The Tale of Sudhakar and Dayakar: Wisdom Over Wealth

As King Vikram carried Betal on his shoulder, Betal began to tell a story. 

Once, there was a wealthy merchant with two sons, Sudhakar and Dayakar. Sudhakar was handsome but not very clever, while Dayakar was intelligent and diligent. When it was time to expand the family business, the father entrusted it to Dayakar. 

One day, a rich man in town was seeking suitable matches for his two daughters. He had two suitors in mind: Sudhakar and another young man. The wealthy man’s elder daughter married the other suitor, but the younger, beautiful daughter married Dayakar.

Sudhakar, consumed by jealousy, took dishonest paths to amass wealth, believing he would gain more respect. Meanwhile, Dayakar continued his honest work and even saved a merchant and his servant from robbers. The grateful merchant rewarded him generously, further elevating his status. As a result, Dayakar’s wife received great admiration for her husband’s deeds, while Sudhakar’s wealth brought him little respect.

At this point in the story, Betal asked Vikram, “Which daughter did the rich man choose for Dayakar, and why?” 

Vikram replied, “The younger daughter married Dayakar because she recognized that character and wisdom offer a better life than mere wealth.”

**Moral: True worth lies in wisdom and integrity, not in wealth alone.**