Once upon a time, long, long ago, there lived a wise and benevolent king of a small, yet prosperous country. He was unusual in this: he did not accumulate his wealth for himself, but used it to keep his people content. Instead of needlessly dragging his country into senseless wars, he was gentle and kept peace amongst his people and their neighbors. No famines or floods touched his lands, and the crops were successful, year after year. Throughout his reign, his people and his country prospered, and he was beloved by all. But time passes, as it always does, and it was finally time for the king to journey onward.
As he lay on his deathbed, he asked for his son to come forth, and gestured for his advisors to leave them alone together. In that final meeting, he revealed the secret of the land’s prosperity, a powerful gem that brought wealth to his coffers each day, and prevented natural disasters from plaguing his lands. He asked that the son as the next king would use it wisely and continue in his footsteps. And with his final breath, he pressed the gem into his son’s hands.
Unfortunately, as so often happens, the son was not like his father. If the former king had had any faults, it would be that he cared so much for the land and its people, that he could not always make time for his son. And so the son had harbored resentment in his heart, for the crown had stolen his father away. Thus, the son was selfish, and showed no interest in using the stone to help others. Instead, he hoarded the wealth for himself, and when begged by his advisors to spare some coin to help others, he refused.
Little by little, the country’s good will began to decay. Its’ people grew restless, as winter came and they began to struggle. The king’s selfishness began to reflect in the people, who did not care for each other as they once had, knowing they could not depend on the hand of the king to comfort them, and thus hoarding what little they had for themselves. The new king’s reckless attitude also began to antagonize the neighboring countries, who were less willing to participate in trades of useful goods and information. Moreover, the land was not as prosperous as it once was. Famines and plagues took control where there had once been strong and healthy people and crops, while fear and violence began to pervade the very air.
Despite all of this, the king refused to change his ways. In fact, this meant that he ruled the country with even more of a tight fist, demanding tithes of food and money out of the mouths of starving families. Those who dared to cry out were silenced swiftly. Thus, the king lived in luxury and comfort, on the backs of his once prosperous people. One day, bored in his lavish palace, the King was in his courtroom, feasting and watching a starving dancing bear perform tricks for his amusement. All of a sudden, the room hushed. An old woman, seemingly out of nowhere, was in the middle of the courtroom, asking the king for a crust of bread in exchange for a single rose.
The king seemed shocked that such an old hag had even made it into his courtroom, and scoffed that he would not make such a foolish trade. She explained that she was on a long journey and would appreciate even the smallest morsel of food. Once again he laughed in her face and asked how she dared step foot in his palace with her decrepit robes, and if she did not leave at once he would have her thrown out with her paltry rose. The old woman said nothing, simply stared at him with a gleam in her eye. Then, in a blinding flash of light, the old woman had disappeared, and a beautiful sorceress stood in her place, with the same look in her eye. The king and his court cowered in fear.
“When last I came here,” she said, “The king was a kind and generous man, and I granted him a jewel from my collection, granting him goodwill and prosperity that he might spread it throughout his lands. I had hoped to see this tradition carried on, but I see now that you are selfish and lack compassion. I will take back what is mine.” She walked forward, holding her hand out for the jewel, which was hanging around the king’s neck.
“Wait!” the king protested. “I had no idea - please reconsider!” She gave no heed to his pleas, and the king had no choice but to watch helplessly as she took the gem from him, whimpering as he realized his endless riches were no more.
“You dare protest me claiming what is my own?” She said, her eyes flashing angrily. “All around you, your people are starving. You need to be taught a lesson!” Her eyes fell upon the poor dancing bear, chained and malnourished. “From this day forward, you will become a beast, and your beauteous castle will be hidden in a thick forest! This curse shall only be broken when you learn to love and care for someone selflessly, and earn their love in return, before the last petal on this rose falls.”
The End.
Author’s Note: In the story of Syamantaka, I thought that there were too many deaths associated with what was supposed to be a gift from the sun god. As I did further research, it turned out that the Syamantaka was actually cursed, and I took that idea and ran with it, coming up with a main character who would warrant this curse. In the original story, Lord Krishna asks the Prince Satrajit to give the jewel to his father, King Ugrasena, and I thought it was really interesting that such a noble devotee of Surya could so selfishly refuse, and wondered about his reasons behind refusing. Because of that, I decided to include a twist in my story and have the stone be given willingly by a king to his son, but with more detail into the reason for the stone’s curse and its dire consequences. I really liked tying the story into the story of Beauty and the Beast, since in the beginning of that story there is a wealthy prince who lacks compassion. I originally had a different story ending in mind, since the original story’s ending contained the ironic twist of the owner being hung by his own necklace, but I wanted to end it on a hopeful note.
Image Source: Jagannath Puri Hare Krishna Movement
Story Sources:
Author: ISKCON Desire Tree
Author: India Parenting
Author: Jagannath Puri Hare Krishna Movement
Author: ISKCON Desire Tree
Author: Amar Chitra Katha