laziness is an Evil friend

The Evil Friend Called Laziness

Once upon a time, in a peaceful kingdom, lived a wise and energetic king known for his kindness. He deeply respected scholars and always listened to the concerns of his people. However, despite his greatness, the king worried about his son, the young prince. Unlike his father, the prince was carefree and avoided all responsibility, choosing laziness over duty.

One day, the king decided it was time to prepare the prince to rule. But he knew he needed help, so he turned to his trusted advisor, Chanakya, a wise minister known for solving even the trickiest problems. They devised a plan: the prince must prove himself by traveling through the kingdom, meeting the people, and attending to their needs. If he completed this journey with commitment, he would inherit the throne. If he failed, the crown would go to his cousin. The king shared his decision with the prince, who was stunned—and a bit afraid.

Unwilling to lose his chance to rule, the prince reluctantly agreed. Early the next morning, he set off from the palace, dressed as a commoner and without his usual comforts. He traveled north, walking for hours until he felt tired and decided to rest by a small hut.

Just then, he overheard a mother scolding her young son. Curious, he approached her and asked, “Why are you so angry with your son?”

The mother sighed, “My son refuses to study, and he’s become lazy—just like our prince. I fear he’ll never amount to anything if he doesn’t change.”

Hearing this, the prince was embarrassed and shocked to be a bad example. But he continued his journey, realizing that his laziness was not only harming himself but also the people’s respect for him.

Further down the road, he saw an old man sitting with a meal but not eating. Concerned, the prince asked, “Why don’t you eat, sir?”

The old man replied, “I’m waiting for my son. He’s as careless as the prince, always trusting the wrong people and wasting his money. I worry he’ll come back hungry and empty-handed.”

Feeling ashamed to be compared with carelessness again, the prince grew thoughtful. The stories of his people were revealing how deeply his laziness had affected them.

At last, he reached a river where he stopped to rest. Remembering his father's instructions, he dipped a bag given to him into the river—a symbol of cleansing away his laziness. As he watched the water ripple, he felt something change within him.

When the prince returned to the palace, his father could sense something different in him. That night, the king awoke before sunrise to the sound of sword fighting. Looking out, he saw his son training with fierce determination. The king's heart filled with pride.

The next day, the prince called the scholars to discuss how they could improve the kingdom. He then announced a new law: "Laziness shall have no place here! Respect and responsibility will lead us forward."

When the king asked his son what had changed him, the prince replied, “I met my evil friend, laziness, on my journey, and I left it behind at the river. Now, I’m ready to serve and protect our people.”

Overjoyed, the king officially named him the future ruler. Together, they led the kingdom into a new era of prosperity, free from the grip of laziness.

Moral of the Story: Laziness is an evil friend that holds you back. Once you let go of it, success will follow.