The Wise Merchant Dantila and the Clever Sweeper
A Panchatantra Tale for Young Children
Chapter 1: The Beloved Merchant of Vardhaman
In the beautiful city of Vardhaman, surrounded by blooming gardens and bustling markets, there lived a very special merchant named Dantila. He wasn’t just any ordinary merchant – he was the wisest, kindest, and most trusted businessman in the entire kingdom!
“Good morning, Dantila sir!” called out the vegetable vendor as Dantila walked through the marketplace.
“Good morning, Ramu!” Dantila replied with a warm smile. “How is your family? Is your little daughter feeling better?”
“Much better, thanks to the medicine you helped us buy,” Ramu beamed. “You are truly a blessing to our city!”
This was how every day began for Dantila. Everyone loved him – from the poorest street sweeper to the richest nobleman. Even King Chandragupta trusted him completely.
“Dantila,” the King would often say, “you are not just my advisor, you are my friend. With your help, our kingdom prospers, and our people are happy.”
And it was true! Under Dantila’s wise guidance, the kingdom’s trade flourished, the people had plenty to eat, and everyone lived in harmony.
“How does he do it?” wondered the other merchants. “How can one person make both the King and the common people so happy?”
You see, most people thought it was impossible to please both the King and the people at the same time. Usually, if you helped the King, the people got angry. And if you helped the people, the King got upset. But Dantila was so wise and fair that he found ways to make everyone happy!
Chapter 2: The Grand Wedding Celebration
One sunny spring day, Dantila’s beloved daughter Kamala was getting married to a wonderful young man from a neighboring city.
“Oh, Papa!” Kamala said, twirling in her beautiful red and gold wedding dress. “This is the happiest day of my life!”
“And mine too, my dear daughter,” Dantila said, hugging her gently. “You deserve all the happiness in the world.”
Dantila decided to throw the most magnificent wedding celebration the city had ever seen. He sent out invitations far and wide.
“Let everyone come!” he announced joyfully. “Rich or poor, noble or common – all are welcome to celebrate my daughter’s happiness!”
The day of the wedding arrived, and what a spectacular sight it was! The palace courtyard was decorated with thousands of colorful flowers – marigolds, roses, and jasmine filled the air with their sweet fragrance.
Clang-clang-clang! went the temple bells.
Boom-boom-boom! went the celebration drums.
Toot-toot-toot! went the trumpets announcing the arrival of special guests.
King Chandragupta arrived in his golden chariot, wearing his finest robes and a crown that sparkled like stars. Queen Sulekha looked beautiful in her silk sari, and all the royal ministers followed behind them in a grand procession.
“Dantila, my friend!” the King declared. “This is truly a magnificent celebration! Your daughter looks radiant!”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Dantila bowed respectfully. “Please, take the seat of honor. You are the most important guest here.”
All the wealthy merchants, the learned priests, the brave soldiers, and the skilled craftsmen were given special seats according to their importance in society.
Chapter 3: The Uninvited Guest
Just as everyone was settling down to enjoy the delicious feast, someone unexpected appeared at the celebration.
Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle went a pair of worn-out sandals across the marble floor.
It was Gorambha, the palace sweeper! He was a thin man with calloused hands and clothes that had seen many washings. His job was to clean the floors of the royal palace every day.
“Oh my!” whispered one of the guests. “What is the palace sweeper doing here?”
“Did Dantila invite him?” wondered another.
Gorambha looked around at all the fancy decorations and delicious food. His eyes grew wide with excitement.
“What a wonderful party!” he said to himself. “And look at all these empty seats!”
Without asking anyone, Gorambha walked straight to the front of the celebration and sat down in a beautiful silk-cushioned chair that was right next to where the most learned priest was supposed to sit.
“Ahh,” Gorambha sighed contentedly, stretching out his legs. “This is comfortable! I deserve to sit with the important people too!”
