This profound story revolves around a king who loved sculptures more than anything else. His obsession with collecting idols led him to travel far and wide, amassing a grand collection in his palace. Among them, three idols held a special place in his heart—so much so that everyone knew breaking them would mean severe punishment.
But when a servant accidentally shatters one of them, the king’s extreme reaction leads to an unexpected twist—one that teaches him the difference between love and justice, between attachment and fairness.
The King’s Obsession with Idols
The king was a passionate art collector. His palace housed exquisite statues from distant lands, each carefully maintained. However, three clay idols were his most treasured possessions.
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He personally supervised their cleaning.
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Any damage to them was considered unforgivable.
One day, while a servant was cleaning them, one idol slipped from his hands and broke.
The King’s Fury and the Servant’s Unexpected Reaction
Upon hearing the news, the king flew into a rage and immediately sentenced the servant to death.
But then, something shocking happened.
Instead of begging for mercy, the servant deliberately smashed the remaining two idols.
Everyone, including the king, was stunned.
The Servant’s Wisdom: A Lesson in Justice
When the king demanded an explanation, the servant replied calmly:
“Your Majesty, these idols are made of clay—fragile and temporary. They were never meant to last forever. If they broke under someone else’s care in the future, another innocent person would have been executed like me. Since I was already condemned, I destroyed the other two to save future lives.”
The king was struck with remorse.
He realized:
✔ His attachment had blinded his judgment.
✔ Justice should never be swayed by personal emotions.
✔ A ruler must be fair, not vengeful.
He immediately pardoned the servant.
The Deeper Lesson: Acceptance of Divine Will
The king, humbled, asked the servant:
“How could you face death so calmly? Why didn’t you curse fate?”
The servant then shared a story from his past:
The Bitter Cucumber and the Lesson of Gratitude
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He once worked for a wealthy merchant who often cursed God when things went wrong.
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One day, the merchant bit into a bitter cucumber and angrily gave it to the servant.
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The servant ate it without complaint, saying:
“Master, you give me delicious food every day. If once in a while something bitter comes, why should I complain?”
Moral:
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Life is a mix of sweet and bitter moments.
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If we accept blessings with gratitude, we must also accept hardships with patience.
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Everything—birth, life, and death—is divine will.
The king finally understood:
“True wisdom lies in accepting both joy and suffering as God’s grace.”
Key Takeaways from the Story
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Justice Over Emotion
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A ruler (or anyone in power) must rise above personal bias when delivering justice.
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Fairness should never be compromised for attachment.
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Selflessness Saves Lives
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The servant, facing death, thought of others—preventing future unjust executions.
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Divine Wisdom in All Things
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Complaining against fate is futile.
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Acceptance and gratitude lead to inner peace.
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Material Possessions Are Temporary
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The king’s idols were just clay—yet he valued them more than a human life.
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Final Reflection
This story forces us to question:
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Do we punish others unfairly for our own attachments?
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Do we complain when life turns bitter, forgetting past blessings?
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Can we, like the servant, act selflessly even in dire situations?
The answer lies in detachment, fairness, and trust in divine wisdom.