This story highlights the importance of honesty and collective responsibility through a parable about a king and his courtiers.
The King and His Courtiers
Once, there was a king with a large court full of many courtiers. Each courtier claimed to be the most sincere and even ready to sacrifice their life for the king. The king believed their devotion.
The Sanyasi’s Proposal
One day, a sanyasi came to the king. The king proudly boasted that no other king had more devoted courtiers than he did. The sanyasi smiled and proposed to perform a great sacrifice that would extend the king’s reign for a very long time. All the courtiers were thrilled and eagerly expressed how much effort they would give to ensure the sacrifice’s success.
The Tank and the Milk
The sanyasi instructed the king to have a tank dug. Once completed, the sanyasi asked the king to have his courtiers fill the tank with milk. On the night of amavasya, the no-moon night, the sanyasi requested that each courtier come alone to the tank in the dead of night to pour a pitcher of milk into it. The courtiers felt this was a small task and said they could do much more for the king. During the dark night, each one poured his pitcher of milk into the tank.
The Disappointing Discovery
The next morning, the sanyasi asked the king to inspect the tank. To the king’s shock, the tank was full only of plain water. The sanyasi explained that each courtier had assumed the many pitchers of milk poured by others would hide the presence of their own water.
The Lesson on Honesty and Responsibility
Most of us have acted like these courtiers at some point. For example, we might have seen litter and assumed someone else would pick it up, or tried to avoid hard tasks in group projects hoping others will take the lead.
Psychologists call this the ‘bystander effect.’ It describes how a single witness to an accident will often help, but in large crowds, people may remain passive, assuming someone else will act. Recognizing this tendency is key to breaking the cycle. If everyone assumes their small choice doesn’t matter, the entire group can fail together, just like the courtiers in the story.
