23-28SixIdiots

King Krishnadevarayar had a peculiar request that day. He summoned Appaji, his trusted minister, and said, "Dear minister! I want you to tour our kingdom of Vijayanagaram and find me six idiots along with their addresses before 6 PM." Perplexed, Appaji couldn't help but ask, "Why do you need their addresses, Your Highness?" With a firm tone, KDR replied, "Don't ask for an explanation. Just do as I said." Appaji embarked on a journey across the kingdom, searching for idiots. How could he possibly find six idiots and compile a list of their addresses before sundown? It seemed like an impossible task. Nevertheless, he spent two hours disguising himself and set out on his quest. Exhausted, he took a break under the shade of a tree near the edge of the kingdom. It was there that he noticed a man riding a donkey, carrying a bale of grass on his head. Curiosity piqued, Appaji approached him and asked, "Sir, why are you riding the donkey while carrying the bundle of grass on your head?" The man replied, "Do you not understand? My donkey is old and easily gets tired. It can only carry my weight and cannot bear the burden of the grass. That's why I carry it." Appaji was delighted to have encountered an idiot and skillfully extracted his address through eloquent conversation. Resuming his quest, he came across another man sitting on the far end of a tree branch and sawing it from the distal side. Addressing him, Appaji asked, "Sir, won't you fall down once you finish sawing the branch?" To which the woodcutter retorted, "Hey, are you trying to steal my tree branch? That's why I am sitting here!" Appaji marveled at the man's lack of sense and skillfully obtained his address. Continuing his search, he encountered an elderly woman struggling to ignite the wood for cooking. Inquiring about her problem, Appaji asked, "Respected elderly woman, what seems to be the issue?" The woman replied, "This wood is dry, and I don't have kerosene. Water and kerosene look alike to me. I've been trying to light the wood by pouring water on it, but it simply won't catch fire." Amused by her lack of knowledge, Appaji recorded her address. Time was running out, and he still needed to find three more idiots. Weary, he spotted a man searching for something near the riverside. Appaji approached him and asked, "Sir, what are you looking for?" The man replied, "Sir, I placed my clothes and some cash on the riverside while I went for a bath. But upon my return, I couldn't find them." Curious, Appaji inquired, "Did you notice any distinctive marks?" The man responded, "Indeed! I marked a white cloud up in the sky as a reference." Appaji quickly recognized the man's foolishness and noted down his address. It was now 6 PM, and Appaji hurried back to the king. Presenting the four addresses he had collected, the king burst into laughter. "Where are the addresses of the remaining two idiots?" he asked. Appaji respectfully replied, "Dear king, I am the kingdom's minister, and I went searching for idiots. Isn't that foolish enough? Therefore, please consider my address as the fifth one." The king, realizing his own mistake, took down Appaji's address. Then he asked, "But dear minister, where is the sixth address?" Appaji, with utmost respect, said, "Dear king, please forgive me. Please do not mistake my words or be angry with me," Appaji pleaded. Curiosity and a touch of amusement danced in KDR's eyes as he listened to Appaji's humble request. He gestured for Appaji to continue, intrigued by the minister's wisdom. Appaji took a deep breath and continued, "Your Highness, we must not make ourselves fools by seeking out and associating with idiots. As the country's minister, our duty should be to seek out intellectuals and great men and women who can serve us well." A moment of realization swept across KDR's face as he comprehended the true essence of Appaji's words. The king acknowledged his own mistake and the flaw in his request. Appaji's eloquence and sharp intellect had once again impressed KDR. He tore down the addresses of the four idiots and smiled at Appaji. "You have shown great wisdom, my dear minister," KDR said. "Your words have reminded me of the importance of surrounding ourselves with intelligent and capable individuals. You have taught me a valuable lesson today." In recognition of Appaji's astuteness and the depth of his understanding, KDR presented him with a token of appreciation, a valuable gift befitting his intellectual prowess. Appaji, humbled by the king's response, expressed his gratitude and pledged his continued loyalty and dedication to the kingdom. From that day forward, KDR valued Appaji not only as his minister but also as a trusted advisor, relying on his insights and wisdom to guide the kingdom towards prosperity. Together, KDR and Appaji embarked on a journey of enlightenment, seeking out scholars, intellectuals, and visionaries to contribute to the kingdom's growth. Their combined efforts transformed Vijayanagaram into a thriving center of knowledge and innovation. The story of Appaji's quest for idiots became a tale told throughout the kingdom, serving as a reminder of the importance of surrounding oneself with brilliance and wisdom. And so, with Appaji's counsel and KDR's newfound appreciation for intellect, the kingdom of Vijayanagaram flourished, guided by the wisdom of its king and his trusted minister.