But this chair was specially reserved for the royal priest – one of the most respected people in the kingdom!
When Dantila saw what had happened, his face turned red with embarrassment.
“Oh no!” he thought. “If the royal priest arrives and sees the sweeper in his special seat, he will be terribly insulted! And all my guests will think I don’t know how to organize a proper celebration!”
Chapter 4: The Unfortunate Mistake
Dantila walked quickly over to where Gorambha was sitting.
“Excuse me,” Dantila said, trying to keep his voice calm. “I’m afraid there’s been a mistake. This seat is reserved for someone else.”
“Reserved?” Gorambha said, looking confused. “But there’s no one sitting here! I’m just a guest enjoying the party like everyone else!”
“I understand,” Dantila replied, “but you see, this particular seat is meant for the royal priest. Perhaps you could sit over there with the other palace workers?”
“Other palace workers?” Gorambha’s eyes flashed with anger. “Are you saying I’m not good enough to sit here?”
“It’s not about being good enough,” Dantila tried to explain. “It’s just that we have a certain way of arranging the seats-”
“I don’t care about your arrangements!” Gorambha shouted, crossing his arms stubbornly. “I’m staying right here!”
All the guests were starting to stare and whisper. The King looked puzzled. The Queen raised her eyebrows. This was becoming very embarrassing!
Dantila felt he had no choice. He couldn’t let the royal priest be insulted, and he couldn’t let the whole celebration be ruined.
“Guards!” he called out. “Please escort this man to the exit.”
“WHAT?” Gorambha jumped up, his face red with anger and humiliation. “You’re throwing me out? How dare you!”
“I’m sorry,” Dantila said firmly, “but you’re disrupting the celebration.”
The guards gently but firmly took Gorambha by the arms and walked him toward the gate.
“This isn’t over, Dantila!” Gorambha called out as he was led away. “You’ll regret treating me like this! I may be poor, but I’m not powerless!”
All the guests watched in uncomfortable silence as Gorambha was escorted out. Then, trying to forget the unpleasant incident, they returned to enjoying the beautiful wedding celebration.
But Gorambha’s angry words echoed in the air like a warning: “You’ll regret this!”
Chapter 5: The Sweeper’s Revenge Plot
That night, Gorambha sat in his small, simple room, tossing and turning on his straw mat. He couldn’t sleep at all.
“How could Dantila humiliate me like that?” he muttered angrily. “In front of the King! In front of everyone! He made me look like a fool!”
He paced back and forth in his tiny room, his mind spinning with hurt and anger.
“But what can I do?” he said to himself. “I’m just a poor sweeper. Dantila is rich and powerful. He has the King’s ear. How can someone like me get revenge on someone like him?”
Tick-tock, tick-tock went the old clock on his wall as Gorambha thought and thought.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up with a cunning idea.
“Wait a minute!” he whispered excitedly. “I may be poor, but I do have one thing that Dantila doesn’t have. I work in the royal palace every single day! I clean the King’s bedroom! I’m there when the King is sleeping, when he’s waking up, when he’s not fully alert!”
A sly smile crept across Gorambha’s face.
“The King trusts me because I’ve worked in his palace for so many years. And I know something that most people don’t know – when people are just waking up, they believe almost anything they hear! Their minds are still foggy from sleep.”
Gorambha rubbed his hands together with glee.
“Perfect! I know exactly how to get my revenge on that arrogant merchant. I’ll make the King believe something terrible about Dantila. Something so shocking that the King will never trust him again!”
And with that wicked plan forming in his mind, Gorambha finally fell asleep, dreaming of his revenge.
Chapter 6: The Poisonous Whisper
The very next morning, Gorambha woke up extra early and went to the palace with his broom and cleaning supplies.
“Good morning, Gorambha,” said the palace guard. “You’re here earlier than usual.”
“Oh, I just want to make sure everything is perfectly clean for His Majesty,” Gorambha replied with a fake smile.
