This ancient folktale, known as the Jogi’s Curse, comes from modern-day Kashmir. Passed down through generations, it teaches lessons of wisdom and understanding.
Long ago, a king had four sons. He told them to take turns patrolling the kingdom day and night, making sure everything was safe and secure.
One morning, the oldest prince came across a Jogi, a wise and mysterious man, sitting quietly by a pond. Nearby stood four magnificent horses, unlike any the prince had ever seen. Curious, he approached and respectfully asked, “Who are you, Jogi, and why have you come here?“
The Jogi looked calmly at the prince and replied, “I am here for you.“
“For me?” the prince asked, puzzled. “I am the eldest prince, tasked by my father to help anyone who needs it. What can I do for you?“
The Jogi smiled gently and said, “I need nothing. But if you want anything, just tell me.“
The prince eagerly said, “I would like to ride one of your horses, if I may.“
“Take one,” the Jogi agreed, “but return it by evening and tell me what you have seen during your ride.“
Excited, the prince mounted one horse and rode away. Soon, the horse sped deep into a dense jungle and stopped beside a strange vegetable garden surrounded by an impenetrable fence. Astonished, the prince watched as the sticks of the fence suddenly transformed into sharp sickles and started cutting vegetables on their own. Unable to understand this strange sight, he rode back, confused and uneasy.
That evening, the Jogi asked the prince, “What did you see today?“
“I saw something unbelievable,” said the prince. “The sticks of a fence turned into sickles and began cutting vegetables.“
“And what does that mean?” the jogi asked gently.
The prince hesitated and finally admitted, “I don’t know.“
Disappointed, the Jogi declared sternly, “You should understand these things! Turn into stone!” Instantly, the prince turned into a stone pillar.
The next morning, the second prince grew worried about his missing brother and came across the Jogi. Hearing what happened, he accepted the Jogi’s offer to use another horse and rode into the jungle. There he saw an unusual scene, a calf feeding milk to its mother cow. Confused and troubled, he returned without understanding, and he too became a stone pillar.
The third prince, equally worried, found the Jogi on the third day. Determined to find answers, he took a horse and journeyed into the jungle. There he saw a man burdened with a heavy load of wood, still picking up even more sticks. Unable to explain it, he returned and was transformed into stone as well.
Finally, the youngest prince arrived. Fearful but brave, he met the Jogi and learned about his brothers. Determined to solve the mystery, he rode into the jungle. This time, he witnessed a pond emptying all its water into smaller ponds until it was completely dry. Bewildered, he too returned unable to explain, and joined his brothers as a stone pillar.
The king, deeply troubled by the absence of his sons, decided to search for them. When he reached the Jogi, he urgently asked, “Have you seen my sons?“
“Look around,” said the Jogi, pointing calmly at four stone pillars.
Horrified, the king cried out, “Are these my sons? What has happened here?“
The Jogi explained patiently, “They saw strange things but couldn’t understand their meaning. Explain these mysteries, and your sons will return.“
“Tell me what they saw,” demanded the king.
As the Jogi described each event, the king answered thoughtfully:
“The fenced garden represents someone who misuses or hides money entrusted to him.“
“The calf feeding its mother shows a parent wrongly depending on a child’s earnings.“
“The man gathering more wood symbolizes greed, people who are never content and always want more.“
“The pond emptying itself for others is like a generous person giving everything without getting anything in return.“
With each explanation, a prince instantly became human again, standing safe and whole before the king.
Filled with relief and joy, the king returned to the palace with his four sons. Understanding the wisdom behind these experiences, he soon entrusted his kingdom to his sons and devoted himself to a spiritual life.
