The Generous King and the Trap of the Demon

Betal began narrating yet another story to King Vikram. In a distant kingdom, there lived a kind and benevolent king who was known for his immense generosity. He gave away large sums of money and resources to the poor, often without considering the kingdom’s own needs. His minister, Surya Prakash, was wise and understood the importance of balanced generosity. He advised the king to be mindful and save some wealth for the kingdom’s welfare, but the king often ignored his counsel.

One day, Surya Prakash went to the river and saw a beautiful woman floating on a branch. He swam across and helped her to shore. She introduced herself as a princess from another land, who had been cursed by a wicked demon and cast into the river. She explained that the demon had attacked her kingdom and taken control of it.

The princess pleaded with Surya Prakash to help her by informing the king. She hoped that the king, with his renowned generosity, would come to her aid, rescue her kingdom, and defeat the demon. Surya Prakash, moved by her plight, brought her back to the palace and told the king about her situation.

Overcome by his desire to help, the king decided to gather his forces to rescue the princess’s kingdom, despite his minister’s warnings that the kingdom’s resources were already stretched thin. The king set out, only to find that it was a trap; the princess was part of the demon’s plan to weaken the king’s forces. His army was ambushed, and he barely escaped with his life.

Upon returning, the king was devastated by the loss. Surya Prakash, blaming himself for not being able to prevent the king’s misfortune, was overcome with guilt and took his own life.

At the end of the story, Betal asked Vikram, “Who bears the greater responsibility for Surya Prakash’s death?”

Vikram replied, “The king bears the greater responsibility. His unchecked generosity and failure to heed wise counsel led to the loss of his army and the death of his loyal minister. Generosity must be tempered with wisdom, or it can cause harm instead of good.”

“Correct,” Betal replied, flying back to his tree.

**Moral:** True generosity is balanced by wisdom and foresight. This story reminds us that giving is virtuous, but when taken to excess, it can bring harm. Wise leaders must learn to balance compassion with caution.