Epics from India

The Golden Feathers                                                                Image Details: Golden Feather, Source: pixabay   There was once young couple who lived with their three daughters. Although they lived happily, they were very poor. One day, the father decides to leave his daughters and wife in order to gain wealth for his family. He promises his wife that he would come back after he is successful. He sets out on a long journey and meets a fairy in his travels. The fairy asks him where he is going and he replies that he is seeking fortune. The fairy is impressed by his blunt answer and decides to help him. She raises her wand and turns him into a goose. The man is shocked by her actions and flies off. He debates about what he should do as he can no longer provide for his family if he is a goos...

What is a Measure of rice?                                                         Image Details: Rice, Source: Public Domain Pictures In this jataka, a dishonest king calls a valuer to his court in order to set prices for specific commodities such as horses, elephants, gold, etc. However, the valuer was an honest man which upset the king as he wanted to gain more riches without paying as much for them. So, the king fired the honest valuer and appointed a peasant man in his place as he thought that he could manipulate him in order to gain more riches for his kingdom. Since the peasant did not know the value of the commodities being sold, he chose whatever price he saw fit and the people had to sell their items at that price. One day, a horse seller comes to the kingdom to sell five-hundred horses. The peasant tells him that they are wo...