Intelligent Questions, Intimate Answers
A Raja said to his Vazir, “I want you to find answers to three of my questions:
One, what is that which you give here and for which you receive a reward here?
Two, what is that which you give here but for which you receive a reward there?
Three, what is that which you give here and for which you receive a reward neither here nor there?”
“Sir,” said the Vazir, “Give me Rs.75,000 and give me a week’s time. I shall provide answers to all the three questions.”
The King forthwith paid Rs.75,000 and waited for a week.
At the end of the week, the Minister returned and told the kind, “Sir, from the amount you gave to me, I deposited Rs.25,000 in a bank. It is credited to your account.”
“I have given it here. You will be rewarded for it here. Any time you want it, you will get it back with interest.”
The Vazir said, “This answers your first question. You put money in a bank and the bank will pay you interest. The interest will be your reward. You will get the principal and the interest whenever you desire a reward from it.
“Your second question was: What is it that you give here and for which you are rewarded there? Sir, I have spent Rs.25,000 to get food and clothing for the needy and the poor. And all this was done without you knowing about it, O King. You will be rewarded for this in the next world. That is the answer to your second question.”
“Your third question was: What is it that you give here and for which you receive a reward neither here nor there?”
“Sir, the remaining Rs.25,000/- I squandered away in vain pleasures – wine, women, song and dance. For all that, you will be rewarded neither here nor there. I hope this answers all your questions.”
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