SEVEN SWORDS ,

- The Queen said, "No matter what - we won't make the swords without that gathering."

- Everyone was amazed by the Queen's clarity. No one could disagree. The Cooks said, "Fine, then the sin is ours. We will sacrifice our lives."

Jingle Jingle, Cutie Champs! You read the first part of this story last week. Before we dive into the next part, take a quick look at the summary: 

Sheth and Shethani hosted a feast where 200 Pandits died after eating poisoned sweets. They wanted to kill themselves from guilt, thinking they caused a great sin. The priest and four cooks also took the blame, each saying the fault was theirs. Seven people were ready to die to take responsibility.The townspeople said the sin was shared - but only a truly righteous person could make the swords for their deaths. Searches were sent to find such a person in six months.

Meanwhile, the King and Queen, traveling in a chariot, talked deeply about right and wrong.

The King wanted to help stop the innocent from dying. They all struggled with the question: how to find justice without more harm? The story ends with the chariot arriving at the holy town of Panchvati. 

All caught up? Great! Now read on…

Part 2

S heth and Shethani were waiting.

The other people who had been sent out had all returned. They came back empty-handed. No truly Righteous person who could make a sword had been found.

The Charioteer folded his hands before Sheth and Shethani.

Sheth asked, "What is it, brother?"

The Charioteer said, "I have brought a cutler. He is exactly the kind of Righteous man we were looking for. Not just 108, but he has probably done 216 Ekadashi fasts."

Sheth said, "Where is he?"

The Charioteer replied, "In the chariot."

Sheth said, "Quickly call him."

The Charioteer took the King and Queen to Sheth.

Sin and virtue, truth and lies - they shine on a person's face. A liar may try to hide everything, but falsehood always shows on their face. The heart of a liar thuds with guilt.

As soon as Sheth saw the faces of the King and Queen, he said, "Welcome, brother. You must be Righteous. How many Ekadashi fasts have you done?"

The King explained everything.

Sheth said, "Then begin making the swords. We do not wish to live another moment. The longer we live, the more our sin increases.

'Virtue and sin are immortal,

Each moment they rise -

Virtue adds to life,

Sin eats away life.'"

"So, brother cutler, tell me what tools you need. I'll have them brought. Begin making the swords."

The Queen said, "Shethji, swords can't be made just like that."

Sheth asked, "Why not, sister?"

The Queen said, "Call a gathering of Righteous Pandits, wise merchants, and just nobles. I will ask them questions. Once I get my answers, we will make the swords."

Sheth said, "Sister, what need is there for Pandits now? We don't even want to live another moment."

The Queen said, "No matter what - we won't make the swords without that gathering."

"Alright then."

Sheth gathered the most learned Pandits and virtuous merchants. The King and Queen sat with them.

Sheth said, "Go ahead, sister. Ask whatever you wish."

The Queen said, "First question - who bears the punishment for sin?" Everyone answered, "The one who committed the crime."

The Queen said, "Then think - who actually committed the crime? Listen carefully. First, let's talk about Sheth and Shethani. They hosted the feast. But they gave all the arrangements to the priest. The priest had full freedom to spend whatever was needed. Sheth didn't leave anything lacking. If he had, and someone died because of it, then Sheth would be guilty. But Sheth is not guilty.

If one man gives another money to safeguard, and the second man loses it - who is guilty? The one who lost it or the one who gave it?" Everyone said, "The one who lost it."

The Queen said, "Exactly. Responsibility lies with the one who was in charge. Just like that, Sheth gave the entire feast arrangement to the priest. So anything good or bad that happened is the priest's responsibility. The priest is the guilty one. The sin of the Pandits' deaths falls on him. Sheth and Shethani do not carry that sin. If they still die, it will be suicide. And suicide is the greatest sin."

Hearing this, everyone agreed. Even Sheth and Shethani had nothing to say. The Queen's reasoning was flawless.

Everyone stared at the Queen's cleverness. "She may be a cutler, but she has the wisdom of the divine."

So now the burden of sin fell on the priest.

The priest said, "Alright, I will take the blame. I will give up my life."

The Queen said, "I have another question."

She continued, "A Senapati [Army Chief] gives a Sipahi [Soldier] a sword and orders him to guard Sheth's house. He says, 'If a thief comes, strike him down.'

The soldier goes on duty. At night, Sheth wakes up. One of the soldiers panics, strikes, and cuts off Sheth's head. Now tell me - is the Army Chief guilty, or the soldier who swung the sword?"

Everyone answered, "The soldier is guilty."

The Queen said, "Of course. That's basic common sense. The soldier should have checked if it was a thief or Sheth. He should have asked. Striking immediately without checking was foolish. Similarly, the priest handed the cooking to the Cooks. He never told them to be careless. While making the sweet dish, they should have been alert so nothing fell in. That was their duty. The priest wasn't responsible for that. The Cooks were careless. A snake fell in and got boiled. Had they been careful, they would have noticed it while boiling the sweet dish. So the real fault is the Cooks'. Whether the food turns out good or bad - it's their responsibility. The sin is theirs."

Everyone was amazed by the Queen's clarity. The logic was clear. No one could disagree.

The Cooks said, "Fine, then the sin is ours. We will sacrifice our lives."

The Queen said, "Let me ask one more thing. Please answer it."

"Two men went on a journey. One was a little lame. As they walked, the lame man grew tired. The other man lifted him onto his shoulders and continued.

As they went uphill, the man stumbled. The lame one slipped and rolled down the hill. His head hit a rock, and he died. Now tell me - is the one who carried him guilty?"

Everyone replied, "No."

The Queen asked, "Why not?"

They said, "He didn't do it on purpose. It was an accident. He didn't mean to hurt him."

The Queen said, "Exactly. He didn't intend to harm the lame man. There was no wish to hurt. So he's not guilty. Similarly, the Cooks had no intention to poison the dish. They didn't know a snake would fall in. They didn't wish for the Pandits to die. Yes, they were careless. But they didn't do it on purpose. Had they known a snake might fall and still ignored it - that would be sin. A sin only occurs when the heart desires it. A careless act with knowledge is sin. A mistake out of ignorance is not. Now tell me - do the Cooks still bear the sin?"

Everyone fell silent.

The Queen said, "The Cooks are also innocent."

No one could argue.

Sheth and Shethani ran to touch the Queen's feet.

Sheth said, "Lady, you are like the goddess Jagdamba. You saved us from the sin of suicide."

After taking leave from everyone, the King and Queen departed.

Sheth and Shethani returned to their home.