The Broken Pot: Dreams and Reality
The Broken Pot: Dreams and Reality
Adapted from Indian Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs (1892)
The Miser’s Night
In a small village lived a Brahman named Svabhavakripana, whose name quite fittingly meant “a born miser.” He had spent his day begging for rice and, after eating just enough to satisfy his hunger, carefully placed the remainder in an earthen pot.
With great care, he hung the pot on a peg high on the wall of his humble dwelling. He positioned his sleeping mat directly beneath it and lay down for the night. Instead of sleeping, however, he fixed his gaze on the pot, his mind racing with possibilities.
“That pot is truly brimful of rice,” he thought to himself. “If a famine should strike the region, I could sell this rice for at least a hundred rupees. What an opportunity that would be!”
A Future Built on Dreams
As the night deepened, so did the Brahman’s fantasies. “With those hundred rupees, I shall purchase two young goats,” he continued in his mind. “Goats reproduce every six months, and before long, I shall possess an entire herd.”
His imaginary wealth multiplied rapidly. “Once I have enough goats, I shall sell them and buy cows. After the cows have calved, I will sell the calves and acquire buffaloes. The buffaloes will allow me to purchase mares, which will produce foals. Soon I shall have many horses to sell, bringing me abundant gold.”
The Brahman’s eyes gleamed in the darkness as his fantasy grew more elaborate. “With my newfound fortune, I shall build a magnificent house with four wings. My reputation as a wealthy man will spread, and a respected Brahman will offer his beautiful daughter in marriage, along with a substantial dowry.”
The Imaginary Family
His mind raced forward through the years. “My wife will bear a son, and I shall name him Somasarman,” he mused. “When he is old enough to walk, I will be sitting behind the stable reading sacred texts. The boy will see me from his mother’s lap and toddle toward me, wanting to be bounced on my knee.”
In his imagination, the scene unfolded vividly. “The child will wander too close to the horses, putting himself in danger. Alarmed, I will call to my wife, ‘Take the baby! Take him quickly!’ But she, distracted by household duties, will not hear my warning.”
The Costly Reaction
The Brahman’s fantasy reached its climax. “I will need to act swiftly to save my son. I shall jump up and give my inattentive wife such a forceful kick!”
At this moment, completely absorbed in his imaginary scenario, the Brahman actually kicked out with his foot. His powerful kick struck the wall, shaking it and dislodging the pot from its peg.
The earthen vessel crashed down upon him, shattering into pieces. The rice he had so carefully saved spilled all over his body, covering him in white grains from head to toe.
The Lesson
This tale reminds us that those who build elaborate fantasies about the future while neglecting the present may find themselves like Svabhavakripana—covered in the remnants of their broken dreams.
As the ancient saying concludes: “He who makes foolish plans for the future will be white all over, like the father of Somasarman.”
In this timeless story from India, we learn that while planning for the future has value, becoming lost in unrealistic fantasies can lead to the loss of what we already possess.
