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| GENRE: Fable CULTURE: Buddhism, India THEME: Generosity READING LEVEL: Grades 3 and up READERS: 11+ TIME: 7 min. ROLES: Narrator 1, Narrator 2, Narrator 3, Narrator 4, Sushil, Boy, Nirmala, Sakka, Man, Woman, Rajah, (Servant, Other Townspeople, Children) NOTE: This tale comes from the Jataka, an ancient Buddhist collection of folktales, legends, and fables. Sakka, the King of Heaven, is a popular figure found in many of those tales. Sushil is pronounced "SOO-shil." Nirmala is pronounced "NEER-muh-luh." Sakka is pronounced "SOK-uh." For best effect, place NARRATORS 1 and 2 at far left (as seen from the audience), and 3 and 4 at far right. To help Sakka imitate Sushil, Sushil should use a distinctive funny voice. Hear the Names -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NARRATOR 1: Sushil was a miser. Though his treasure house was full, he was too stingy to give away even the smallest coin. NARRATOR 4: And since food cost money, he ate almost nothing, and starved his family and servants besides. NARRATOR 2: One morning, as Sushil took his daily walk through town, he saw a boy eating a sweet rice dumpling. BOY: (makes loud sounds of enjoyment as he eats) NARRATOR 3: Sushil's mouth watered as he made his way home. He said to himself, SUSHIL: If only I could ask my wife to make me a sweet dumpling. But if I wanted one, so would my wife. And if my wife wanted one, so would the children. And if the children wanted one, so would the servants. So I had better just keep quiet. NARRATOR 1: When Sushil arrived home, he said nothing about a dumpling. But he wanted one so badly, he felt weak. His legs shook, and he had to go to bed. NARRATOR 4: His wife, Nirmala, came to him. She asked, NIRMALA: What is wrong, my husband? NARRATOR 2: Sushil lay groaning and clenched his teeth. NIRMALA: Is there something you want? NARRATOR 3: Sushil's face grew red, then purple. At last he squeaked, SUSHIL: I would like a sweet rice dumpling. NIRMALA: That is no problem. We are wealthy enough. Why, I will make sweet dumplings for the whole town! SUSHIL: (gasps) NARRATOR 1: Sushil gasped in horror. SUSHIL: You will make a pauper of me! NIRMALA: Well then, I will make dumplings for our family and servants. SUSHIL: Why would the servants need any? NIRMALA: Then I will make them for us and the children. SUSHIL: I am sure the children can do without. NIRMALA: Then I will make one for you and one for me. SUSHIL: Why would you want one? NARRATOR 4: Nirmala sighed and went out. NARRATOR 2: After awhile, she returned with a single sweet dumpling. NARRATOR 3: Then she looked on as Sushil, moaning with delight, devoured every crumb. SUSHIL: (makes loud sounds of enjoyment as he eats) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NARRATOR 1: Now, it happened that all this was seen by Sakka, the King of Heaven, who was sitting on his marble throne in his thousand-mile-high palace. SAKKA: (appalled, looking down to earth) Not in seventy-seven millenia have I ever seen such a miser! I will teach this fellow not to be so stingy. NARRATOR 4: So the god waited till the next day, when Sushil left on his morning walk. Then he made himself look just like Sushil and came down to earth. NARRATOR 2: Sakka walked into Sushil's house as if he were Sushil himself. NARRATOR 3: In Sushil's own voice he told a servant, SAKKA: (imitating Sushil) Run through the town and invite everyone you see. Today Sushil will share his wealth! SERVANT: (excitedly bows and runs off) NARRATOR 1: When Nirmala heard these words, she cried, NIRMALA: Husband, can this be true? Heaven be praised for your change of heart! NARRATOR 4: Then she helped him open the treasure house. TOWNSPEOPLE (including