He crept quietly into the King’s bedroom, where King Chandragupta was still sleeping peacefully after the wonderful wedding celebration the night before.
Tip-toe, tip-toe, tip-toe went Gorambha’s feet across the marble floor.
He began sweeping very quietly near the King’s bed, waiting for just the right moment.
Soon, the King began to stir. His eyes were still closed, but Gorambha could tell he was starting to wake up.
“Perfect!” Gorambha thought. “Now’s my chance!”
He began sweeping a little louder and started muttering in a voice just loud enough for the King to hear:
“Oh my goodness! I can’t believe what I saw! That Dantila has become so bold… so disrespectful… He actually had the nerve to… to embrace the Queen!”
GASP! The King’s eyes shot open immediately!
“WHAT?” King Chandragupta bolted upright in his bed. “Gorambha! What did you just say?”
Gorambha pretended to be startled. “Oh! Your Majesty! I… I didn’t realize you were awake!”
“What were you muttering about Dantila?” the King demanded, his voice sharp with suspicion. “Did you say he embraced the Queen? What do you mean by that?”
Chapter 7: The Dangerous Lie Takes Root
Gorambha put on his best innocent expression and bowed low.
“Oh, Your Majesty,” he said, pretending to be confused. “I… I don’t really remember what I was saying. You see, I was up all night gambling with the other servants, and I’m so sleepy that I don’t even know what words are coming out of my mouth!”
But the King’s mind was already racing with terrible thoughts.
“Could it be true?” he wondered. “Gorambha works here in the palace every day. He goes everywhere, sees everything. If anyone would know about such things, it would be him.”
The King remembered something the wise men often said: “People speak the truth in their sleep or when they’re very tired. Their sleepy minds can’t make up lies.”
“And,” the King thought darkly, “both Dantila and Gorambha have access to all parts of the palace. It’s possible that Gorambha saw something happen…”
The more the King thought about it, the more convinced he became that Gorambha’s sleepy muttering must be true.
“How dare Dantila betray my trust like this!” the King said angrily. “I welcomed him as a friend, and this is how he repays me?”
From that moment on, the King’s heart turned cold toward Dantila. The poison of Gorambha’s lie had begun to spread.
“Guards!” the King called out. “Send a message to all the palace entrances. Dantila is no longer welcome here. He is banned from entering the royal palace or attending court!”
“But Your Majesty,” one of the guards said, confused, “Dantila is your most trusted advisor. Without him, who will help manage the kingdom’s affairs?”
“I don’t want to hear his name!” the King snapped. “My decision is final!”
And so, with just a few whispered words, Gorambha’s revenge plan began to work perfectly.
Chapter 8: Dantila’s Fall from Grace
The next morning, Dantila woke up feeling happy and content. The wedding had been beautiful, his daughter was married to a wonderful man, and he was looking forward to another day of serving his beloved kingdom.
“What a beautiful morning!” he said to himself as he got dressed in his finest clothes. “I should go to the palace early today to thank the King again for honoring us with his presence at the wedding.”
Clip-clop, clip-clop went his horse’s hooves as he rode toward the royal palace, humming a cheerful tune.
But when he reached the palace gates, something very strange happened.
“Halt!” called out the guard, holding up his hand. “You cannot pass!”
“I beg your pardon?” Dantila said, looking confused. “I’m Dantila. I come here every day to attend court and help with the kingdom’s business.”
“I’m sorry, sir,” the guard replied, looking uncomfortable. “We have orders from the King himself. You are not allowed to enter the palace.”
“Not allowed?” Dantila’s jaw dropped in shock. “There must be some mistake! I’m the King’s advisor! I’ve been coming here every day for years!”
“I’m very sorry, sir,” the guard said sympathetically. “But the orders are clear. Please turn around and go home.”
Dantila sat on his horse in complete bewilderment. His mind raced with confusion and worry.
