble deed. “Show me your worth,” he said, “and the one who proves the noblest will inherit the pink pearl.”

Obediently, the three sons departed to fulfill their father’s wishes. After a year passed, they returned, eager to share their deeds.

The eldest son stepped forward first and spoke humbly, “During my time away, I worked in a jeweler’s shop. I was entrusted with valuable gems and had the chance to steal and disappear, but I remained honest. The jeweler came to trust me so deeply that he even handed me a bag of rare jewels, but I returned them all without a second thought.”

Next, the second son recounted his experience, “One day, I came across a child drowning in a river. I risked my own life to pull the child from the waters. His family blessed me, and I felt honored to have saved a life.”

Finally, the youngest son, with a thoughtful expression, spoke softly, “I wandered aimlessly for much of the year and could not find any opportunity to perform a grand deed. But on my journey home, I encountered a man asleep on a precarious cliff edge, where he could have fallen at any moment. When I drew closer, I realized he was an enemy of our family, a man who had wronged us. For a moment, I thought of leaving him there. But I could not bear the thought of harm coming to him. I gently woke him and warned him of the danger, saving his life.”

Hearing each son’s story, Betal posed a question to Vikram, “Who among the three sons deserves the pink pearl?”

Vikram, thoughtful as ever, replied, “The king will bestow the pearl upon his youngest son. The eldest showed honesty, a commendable trait. The second displayed bravery in saving a child’s life. However, the youngest exhibited true nobility by showing mercy to an enemy, overcoming personal grievances for the sake of humanity.”

Impressed, Betal flew away as Vikram’s answer echoed in the still night.

**Moral of the Story:** True nobility lies in forgiveness and mercy, especially towards those who may not deserve it. The greatest virtue is found not in strength or honor alone, but in the ability to transcend personal enmities for the greater good.