The Last String

Ancient tales of the rishis (Vedic sages) retold with illustration by U. Mahesh Prabhu

Once a rishi appeared before a king and said, “If you give me some money, I will return the sum to you in due course; indeed, I will give you ten times more than what you give me now.”

The king at once ordered his treasurer to give the amount the rishi needed. The king’s minister did not approve of it. He whispered to the king, “How to know that the man is not a cheat?” The king, however, did not pay any he...