“What could have happened?” he wondered. “Yesterday the King was so happy at the wedding. He called me his friend! What could have changed between then and now?”
Just then, he heard a familiar voice behind him.
“Well, well, well!” It was Gorambha, carrying his broom and wearing a satisfied smirk. “Look who’s being turned away from the palace gates!”
Chapter 9: The Clever Sweeper’s False Sympathy
Gorambha walked up to the guards with an exaggerated look of concern on his face.
“Oh my!” he said in a loud voice, making sure Dantila could hear every word. “Guards, you must be very careful! This is the great Dantila – the King’s former favorite! He used to be so powerful that he could have anyone arrested or set free with just a word!”
The guards looked nervous. “Former favorite?” one of them whispered.
“Oh yes,” Gorambha continued dramatically. “You see how he treated me at his daughter’s wedding? He threw me out like I was nothing! Just because I’m a simple sweeper! He thought he was so important, so powerful, that he could treat anyone however he wanted!”
Gorambha shook his head sadly, though his eyes sparkled with hidden delight.
“But look how things change!” he said. “Now even the mighty Dantila can’t enter the palace. Be very careful, guards. He might blame you for following the King’s orders. Remember how angry he got with me!”
As Dantila listened to these words, a light bulb went on in his mind.
“Aha!” he thought. “So it WAS Gorambha who caused this trouble! But how? How could a simple palace sweeper turn the King against me?”
Dantila was a very wise man, and he knew there was an old saying: “Even a foolish servant, if he has the King’s ear, can be dangerous. A smart person keeps everyone happy, no matter how lowly they may seem.”
“I should have remembered that wisdom,” Dantila said to himself sadly. “I was so worried about the other guests that I forgot to treat Gorambha with kindness and respect. Now I must find a way to fix this mistake.”
Chapter 10: The Wise Apology
That evening, Dantila sat in his beautiful house, thinking carefully about what to do.
“Clearly, Gorambha has somehow poisoned the King’s mind against me,” he mused. “But getting angry won’t solve anything. The only way to fix this is to make things right with Gorambha.”
He sent one of his servants to find Gorambha with a message: “Please tell Gorambha that I would be honored if he would visit my house this evening for dinner. I have something important to discuss with him.”
When Gorambha received the invitation, he was curious but suspicious.
“What does that proud merchant want with me now?” he wondered. “Well, I’ll go see what he has to say. This should be interesting!”
That evening, when Gorambha arrived at Dantila’s house, he was amazed by what he saw.
Dantila himself came to the door to greet him, bowing respectfully.
“Welcome, Gorambha!” Dantila said warmly. “Please, come in. You honor my house with your presence.”
“Honor your house?” Gorambha was confused. “Yesterday you threw me out, and today you’re welcoming me?”
Dantila led Gorambha to a beautiful dining room where a delicious feast was laid out. Then he presented Gorambha with a package wrapped in silk.
“Please,” Dantila said, “accept this small gift as a token of my sincere apology.”
Gorambha opened the package and gasped. Inside were the most beautiful clothes he had ever seen – a silk shirt, fine cotton pants, and a warm wool cloak, all in rich colors.
“These… these are for me?” Gorambha stammered.
“Yes,” Dantila said sincerely. “And I owe you an explanation and an apology.”
Chapter 11: The Power of Humility
Dantila sat down across from Gorambha and spoke from his heart.
“My friend,” he began, “I want you to know that I never meant to insult you personally. When I asked you to leave the wedding, it wasn’t because I think you’re not worthy of respect. Every person deserves respect, regardless of their job or wealth.”
Gorambha listened carefully, the beautiful clothes still in his hands.
“The truth is,” Dantila continued, “that particular seat was specially reserved for the royal priest. If he had arrived and found someone else in his seat, he would have been terribly offended, and it would have ruined the entire celebration for everyone.”
“But why didn’t you just explain that to me?” Gorambha asked.
