Fisherman : Then please order your men to give me two hundred lashes with a whip
on my back.
Raja : What a strange request this is! People say you are a wise man. But I
don’t think your request shows any wisdom. What fun will you get out
of lashes on your back?
Fisherman : You and your men can get some fun watching the man lashing me.
Raja : But I don’t want to have such fun. Ask me for something else.
Fisherman : I do not wish for anything else, Your Highness.
Raja : All right then. You will have your lashes. Are you ready for them?
Fisherman : Yes, I am, Your Highness. But please call your gate-keeper in. The Raja
sent his men to the gatekeeper and in a few moments he appeared.
Fisherman : Your Highness, please give this man one hundred lashes out of the two
hundred lashes that you have promised me.
Gatekeeper : What! One hundred lashes! Why must I share this punishment with you?
Fisherman : We agreed to divide the price of the fish between us. You wanted half
of anything I got from the Raja in return for it. I am getting two hundred
lashes from him. And half of two hundred is one hundred.
Raja : Not one hundred. Give that gatekeeper all the two hundred lashes and
dismiss him from my service. I feel ashamed because I kept such a bad
servant all these days. You are indeed very wise, my good fisherman.
