The One-hundredth Prince

Obedience to a Wise Teacher

A long time ago, there was a king who had one hundred sons. His youngest son, Prince Gamani, was a very energetic, patient and kind chap.

All the princes had their own teachers. And even though Prince Gamani was on-hundredth in line to the throne, he was fortunate enough to have the best teacher. Someone with the most learning and was the wisest of them all. Nobody new this but the honorable teacher was actually the rebirth of a Bodhisattva. He was like a father to Prince Gamani, who adored, respected and obeyed him.

In those days, it was the custom of the country to send each educated prince to a different province, to develop it and to help the people. When Prince Gamani was old enough for this assignment, he went to his teacher and asked which province he should request. "Do not select any province. Instead, tell your father that if he sends you, his one-hundredth soc, out to a province, there will be no son remaining to serve him in his home city," advised his teacher. Prince Gamani did as he was told, and pleased his father with his kindness and loyalty.

Some time later, the prince again went to see his teacher. "How best can I serve my father and the people here in the capital city?" he asked. The wise teacher replied: "Ask the king to appoint you as the person-in-charge of fees and tax collection, and of benefits distribution to the people. If he agrees, always remember to carry out your duties honestly and fairly, with energy and kindness."

As with the first time, the prince obeyed his teacher's advice. Trusting his one-hundredth son, the king was glad to assign these duties to him. When the young prince carried out his duties - the difficult task of collecting fees and taxes, he was always gentle, fair and lawful. When he distributed food to the hungry, and other necessities to the needy, he was always generous, kind and sympathetic. Before long, the one-hundredth prince gained the respect and affection of all.

Eventually, the time came for the king to go. His ministers asked him, on his deathbed, who should be the next king. "All one hundred of my sons have a right to succeed me. The decision on who should be the next king lies with the citizens," he replied.

After he died, all the citizens agreed to make the one-hundredth prince their next ruler. The crowned him King Gamani the Righteous because of his wholesome character.

When the ninety-nine older brothers heard what had happened, they felt insulted. Filled with envy and rage, they prepared for war. They sent a message to King Gamani that reads: "We are all your elders. Neighbouring countries will laugh at us if our country is ruled by the one-hundredth prince. Either you give up the kingdom or we will take it by force!"

After he received this message, King Gamani took it with him to his wise old teacher, and sought his advice.

"Tell your brothers you refuse to wage war against them. Tell them you will not help them kill innocent people you have come to know and love. Tell them that, instead, you are dividing the king's wealth among all one hundred princes. Then send each one his portion," advised the wise teacher. Again, the king obeyed his teacher.

Meanwhile, the ninety-nine older princes had brought their ninety-nine small armies to surround the royal capital. When they receive the king's message and their small portions of the royal treasure, they held a meeting. They decided that each portion was so small it was almost meaningless. Therefore, they would not accept them.

But then they realised that, in the same way, if they fought with King Gamani and then with one another, the kingdom itself would be divided into many small worthless portions. When that happened, each small part of the once great kingdom would be weak in the face of any hostile country. So they sent back their portions of the royal treasure as offerings of peace, and accepted the rule of King Gamani.

The king was pleased, and invited his brothers to the palace to celebrate the peace and unity of the kingdom. He entertained them in the most perfect ways - with generosity, pleasant conversation, providing kind instructions for their benefit, and treating all with even-handed courtesy.

The king and the ninety-nine princes became close friends. Their ties were much stronger and closer than they had been as brothers. It was also a well-known fact that in all the surrounding countries that they strongly supported one another. Thus, no one dared threatened the kingdom or its people. After a few months, the ninety-nine brothers returned to their provinces.

In gratitude, King Gamani the Righteous invited his wise old teacher to live in the palace. He honoured him with great wealth and many gifts, and even help a celebration for his respected teacher, announcing to the full court: "I, the last-born among one-hundred worthy princes, owe all my success to the wise advice of my generous and understanding teacher. Likewise, all who follow their wise teachers' advice will earn prosperity and happiness."

The kingdom prospered under the remaining rule of the generous and just King Gamani the Righteous.

The moral is: One is rewarded a hundred times more for following the advice of a wise teacher.
The Bodhisattva: The best teacher