“You’re absolutely right,” Dantila admitted. “I should have taken the time to explain the situation politely instead of just having you removed. I was so worried about the other guests that I forgot to treat you with the kindness and respect you deserve.”
Dantila looked directly into Gorambha’s eyes.
“I made a mistake, and I’m truly sorry. Will you forgive me?”
Gorambha had never in his life heard such sincere words from a wealthy, powerful person. He felt his anger beginning to melt away.
“You… you really mean this?” Gorambha asked softly.
“I do,” Dantila nodded. “And I hope that in the future, you’ll consider me not just as a merchant, but as a friend.”
Chapter 12: The Sweeper’s Change of Heart
Gorambha sat quietly for a moment, looking at the beautiful clothes and thinking about Dantila’s words.
Finally, he spoke: “Dantila, I have something to confess to you.”
“What is it?” Dantila asked gently.
“I… I was the one who caused your trouble with the King,” Gorambha said, his voice filled with shame. “I was so angry about being thrown out of the wedding that I wanted to get revenge on you.”
He told Dantila exactly what he had done – how he had whispered lies about Dantila embracing the Queen while the King was half-asleep.
“But now,” Gorambha continued, “I see that you’re truly a good person. You didn’t have to apologize to me. You didn’t have to give me these beautiful gifts. But you did, because you have a kind heart.”
Gorambha stood up and bowed deeply to Dantila.
“I forgive you completely,” he said. “And more than that – I promise I’ll find a way to make things right with the King. I’ll prove to you that I can be just as clever at helping you as I was at hurting you!”
“Thank you,” Dantila said with relief. “But how will you convince the King?”
Gorambha smiled mysteriously. “Leave that to me. I know exactly what to do!”
Chapter 13: The Clever Counter-Plan
The next morning, Gorambha went to the palace with a spring in his step and a clever plan in his mind.
Just like before, he waited until the King was just waking up, his mind still foggy from sleep.
Sweep, sweep, sweep went Gorambha’s broom as he cleaned near the King’s bed.
When he was sure the King was starting to wake up, Gorambha began muttering loudly again:
“Oh my goodness! I can’t believe what I saw! The King was actually… he was eating cucumbers… in the bathroom! How strange!”
“WHAT?” The King sat up immediately, his eyes wide with shock. “Gorambha! What did you just say about me?”
Gorambha pretended to be startled again. “Oh! Your Majesty! Did I wake you? I’m so sorry!”
“You said I was eating cucumbers in the bathroom!” the King exclaimed. “When did you see me doing such a ridiculous thing?”
“Eating cucumbers in the bathroom?” Gorambha looked confused. “Your Majesty, I have no idea what you’re talking about. I was up all night gambling again, and I’m so tired I don’t even know what nonsense is coming out of my mouth!”
The King stared at Gorambha for a long moment.
“But… you’ve never seen me eating cucumbers in the bathroom, have you?” the King asked.
“Of course not, Your Majesty!” Gorambha replied. “That would be completely ridiculous! Why would anyone do such a thing?”
Chapter 14: The King’s Great Realization
Suddenly, like a lightning bolt, understanding struck the King.
“Wait a moment,” he said slowly. “If what you just said about me eating cucumbers is complete nonsense…”
The King’s eyes grew wide as he realized the truth.
“Then what you said about Dantila yesterday must also be complete nonsense!”
He jumped out of bed and began pacing around the room.
“Oh no!” he cried. “What have I done? I believed the sleepy ramblings of a tired man! Dantila never did anything wrong! I’ve banned my most faithful friend and advisor based on nothing but gibberish!”
The King felt terrible. He realized how foolish he had been to believe gossip without any proof.
“And not only that,” he continued, “but without Dantila’s wise guidance, the kingdom’s business has been falling apart! The trade agreements aren’t being managed, the people’s complaints aren’t being heard, and important decisions aren’t being made!”
