Reading Notes: Jataka Tales, Part A

Part A

The Valuer pricing people's items

Web Source:Gateway

• There was once a dishonest king that had a man named the Valuer in his court
• The Valuer did just that. He placed a value on all things like elephants and other animals. The Valuer also placed a price on jewels and other fine items. 
• The king was not pleased with the Valuer because the Valuer was honest and did not overcharge people
• One day, the king was finally fed up with the honest Valuer and replaced him with a peasant he came across on the street
• He offered the position to the peasant and he gladly accepted, so the King fired the old Valuer
• One day a horse deal brought 500 horses to be examined by the new Valuer and the new Valuer set a price that was quite low
• The new Valuer told the horse dealer that the horses were worth a mere measure of rice, so the king honored the Valuer's set price and paid the horse dealer in rice
• The horse dealer sought out the previous Valuer and asked for advice on what to do
• The old Valuer told the horse dealer to go before the king and have the new Valuer place a value on rice
• The new Valuer agreed to this and when the king asked him what the value of the measure of rice is, the new Valuer replied that it is worth the whole city
• Immediately, everyone began laughing because the city is deemed priceless
• The king became ashamed and forced the new Valuer out
• On his way out, he shouted that he just wanted to please the king by setting low prices on the horses 

Bibliography:
The Measure of Rice
Author: Ellen C. Babbitt

Web Source: Gateway