017 - The land where there were no old men

Once upon a time all the young people decided to kill all the old people thinking that they had lived their life and were not needed anymore. Since the king was also young he did not hesitate to give the orders of doing so. It was decided that anyone who reached the age of fifty or above should be killed.

Thus, many wise experienced old men were killed and their wisdom went along with them. Among the young people there was a kind hearted young man who took pity on his father. He felt, afterall his father had brought him up. He hid his father in the cellar. He took care of all his father's needs.

After a year or two there was a terrible famine. Then it was time for the snow to melt but nobody had seeds to sow. Everyone was worried  and no one was able to think of a solution. This young man was also worried. His father asked him what the matter was and he narrated the situation. The old man advised him to plough all the roadsides. The young man did exactly what his father had said.

The snow melted after a few days there were sprouts along the roadside. People started taking about it. The news reached the king. The king asked - how he got the idea. He told the truth. The king called his father and asked what made him think that there would be seeds on the roadside. The old man replied, "When people carry grains in carts some of them drop by the roadside."

The king was impressed and thereafter no old people were killed in that land. The king also rewarded the young man.

Thus, in Hitopatdesha it is said:
वृद्धानां वचनं ग्राह्यमापत्काले ह्युपस्थिते
(Vriddhasya vachanam grahyam aaapatkale hyupastithe )

Meaning: In times of trouble one should listen to elders.

source: Stories from Here and There, Ekalavya Education Foundation - By: Sunil Handa - http://www.eklavya.org/storyhere.html