The King who was a servant
At one time, a great king named Bour Sine lived in the town of Sine. The king’s armies were so powerful that they conquered many nearby towns and villages and as a result many people had to pay tribute to Bour Sine. Indeed, if a chief from a neighboring chiefdom came to Sine, it was a wise thing for him to go to Bour Sine’s house, kneel down, touch his forehead to the earth, and give valuable gifts to this powerful ruler.
As Bour Sine grew older he also grew prideful. After all, his word was law in his kingdom. And, in fact, it was the law in other places as well. Thus, he often said to himself, “ I am the greatest of the great, and no one can contradict me. There is no one who is more powerful than I.”
One day a minstrel passed through Sine. When the King heard of the minstrel’s presence, he ordered that the man be brought before him to provide entertainment. The minstrel sang a praise song and danced to Bour Sine and all of his ancestors. Then he played the harp and sang this song:
The dog is great among dogs,
Yet he serves man.
The woman is great among women.
Yet she waits upon children.
The hunter is great among hunters,
Yet he serves the villages.
Minstrels are great among minstrels
Yet they sing for the king and his slaves.
When the minstrel has finished his song, the king asked him what it meant. The minstrel answered, “It means that all people serve, no matter what their status.”
