FORTUNE - THE FAIR WEATHER FRIEND

              

Sometimes we wonder about people who are corrupt but successful. Then, we feel tempted to go astray. When we do happen to succeed at such times, we gradually lose sight of our integrity and will have no qualms about repeating our misdeeds.

 A story from our hoary past sums up this situation through the story of a poor Brahmin called Hari Sharma. The pious man along with his family gained employment under a rich merchant. Life went on smoothly. The family worked very hard to make the wedding of their employer’s daughter a grand success. The Brahmin expected appreciation for his services. When he was neglected, he felt insulted. He decided to follow the path of deceit quite against the advice of his wife to teach Sthuladattha a lesson. 

That night, he stole the horse carriage of the bridegroom and tied it under a tree outside the village. Then he instructed his wife to inform the worried Sthuladattha that he was a competent astrologer. When his employer consulted him, Hari Sharma extracted an apology from Sthuladattha before divulging information about the lost horse. This orchestrated act instantly shot him to fame. Even the king once consulted Hari Sharma about the robbery in the royal treasury. The Brahmin was shaken by this unexpected test of his fake knowledge. He cursed his tongue aloud in privacy. The malefactor Jihva heard the curse and promptly pleaded guilty because Jihva in Sanskrit means tongue. Hari Sharma was dumbstruck by this unexpected coincidence that worked in his favour. The emboldened man dared to protect the thief for a fat commission and led the king to the remnant treasure.

The wise ministers found Hari Sharma’s accuracy dubious, prompted the sovereign to verify Hari Sharma’s expertise. Accordingly they placed a frog inside a pot, closed it and invited Hari Sharma to reveal the contents. The terrified Brahmin who knew his game was up remembered how his father often called him a Mandookam or a foolish frog. He muttered his thoughts aloud. The court was dazzled by Hari Sharma’s brilliance and he was rewarded handsomely. Hari Sharma realised that deception coupled with good fortune was a fair weather friend who could desert him any moment. Hence he left the kingdom a reformed man.