The Golden Apple Tree
Once upon a time, in a land filled with enchanting forests and towering mountains, a poor farmer named Siddhartha lived with his wife Ahalya. They were the custodians of a mystical tree that had been in Siddhartha’s family for generations. This tree was unique because it bore a single golden apple every year, a treasure that possessed the power to grant one wish to the person who consumed it.
Siddhartha was envious of the wealthy landlord, who lived in a grand mansion while he was barely able to provide for his own. Every year, he strongly desired to use the power of the golden apple to become rich but was always dissuaded by his wife. Ahalya explained that their love, health, and the contentment they had in their simple life were treasures beyond any monetary wealth. Siddhartha, although he always agreed, quietly held on to his dream of riches.
One day, as the golden apple was ripe and ready for picking, it mysteriously disappeared. Siddhartha and Ahalya found the tree barren. Shocked and heartbroken, Siddhartha assumed the rich landlord had stolen their precious apple. Filled with anger, he set out to confront him.
The landlord, a shrewd man named Dravya, lived a life of luxury but was never satisfied. His greed led him to covet the golden apple following the tale from his loyal servant who overheard Siddhartha fantasizing about riches. Though he denied having any knowledge of the apple, his guilt was as transparent as a clear lake.
Determined to retrieve the apple, Siddhartha sought the local sage for help. The sage, upon hearing Siddhartha's story, gave him an enchanted seed, instructing him to plant it where the apple was stolen. He said it would reveal the truth. Trusting the sage, Siddhartha returned home and planted the seed right underneath the golden apple tree.
Overnight, an enchanting tree sprouted, full of silver apples. Each apple could reveal a truth when thrown onto the ground. Siddhartha plucked one and threw it down, and a mesmerizing scene unfolded. It showed Dravya secretly stealing the golden apple with the help of his servant. Siddhartha was enraged, but the sight of Dravya later choking on the apple ment a certain shock. He had greedily consumed the golden fruit, wishing to become the richest man in the world, but his body couldn’t handle the magical transformation, and he met an unfortunate end.
Saddened yet enlightened, Siddhartha realized the truth in Ahalya's words. He understood that his life was already full of wealth, not in the form of gold or silver, but in the love and peace they shared, the health they had, and the fulfillment they found in their simple life. The theft of the golden apple wasn’t a tragedy, but a wake-up call for him. From that day, Siddhartha lived not coveting wealth or possessions, but cherishing the riches within his reach.
Hence, the story of the golden apple tree holds true the saying that the greatest wealth is contentment with what we have. The desire for riches and power, if unchecked, not only misleads us from true happiness but also often leads to a tragic end.