One day, when the padishah was receiving petitioners, a man came, stood in the far corner and did not ask for anything.
The padishah looked at this man and stroked his head. The man bowed and ran his hand over his mouth. The padishah stroked his face. Man is a throat. The padishah touched his stomach, the man touched his leg.
- I grant the petitioner a bar of gold! - said the padishah.
The treasurer obeyed. The silent petitioner accepted the gift and left.
The advisers of the right hand became terribly angry and asked the padishah:
- For what kind of service did you so generously reward the rootless ragamuffin?
“For the king,” answered the padishah, smiling. “I asked the wise man three questions and received three answers.”
- But we heard neither questions nor answers! - the vizier objected.
“He who has eyes sees, he who has mind understands,” the padishah smiled. “I stroked my head, and the sage understood my question.” And I asked:
“What oppresses us most?” “A careless word,” answered the sage. “And who is in danger of losing their face?” “To him,” answered the sage, “who lets his days and fortune pass through his throat.” “But isn’t man a slave to his stomach?” - I asked. “No,” answered the sage. “That’s why man was given legs, to search and find work and not miss anything from the wonders of the white world.”
The padishah looked at the courtiers and smiled for the third time:
-It is also useful for you to remember the wisdom spoken before you: “The mouth will lead to trouble, but the legs will lead to food.”
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru