A long time ago in India, there were two kings who lived on either side of a mountain. Their names were King Vikram and King Karan.
King Vikram was the most kind and generous king, and he was loved by all of his people. King Karan was rather jealous of this, which was why every morning he threw hundreds of gold pieces into the crowd of poor people below him! Nobody knew how he could give away so much gold and still have more the next day. It did not seem to be possible…
…not without magic anyway. For King Karan had a secret. Every morning he would be up before anyone else in the palace and climb up the mountain to a hut where a blind hermit lived. When he got there, King Karan climbed into an enormous frying pan, and the hermit cooked him.
And then, the hermit ate the King for his breakfast!
He would lick the bones clean and then mutter some magic words and pouf! King Karan would reappear as good as new! Then the blind hermit would bring out his magic hat, and shake out hundreds of gold pieces.
No one noticed what was going on for King Karan looked exactly the same despite being fried and eaten for breakfast everyday. But if they could look in a little deeper, they might have noticed something different about him - each time the hermit ate him for breakfast, the king’s heart became slightly smaller. And so although he looked just fine on the outside, King Karan became sadder and meaner inside.
Now it just so happened that one day, two swans flew over the city of King Karan.
“Praise be to King Vikram!” they were singing, “for truly he is the most kind and generous king in the world!”
King Karan was angry when he heard this. He ordered his soldiers to catch the swans and put them in a cage, so that nobody would hear their song. But one of the swans got away and flew back to the kingdom of King Vikram.
“Please help!” the swan asked kind King Vikram. “My husband has been put in a cage by King Karan!”
King Vikram was shocked to hear this and decided to help the poor swan. So he disguised himself as a beggar, and travelled to the kingdom of King Karan. When he got there, he saw King Karan giving away hundreds of gold pieces, as he did every morning. “Hmmmm…” thought King Vikram. “There is something strange about this.
And so he decided to stay awake all night and watch the palace to see if he could find out what was going on. And sure enough, before dawn, he saw King Karan slip out and sneak up the mountain. King Vikram was quite amazed when he saw King Karan being cooked and eaten for breakfast, and then being given all the gold pieces.
King Vikram thought and thought, until he came up with a plan. That day, he bought delicious spices in the market, and the next morning he arrived at the hermit’s hut, before even King Karan was awake. When he got there, he rubbed himself all over in the spices, then jumped into the frying pan.
Now the old hermit couldn’t see very well, so he didn’t realise that he actually had a completely different king in his pan. But there was nothing wrong with his nose, and he could not believe how good his breakfast smelled. He gobbled the king up, moaning with delight. Then he said his magic words, and pouf! There was King Vikram again, as good as new!
“Did you enjoy your breakfast this morning?” asked King Vikram.
“Oh yes! Oh yes!” replied the hermit.
“You know, I could make myself taste that good every morning, if you agree to let me have your magic hat in return.”
When King Karan arrived at the hermit’s hut, he was very angry to find the hermit already full up, and the hat gone, but what could he do? He returned to his palace where a mass of eager people were waiting for the regular doling out of gold. But this morning, he had nothing to give them.
“Excuse me” said King Vikram “but I think this might be what you are looking for.
“Who are you?” asked King Karan. “And what do you want?”
“I am King Vikram” he replied. “and the swan you have imprisoned is my friend. I’d be only too happy for you to have the magic hat but, in return, can you please let my friend go free?”
King Karan looked down in shame.
“The birds were right,” he said slowly. “I was selfish to allow myself to be fried and eaten just so I could get gold and be more like by my people. But you, my friend, were willing to be eaten and give me all the endless supply of gold just to free a bird in a cage. You are, indeed, the most generous king.” And with that King Karan freed the swan from its cage.
And from then on, the two kings were the very best of friends.
Video summary
A beautifully animated tale from India about a Punjabi King who allowed himself to be fried and eaten for breakfast each day by a hermit, in return for being allowed to give unlimited gold to all his subjects.
The King learns that his generosity is selfish as he gives away gold in return for adoration from his people.
This story encourages children to consider the true meaning of generosity, and shows that giving and being generous can be different things.
Teacher Notes
This short film could be used to support the teaching of key literacy skills such as reading, writing and listening. Encouraging pupils to explore the decisions of characters, and examine their actions to understand their cultural belief, values, differences and similarities in everyday life.
The story provides an effective tool to engage pupils in the way others see and imagine life, and helps enhance further discussions on what is familiar and unfamiliar.
This could be used in connection with stories from other cultures, as well as traditional stories and fables to explore the differences or similarities in storytelling.
The tale could be incorporated into specific reading and writing exercises (e.g. pupils can write about a specific dramatic scene or a descriptive setting in the film). This could enhance pupils knowledge and understanding of different places and countries.
This short film will be relevant for teaching English at KS1 and KS2 in England and Wales.
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