Parables of Wisdom
King Yashovarma's Justice
राजा यशोवर्मा का न्याय · રાજા યશોવર્માનો ન્યાય
A bell of justice, a grieving cow and a king who would not bend
- 5 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- Best shared with a grown-up
King Yashovarma hangs a bell at his palace gate so that anyone who has been wronged can ring it. One day a cow rings it, and the trail of her sorrow leads to the person the king loves most.
What it teaches Justice Truth Compassion
The opening of the children's telling
Once there was a fair and kind king named Yashovarma. At his palace gate hung a big bell. Anyone who was treated badly could ring it, and the king would come and help.
One day, a goddess wanted to test the king. She turned herself into a cow and stood by the road with a sweet little calf.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Being fair means the same rule for everyone, even for the people we love most.
To talk about together
Everyone in the market knew who had hurt the calf but stayed silent. Why is staying silent sometimes also a wrong?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.