The Cure For A Snob
Once upon a time, there lived a wealthy merchant in the city of Varanasi. The merchant's son used to go to school. He was escorted by a boy named Katahaka who was the son of a maidservant in the merchant's household. Katahaka carried the wooden slate for his master's son and waited at the entrance of the school. When the merchant's son came out of the school, Katahaka followed him home. The merchant's son was affectionate towards Katahaka. Whatever he learned, he imparted to Katahaka. Varanasi, the prosperous city, had many merchants. But it was Katahaka's master alone who was known as the Merchant of Varanasi. So much famous and respected he was! Many noblemen visited the merchant's house. Katahaka imitated their conduct and styles of speech and learned to behave in a refined manner. Days passed. Katahaka grew up to be a young man. He did sundry works for his master's household. But he was ambitious. One day he thought, "Must I remain a servant forever? No. I must set my life on a different course." He knew that his master had a dear friend in a faraway state who was famous as the Merchant of Pratyanta.
The two friends had not met for many years, though they exchanged messages through couriers. Katahaka knew that the Merchant of Pratyanta had a daughter, his only child. One day Katahaka slipped from his master's house. He walked for many days and reached Pratyanta. He then met the merchant and bowed to him to show respect. "What do you want?" asked the merchant. "I have come to pay respect to you at my father's bidding," replied Katahaka. "Who is your father?" "The Merchant of Varanasi!" replied Katahaka. "What! I had only heard about my dear friend's son. How delighted I am to see him stand before me!" he exclaimed and hugged Katahaka. Katahaka handed over a letter to him. The merchant read it with great interest. It said, "My dear friend, meet my son. If you find him eligible enough, why don't you marry your daughter to him?" The letter bore the seal of the Merchant of Varanasi. Needless to say, the letter had been forged by Katahaka who had also managed to put his master's seal on it. The Merchant of Pratyanta was looking for a suitable match for his daughter. Many in his own city desired to marry her. But since they belonged to his own city, the merchant knew their defects and that is why he rejected them, one after the other. Katahaka was a handsome young man and he looked quite intelligent too. Moreover, he was the son of a highly esteemed friend! The merchant lost no time in arranging his daughter's marriage with the young man. It was all done in a haste.
The one to suffer for it was the merchant's daughter. Attended upon by a number of servants, kept in luxury, Katahaka soon lost his head. He always showed as if he had come from richer and more aristocratic stock and that is why he deserved much more than all that was done to please him. It was his wife before whom he found fault with the food, drink, clothes, and the entertainments, and bragged about his own superior position. At Varanasi, Katahaka's master felt much worried about his servant's disappearance. He sent his servants to look for him at all possible places. But the fellow was not to be found. A man from Varanasi who happened to visit Pratyanta heard from local people that the Merchant of Varanasi's son had married the Merchant of Pratyanta's daughter. Curious, he went to meet the son-in-law. But as soon as his eyes fell on Katahaka, he could guess the situation. He quietly returned to Varanasi and reported his discovery to Katahaka's master in confidence. The merchant was shocked. He did not know how to undo the harm which his servant had done to his friend. However, he decided to undertake a journey to Pratyanta.
In a few days, he was on the outskirts of Pratyanta and the news of his approach reached the merchant's house. While Katahaka's father-in-law was overjoyed, Katahaka himself was panicky. After brooding over the situation for some time, Katahaka stood before his father-in-law and said, "Sir, courtesy demands that I go forward and receive my father before he enters the city." "That should be in the fitness of things," said the merchant. Katahaka went out and met his master in his camp. When his master's companions were away, he fell at his feet and wept and said, "My Master! Have mercy on me and pardon my adventure. I continue to remain your humble slave!" The merchant was in a dilemma. Compassionate that he was, he took pity on his servant. Besides, he realized that to expose Katahaka's fraud would be to cause his friend shame and Katahaka's innocent wife endless anguish. He kept quiet on the issue during his stay at his friend's house. However, he hated Katahaka so much that he could not bear to look at him.
Before departing for Varanasi, he asked Katahaka's wife in private, "My daughter, I hope, you find no fault with your husband!" "None, father, except that he grumbles at everything, even when the best of service is given him!" murmured the young lady. The merchant suppressed his own anger and taught her a verse and advised her to recite it whenever her husband showed his discontent about anything. The verse said:
Look at the snobbery of the slave,
How much he pretends to be brave!
But when confronted by his master,
He is a coward, a cipher!
As soon as the Merchant of Varanasi left, Katahaka resumed grumbling at something or the other. But only once or twice. At an opportune time, when nobody else heard it, his wife recited the verse to him. Katahaka's face paled. He suspected his master having disclosed his identity to his wife. But the verse being in a dialect peculiar to Varanasi, the girl herself did not understand what it meant! Never again Katahaka showed his false pride. He conducted himself with caution and humility.
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