Fortune in Beard

Once upon a time there was
a man called Som who had a
lovely long beard. Naturally he
was very proud of this and
loved to boast that he had the
best beard in the area, but his
wife was very vexed because he
would not chop it off. One day
she said, "Why don't you cut
off this horrible growth? Of
what use is it to you?"

Som laughed and replied,
"Dear, don't be silly. My beard
will fetch me a fat profit. You
just wait and see. My beard is
to me what the corn stalks are .
to the field."

His wife remarked, "Pooh!
What nonsense you talk! As if
anyone will buy your beard off
you!"

Som chuckled, "Oho! No
ordinary man can buy my beard.
Only our king can afford to buy
my beard. Then 1*11 get a lot



of money and there'll be an end
to our poverty."

This conversation between
husband and wife was carried
on loudly enough for anyone in
the street to hear. Therefore
it was not surprising that the
king and his minister who were
doing their nightly rounds in
disguise heard it.

Next day Som was summoned
to the royal court. Perplexed
in the extreme and afraid he
might have offended the king
in some manner, Som begged
the guard for some time so that
he could make himself presen-
table. But the guard would not
listen to him and brought him
before the king.

In the court, the minister
addressed Som, "Som, the king
wants to buy the fine corn
stalks, waving on your face.
What price do you ask for
them?"




Som fell at his feet and said,
"Sire, I was only joking. For-
give me and I shall never speak
like this."

The minister laughed en-
couragingly. "Don't be afraid,
Som. In truth, the king wishes
to buy your fine beard."

Som replied, "Sire, I had no
money to pay the barber. That's
why I grew a beard. I thought
I would buy my wife a saree
with the money thus saved."

The minister said patiently.
"My dear fellow, I ' am not
joking. Sell your beard to us.
Come, what price will you
take?"

Emboldened by this Som rep-
lied, "Sire, ten rupees would be
enough."



The minister gave him ten
rupees, and Som parted with
his lovely long beard.

On reaching home, he called
his wife who took some time
to recognise him, so vast was the
difference between the shaggy
unkempt husband and the now
smooth shaven, handsome look-
ing man who faced her.

Som boasted, "See, I told
you, I'd make a fortune from
my beard. My beard is my
grainfield. The king paid ten
rupees for that. Of course, he
would have paid any amount I
asked for."

Now Som's neighbour's wife
eaves dropped on their conver-
sation. Her husband too had a
bushy beard. That pight she
said to him. "I hear that our
king is buying up beards. Our
neighbour Som sold his beard
and made a profit. Go and sell
your beard to the king. But
mind, ask for more. Don't be
content with ten rflpees."

So, Dom, that was the neigh-
bour's name, thought about his
wife's proposal and decided
to sell his beard. On an appoin-
ted day he presented himself
before the king who enquired
what he wanted.

Dom replied, "Sire, I under-
stand that you pay well for the



corn stalks that grow on the
face. Look at my facial corn.
See how it bends before the
breeze." Then Dom ran his
fingers through his beard
proudly.

The amused king looked at
his minister who asked, "Good
man, what price do you ask for
your facial corn?

"I 've tended this field for a
long time with loving care. Ten
thousand rupees is what 1 ask
for this lot," replied Dom.

"I see," said the minister who
had correctly gauged the man's
greed for money. "Yesterday
a simpleton wanted only ten
rupees for his harvest. But you
are cleverer. Yet you have not
informed the Government of
this secret business. Obviously
you have not paid any taxes so
far. Therefore we order you to
pay a penalty of ten thousand
rupees."



Dom was startled to hear this.
At once he fell at the minister's
feet and implored him to for-
give him.

"Sire, forgive me. Greed
blinded my eyes. In truth I
know nothing about any secret
business."

The whole Court laughed up-
roariously at Dom's discomfi-
ture.

The minister said sternly.
"Dom, the king helps the poor
and the needy in this manner.
But rich man like you should
not covet wealth like this. We
forgive you because this is your
first offence. Don't be jealous
of others. Go and let us hear
no more about this."

Dom ran from the Court and
shut himself up inside his house
and refused to see anybody for
shame. As for his wife, she
stopped her nasty habit of eaves-
dropping on others.