He turned to Gorambha with a mixture of relief and embarrassment.
“Gorambha, I owe you my thanks for helping me realize my mistake, even if you did it accidentally!”
“Your Majesty is very wise,” Gorambha said with a respectful bow, hiding his smile of satisfaction.
“Guards!” the King called out immediately. “Send word to Dantila at once! Tell him his King humbly requests his presence in court. And tell him… tell him I owe him a great apology!”
Chapter 15: The Joyful Reunion
Within an hour, Dantila arrived at the palace, his heart full of hope and nervousness.
When he entered the royal court, King Chandragupta stood up from his throne – something he rarely did for anyone.
“My dear friend Dantila!” the King said, his voice full of emotion. “Can you ever forgive a foolish king who doubted his most loyal advisor?”
“Your Majesty,” Dantila replied with a warm smile, “there is nothing to forgive. We all make mistakes when we act on incomplete information.”
The King came down from his throne and embraced Dantila like a brother.
“I have learned a valuable lesson,” the King said. “I should never make important decisions based on rumors or gossip. From now on, if I have any concerns, I will speak to you directly and honestly.”
“And I have learned a lesson too,” Dantila replied. “I should treat every person with respect and kindness, regardless of their position in life. If I had been kinder to Gorambha from the beginning, none of this would have happened.”
The King immediately restored Dantila to his position as chief advisor, and soon the kingdom was running smoothly once again.
Chapter 16: The New Friendship
From that day forward, something wonderful happened. Dantila and Gorambha became true friends!
Every week, Dantila would invite Gorambha to his house for dinner, and they would share stories and laughter.
“You know, Gorambha,” Dantila said one evening, “you taught me that wisdom and cleverness can be found in every person, regardless of their job or wealth.”
“And you taught me,” Gorambha replied, “that true nobility comes from kindness and humility, not from money or power.”
Dantila also made sure that Gorambha was given a better position in the palace – he became the head of palace maintenance, with several other workers under his supervision.
“But I want you to know,” Dantila told him, “this promotion isn’t because of what you did for me. It’s because you’ve always been a hard worker, and now the King and I can see your true value.”
Gorambha was so grateful and happy that he became one of Dantila’s most loyal friends and supporters.
Chapter 17: The Lesson Spreads
Word of what had happened spread throughout the kingdom, and people learned valuable lessons from the story.
“Did you hear about Dantila and the sweeper?” people would say. “It shows that we should treat everyone with respect!”
“Yes,” others replied, “and it also shows that we shouldn’t believe gossip without proof!”
The King made a new rule in his court: “From now on, no important decisions will be made based on rumors or whispered words. If there are serious accusations, they must be investigated properly with evidence and witnesses.”
Children in the kingdom began learning the story in school, and parents would tell it to their little ones at bedtime.
“Remember, my child,” parents would say, “every person has value and deserves kindness. The person you think is unimportant might actually be very important indeed!”
And so, what started as a painful lesson became a blessing that made the entire kingdom a kinder, wiser place.
The End
The Moral of The Story
Treat everyone with respect and kindness, no matter who they are or what job they do. Even someone who seems powerless can have great influence. Pride and disrespect toward others often leads to trouble, while humility and kindness build true friendships and solve problems.
Also remember: Don’t believe rumors or gossip without proof. Always seek the truth before making important decisions.
Fun Questions for Young Readers:
- What mistake did Dantila make at the wedding celebration?
- How could Dantila have handled the situation with Gorambha differently?
- Why was the King so quick to believe Gorambha’s lies?
- What did Dantila do to fix his mistake? Why did it work?
- How did Gorambha show that he was sorry for his lies?
- What would you have done if you were in Dantila’s situation?
- Can you think of a time when you learned it was important to treat everyone kindly?
This story teaches us that wisdom includes treating all people with respect, that actions have consequences, and that sincere apologies and kindness can heal even serious mistakes. True strength comes from humility, not pride.
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