A horse dealer from somewhere far away brought several herds to one city. The local badshah bought all the horses from him. Then he gave him one hundred thousand rupees in addition and said:
- Buy more horses with this money and bring them to me.
The dealer took the money and went to his homeland.
A few days later, the Badshah called his jester - and this jester often made his master laugh and entertained - and ordered him:
- Write down the names of fools you know and show me!
- Lord! — the jester reported. “Your slave has already compiled a list of fools.”
“Tell their names,” ordered the badshah.
“Your blessed name is first on the list,” answered the jester.
- Why is that? — the badshah was surprised.
“Because, sir,” exclaimed the jester, “you deigned to give that foreign merchant one hundred thousand rupees without any collateral, and if he does not bring the horses, you will not be able to punish him.”
- Well, if it does, what will you do then? - asked the badshah.
“Then,” said the jester, “I will put his name in place of your honorable name.”
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru