Parables of Wisdom
The Greedy King
लालची राजा · લોભી રાજા
A king who wished that everything he touched would turn to gold
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
A king who already has more gold than anyone in the land is granted one wish, and he asks for a golden touch. At first it feels like the happiest day of his life.
What it teaches Greed Non-possessiveness Contentment
The opening of the children's telling
Once there was a king called Kanakraj. He had more gold than anyone in the land. But he always wanted more.
One day a kind old traveller said, "You may have one wish." The king said, "Let everything I touch turn to gold!" And so it was. He touched a chair, and it turned to gold. He touched a door, and it turned to gold. The king laughed and laughed.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Wanting less leaves room in our hands for the things that truly matter.
To talk about together
The king had everything, but he still wanted more. Is there something you have that is already enough?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.