Everyone in Banaras was getting ready for the New Year᾿s celebrations. These would go on for three days. The King had a pleasure garden that was tended by a gardener. The gardener wanted to go to his house so that he too might celebrate the New Year. But the garden could not be neglected for three whole days. What could he do?
In the pleasure garden, there lived a troop of monkeys. They loved the trees and the fruits of the garden and they did not hurt anyone. The gardener finally had a bright idea, “I’ll ask the monkeys to take care of the garden!”
He went to the monkey king with his request, “Sir, would you do me a favour of watering the garden for three days, please? I will be away for the New Year. And you have plenty of water and fruits and nuts here for you and your troop. Please say you can help me.”
The monkey king agreed to help him. The gardener was very happy. He showed them where the water buckets were kept and then went off to celebrate with his family.
The monkeys were very enthusiastic. Next day, they had a wonderful time splashing water in all the tree beds. The monkey king watched them and it occurred to him that they needed a little guidance. So, he called all of them to stop work and gather around.
“My friends,” he said, “water is precious. We must not waste it.” All the monkeys nodded in agreement. Their king was truly wise, and they always obeyed him. “The trees have roots that are of different lengths. Some are long and some short,” he continued, “You must first pull up each plant, see how long the root is and then water it according to the length of the root. That way we will not waste water.”
The obedient monkeys immediately began to pull up the plants and water them according to the lengths of their roots.
At that time, a wise man was passing by. He stopped seeing the destruction the monkeys were causing. “Stop! Stop!” he yelled, “What are you monkeys up to? Are you destroying the king’s beautiful garden?”
“We are watering the trees, sir,” replied the monkeys, “And we are also saving water, as advised by our king,” they added.
“Did your king advise you to do this?” asked the man, “Then I wonder how much sense the rest of you will have!” He stopped them ruining the King’s garden. “Such folly!” he thought as he walked away.
