Once upon a time, there was a powerful king who had four sons.
The king loved his sons dearly and wanted each of them to rule the kingdom one
day. However, the king also knew that he had to choose one of them to be his
successor.
The king decided to test his sons' abilities to rule the
kingdom. He called them all to the palace and gave them each a small plot of
land. He told them that whoever could make the most of their land in one year
would be the next king.
The eldest son was confident in his abilities and immediately
started to work the land. He hired many workers and planted a large variety of
crops. He also built a dam to irrigate his land and ensure that his crops would
grow well.
The second son was also determined to succeed. He decided to
focus on just one crop, rice, and put all his effort into growing the best rice
crop in the kingdom. He used special techniques and hired skilled workers to
help him.
The third son was a little hesitant at first. He was not sure
what to do with his small plot of land. But he remembered a lesson from his
childhood, that every seed could grow into a big tree. He decided to plant a
single tree in the middle of his land and took great care of it every day.
The fourth son was a bit lazy and thought it was impossible to
compete with his brothers. He decided to do nothing and just enjoy his time.
One year later, the king visited his sons' lands to see what
they had accomplished. He was amazed at what he saw.
The eldest son had indeed grown a lot of crops and built a large
dam. However, he had neglected to take care of the land properly. The soil had
become dry and infertile.
The second son had grown the best rice crop in the kingdom, but
he had not thought about the long-term effects of his methods. He had used
chemicals and fertilizers that had polluted the soil and water.
The third son's land had a beautiful and healthy tree growing in
the middle of it, which had grown tall and strong. The tree had provided shade,
and its leaves had nourished the soil, which had grown more fertile than ever
before.
The fourth son had done nothing and had nothing to show for it.
The king was impressed with the third son's wisdom and declared
him the next king. He explained that the tree he had grown symbolized a leader
who could provide shelter, nourishment, and growth for his people.
The other three sons learned a valuable lesson. They realized
that it was not just about growing crops or achieving short-term success, but
also about taking care of the land and thinking about the long-term effects of
their actions.
From that day on, the four brothers worked together to rule the
kingdom with wisdom and compassion, making it prosperous and beautiful for many
years to come.
Moral: Success is not only about short-term gains, but also about taking care of the long-term effects of our actions. Being wise, compassionate, and thinking about the greater good is what makes a great leader.
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