The Four Treasure-Seekers

Panchtantra Stories

Therev were four Brahmins who lived in a city, which was suffering from utter poverty. Unable to bear it, they thought, "It is better to live in a forest where only wild animals live and no human beings than to suffer poverty. Sleeping on a bed of grass is better than leading forever a life of want and suffering."  So, they packed their bags and set out in search of prosperity and happiness. The learned have always said that the grief-stricken man always gives up truth, relatives, mother and even motherland. It was no wonder that the four Brahmins left their place and after several sojourns reached the great city of Ujjain. They bathed in Sipra river and went to the Maha Kaleswar temple. When they emerged from the temple after the worship of Kaleswar, Bhairavananda Swami, a sadhu, greeted them. All of them prostrated before him in reverence and accompanied him to his monastery.  The Swamiji asked the young men, "From where are you coming and where are you going? What brought you here?"  "We are in search of prosperity. For us, it is either death or wealth. You know that adventurous people achieve their goals even if they have to sacrifice their lives. Destiny is all-powerful. Still, nothing can be achieved without human effort. Wells, tanks and ponds become full when it rains. But man too brings water out of the earth by digging deep wells. So, please show us a way to achieve our goal," the Brahmin boys pleaded with the Swamiji.  Moved by their plight and determination, the Swamiji gave them four sanctified tablets and told them, "Each one of you takes a tablet and travel towards the Himalayas. Stop where the tablet slips out of your hand and look at that spot for treasures. Dig the treasures out and bring them back home and be happy."  They began their journey and after some days of travel, the tablet dropped from the hand of one of the four Brahmins. They stopped there and after digging the earth, they found plenty of copper. The first Brahmin told the others that all of them could mine as much copper as they could and take it home. The others said, "What is there in copper. Let’s go ahead." The first Brahmin said they could go if they wanted but he would go home taking all the copper he could carry.  The other three continued their journey till a tablet dropped to the ground from the hand of one of the three. They dug there and found plenty of silver. The second Brahmin suggested that they should be happy with the silver they found and go home. The other two said he could take all the silver if he wanted. They would, however, continue their search for gold. The second Brahmin, happy with what he had found, took silver and went home.  Now, the remaining two Brahmins trekked some more distance until a third tablet dropped. The two dug there and found gold. The third man said that gold was better than copper and silver and they must now go back because there was nothing more precious than gold. The fourth Brahmin did not agree and replied that he would continue his search. The third man took the gold and went home.  It was now the turn of the fourth man. He was now tired and thirsty, and on top of it he had lost his way and began wandering aimlessly. Then he saw a man completely soaked in blood and a wheel whirring over his head like a halo. The Brahmin went near him and asked, "Sir, who are you and what is this wheel over your head? Can you show me a place where water is available?" As he finished his questions, the wheel shifted from the stranger’s head and came over the Brahmin’s head.  Then followed a dialogue:  "What is this wheel which has come over my head," asked the Brahmin.  "I have no idea. It tormented me as it is doing to you now," the stranger said.  "At least tell me how I can get rid of it. It is so painful."  "If any person like you with a tablet comes here and talks to you, the wheel will shift on to his head."  "How long have you been bearing this hurt," asked the Brahmin.  "I have no idea. But I think it was in the reign of Lord Rama," said the stranger.