WOMAN, MAN, BOY): (enter) NARRATOR 2: Soon the people of the town arrived. The pretend Sushil told them, SAKKA: Take what you will! And if anyone who looks like me tries to stop you, drive away the scoundrel! MAN: Thanks to Lord Sushil! WOMAN: The most generous man alive! NARRATOR 3: They rushed into the treasure house and loaded themselves with gold, silver, diamonds, and pearls. NARRATOR 1: Just then, the real Sushil came home. NARRATOR 4: When he saw his treasure being carried out the gate, he screamed, SUSHIL: Robbers! Thieves! Put that back! How dare you! NARRATOR 2: But the townspeople said, BOY: This must be the one that Lord Sushil warned us about! NARRATOR 3: And they chased Sushil halfway across town. WOMAN: (chasing Sushil) Be off with you! MAN: (chasing Sushil) And don't show your face again! NARRATOR 1: The crowd turned back. Sushil rushed on to the court of the Rajah. SUSHIL: (arriving out of breath, speaking frantically) Your Majesty, the people of the town are taking all I own! RAJAH: But your own servant invited them! NARRATOR 4: ...said the Rajah. RAJAH: I heard him myself. Did you not give the order? SUSHIL: Never! If the order was given, I beg you to bring the one who gave it! NARRATOR 2: So the Rajah sent a messenger. NARRATOR 3: Soon came Sakka, still pretending to be Sushil, along with Nirmala and the children. The children stared wide-eyed at the two Sushils, and Nirmala nearly fainted. SUSHIL: Impostor! SAKKA: Deceiver! RAJAH: (bewildered, looking from one to the other) I cannot tell the difference between you! NARRATOR 1: ...said the Rajah. He turned to Nirmala. RAJAH: Can you say which is the true Sushil? NARRATOR 4: Nirmala looked at both men. NIRMALA: Your Majesty, may I ask them a question? RAJAH: Certainly. NARRATOR 2: Nirmala turned to Sakka. NIRMALA: Is it better to be generous to yourself, to your family, to your servants, or to your neighbors? SAKKA: It is best to be generous to all! When you are generous, others also grow generous, and everyone is wealthier. NARRATOR 3: Then Nirmala turned to Sushil. NIRMALA: Is it better to be generous to yourself, to your family, to your servants, or to your neighbors? SUSHIL: To none! It is a waste of wealth that can never be regained! NARRATOR 1: Nirmala took a deep breath. She gathered the children, then drew close to Sakka. NIRMALA: This is the true Sushil, Your Majesty. SUSHIL: But, Nirmala! My wife! My children! NARRATOR 4: At that, the god stepped forward. With a blinding flash of light, he changed back to his own shape. SAKKA: Your Majesty, I am not Sushil but Sakka. I came down from Heaven to teach this man a lesson! NARRATOR 2: He turned to the trembling and downcast Sushil. SAKKA: Do you see? You are so stingy, even your wife and children deny you! SUSHIL: (moans) SAKKA: There is but one hope for you. Will you stop being such a miser? SUSHIL: (hesitantly) Well...maybe I could be a little more generous. SAKKA: (sternly) A little more? SUSHIL: Well...maybe a little more than a little more. SAKKA: You had better be a lot more generous. Or I'll be back! NARRATOR 3: And with another flash of light, he vanished. RAJAH: (to Sushil) Well! NARRATOR 1: ...said the Rajah to Sushil. RAJAH: It seems you indeed have been taught a good lesson! SUSHIL: I suppose so, Your Majesty. NARRATOR 4: He turned shyly to Nirmala and held out his hand. SUSHIL: (questioningly) Wife? NARRATOR 2: Nirmala took it. NIRMALA: (smiling at him) Husband! Oh, Sushil, let us celebrate! I have an idea. Let us make sweet rice dumplings for the entire town! SUSHIL: (gasps) NARRATOR 3: Sushil gasped in horror. NARRATOR 1: His legs shook. NARRATOR 4: He groaned and clenched his teeth. NARRATOR 2: His face grew red, then purple. NARRATOR 3: Then he squeaked, SUSHIL: All right! |