Several years ago, in a village, there lived a potter named Yudhishthira. During the day, he crafted earthen pots and with whatever money he earned, he would purchase and consume alcohol.
One night, while returning home in a drunken state, he was so intoxicated that he could barely walk properly. Suddenly, he stumbled and fell on the ground. There were shards of glass on the ground, and one piece pierced his forehead, causing bleeding. After that, the potter somehow managed to get up and headed towards his home.
The next day when he regained consciousness, he went to a physician, got his wound dressed, and took some medicine. The physician informed him, “Due to the depth of the wound, it will take time to heal. Even after healing, the scar won’t disappear entirely.”
Several days passed. Unexpectedly, a drought struck his village, and everyone began leaving. The potter also decided to leave the village and set out for another country.
In the new country, he went to seek employment in the king’s court. The king noticed the scar on his forehead and presumed that he must be a valiant warrior who got wounded in battle while fighting against enemies. Believing so, the king allotted him a special place in his court and started paying special attention to him. This made the prince, the commander, and other ministers in the king’s court envious of the potter.
This continued for many days. One day, enemies attacked the king’s palace. The king prepared his entire army for battle. He also asked Yudhishthira to join the battle. As Yudhishthira was heading towards the battleground, the king asked him about the battle in which he received the wound on his forehead.
At this point, Yudhishthira thought that he had already gained the trust of the king and now, if he tells the truth, there won’t be any issue. Thinking so, he revealed to the king, “Your Majesty, I am not a warrior. I am just an ordinary potter. This wound was not caused in any battle but due to falling after consuming alcohol.”
Upon hearing this, the king became furious. He said, “You have broken my trust, and I have given you such a high position in my court by deceit. Leave my kingdom.” The potter pleaded a lot, saying that if given a chance, he could sacrifice his life in battle for the king.
The king replied, “No matter how brave or valiant you are, you do not belong to the lineage of warriors. Your situation is similar to that jackal among lions who talks about fleeing rather than fighting with an elephant. I am letting you go, but if my princes come to know about your deceit, they will kill you. Therefore, I advise you to save your life and leave.”
The potter accepted the king’s words and immediately left the kingdom.
Lesson from the Story:
The story teaches us that a person’s true nature cannot remain hidden for long. Sooner or later, the truth emerges.
