It happened a long time ago. The King of Chandanpur was a mighty and illustrious ruler; tales of his kingdom's prosperity were recounted far and wide.
His palace was replete with every conceivable luxury and comfort, yet, deep within, his mind remained restless. He sought to uncover the cause of this inner turmoil by consulting numerous astrologers and priests.
He met with many scholars—some prescribed specific rings to wear, while others advised performing elaborate rituals—but despite these efforts, the King's sorrow remained unalleviated, and he found no peace.
One day, in disguise, the King set out to tour his kingdom. As he wandered about, he passed by a field. Suddenly, his gaze fell upon a farmer who was seated in the shade of a tree, eating his meal while clad in tattered, worn-out clothes.
Observing the farmer's attire, a thought crossed the King's mind: he decided to offer the farmer a few gold coins, hoping to bring a measure of happiness into his life.
Approaching the farmer, the King said, "I am merely a traveler passing through.
I happened to find these four gold coins lying here in your field. Since this land belongs to you, you should keep these coins for yourself."
The farmer replied, "Oh no, Sir! These coins do not belong to me. You should keep them yourself or perhaps donate them to someone else; I have absolutely no need for them."
The farmer's reaction struck the King as quite peculiar. He asked, "Who, after all, does not have a need for wealth?
How could you possibly turn away the Goddess of Fortune?"
"Sir," the farmer replied, "I earn four *annas* (penny)every day, and I remain perfectly content with just that."
"What? You earn only four *annas*(penny) a day, yet you remain content with such a meager sum? How is that even possible?" the King asked in utter astonishment.
"Seth-ji," the farmer said, "happiness does not depend on how much you earn or how much wealth you possess... happiness depends on how you utilize that wealth."
"So, what exactly do you do with these four *annas*(penny)?" the King asked in a mocking tone.
The farmer, not wishing to get drawn into a pointless argument, continued on his way and replied:
"Of these four *annas*(penny), I cast one into a well; with the second, I repay a debt; the third I lend out; and the fourth I bury in the soil..."
The King fell into deep thought; he could not grasp the meaning of this answer. He wanted to ask the farmer to explain it, but the man had already departed.
The very next day, the King convened his court. He recounted the previous day's encounter to the entire assembly and asked everyone to interpret the meaning of the farmer's statement.
The courtiers offered their various interpretations and arguments, but none could satisfy the King. Ultimately, it was decided that the farmer himself should be summoned to the court.
After an extensive search, the farmer was located and instructed to appear before the court the following day.
The King revealed to the farmer that he had been the one traveling in disguise the previous day, and he seated the farmer in the court with great respect.
"I am impressed by your response, and I wish to understand the accounting of your four *annas*. Tell me: how do you spend the four *annas* you earn in such a way that you remain so happy and content?" the King asked.
The farmer replied, "Your Majesty, as I mentioned: I cast one *anna* into a well—meaning I spend it on the sustenance and upkeep of my immediate family. With the second, I repay a debt—meaning I dedicate it to the care and service of my elderly parents. The third I lend out—meaning I invest it in the education and upbringing of my children. And the fourth I bury in the soil—meaning I set it aside as savings, so that when the need arises, I will not have to beg from anyone, and I may utilize it for religious, social, or other essential purposes."
The King now fully understood the farmer's words. The solution to his problem had been found; he realized that if he wished to remain happy and content, he, too, must make proper use of the wealth he had amassed.
Friends, objectively speaking, people's incomes have certainly risen compared to the past; but has our happiness increased in the same proportion?
We are making mistakes somewhere in how we handle our finances. It is essential to create a balanced life, and to achieve this, we must carefully examine both our income and how we utilize it;
otherwise, no matter if we earn millions, we will still be unable to find true happiness and contentment!