Somilaka the Weaver

In a certain city lived a weaver named Somilaka. He knew how to weave cloth so fine and beautiful that it was fit for kings, yet he never got more out of it than his food and clothes. Meanwhile the ordinary weavers of that city, who made coarse cloth, had grown rich.

He said to his wife: "See — these coarse-cloth weavers have become wealthy and I get nothing. This place is no good; I shall go abroad to earn." His wife said: "That is false. What does not happen in your own place does not happen elsewhere either. What is not to be does not come; and what is to be comes without effort."

Somilaka said: "No. Without exertion nothing bears fruit. One hand does not clap; even at mealtime the food does not enter the mouth without the hand's work. Things are accomplished by effort, not by wishing — deer do not walk into a sleeping lion's mouth."

He went abroad, earned five hundred gold pieces in three years, and set out home. On the way, at noon in a forest, faint with hunger and thirst, he sat down to rest — and heard two terrible beings talking in the air. One said: "Deed! Why have you given this Somilaka no more than food and clothing, when his craft is so great?" The other said: "I give what I give; the outcome is not in my hands."

Hearing this he opened his bundle — the coins were gone. Sick with disappointment he went abroad again, earned another five hundred in three years, and on his way back, in the same forest, heard the same conversation — and again found the bundle empty.

Now he despaired. "A curse on it — what is the use of living without money? Let me hang myself from this banyan." He made a noose, put it round his neck, and was about to swing from the branch — when that voice came from the sky: "Somilaka, stop. It is I who take your wealth; you shall never have a coin beyond food and clothing. But your courage pleases me — ask a boon."

Somilaka said: "Then give me great wealth." The being said: "What will you do with wealth you cannot enjoy? Riches that yield no enjoyment are like a barren cow." Somilaka said: "Even with no enjoyment, I want the wealth. Let a man be miserly and low-born — if he is rich, the world serves him."

Then the being said: "Very well. Go to the city of Vardhamanapura. There are two merchants' sons there — one named Guptadhana, Hoarded-Wealth, the other Upabhuktadhana, Enjoyed-Wealth. Look at them both; then ask to be whichever you wish." And it vanished.

Somilaka went to Vardhamanapura. At evening, weary, he found Guptadhana's house with difficulty. Guptadhana let him in grudgingly and with scolding, gave him a little food without a shred of goodwill, and a hard bed. In the night he heard those two beings again: "Maker! Why did you make Guptadhana spend on this Somilaka? Giving him food was wrong." The other said: "That is no fault of mine; the outcome rests with you." In the morning Guptadhana came down with a stomach illness and had to fast — and the expense was recovered.

Next day Somilaka went to Upabhuktadhana's house. There he was received with honour, given excellent food and a fine bed. That night the same exchange came: "Maker! Upabhuktadhana has spent heavily on entertaining Somilaka; how is this to be made good?" The answer: "That is not in my hands." In the morning an officer arrived with a reward of money for Upabhuktadhana from the king.

Seeing this, Somilaka reflected: "This Upabhuktadhana, who keeps no hoard, is the better man — not that Guptadhana. The Vedas bear fruit in sacrifice, learning in good conduct, a wife in love and children — and wealth in giving and enjoying." And that was the boon he asked: "Make me like Upabhuktadhana."

So it is said: one who earns wealth and never enjoys it is the foolish Somilaka.

अग्निहोत्रफला वेदाः शीलवृत्तफलं श्रुतम् । रतिपुत्रफला दारा दत्तभुक्तफलं धनम् ॥

Moral: The Vedas bear fruit in sacrifice, learning in good conduct, a wife in love and children — and wealth in giving and enjoying.

From the Panchatantra, Book II — The Winning of Friends.