Chapter 4, ‘In the Kingdom of Fools’ Summary, Vocabulary, Theme, Character sketches, Important Passages, Extra Questions with Textbook Exercises.

Chapter 4- In the Kingdom of Fools (Kannada Folktale) A.K. Ramanujan:

From Beehive: Poem 5- ‘A Legend of the Northland‘, Chapter 6- ‘My childhood‘

Vocabulary:

• Anklets – Jewelry worn around the ankle.
• Ascetic – A person who practices severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.
• Compensate – To provide something, typically money, to someone in recognition of loss or suffering.
• Decree – An official order issued by a legal authority.
• Disciple – A follower or student of a teacher, particularly in a religious or spiritual context.
• Disguised – Changed appearance to avoid being recognised.
• Duddu – (Tamil word) A unit of currency; a small amount of money in the story.
• Execution – The carrying out of a sentence of death on a condemned person.
• Impalement – A method of execution where a person is pierced through with a stake.
• Mourned – Expressed sorrow or grief over a loss, especially someone’s death.
• Scrape – A problematic or tricky situation.
• Stake – A pointed wooden or metal post is driven into the ground and used as an execution device.
• Sanyasi – A person who has renounced the world and its material pleasures, often for a spiritual or ascetic life.
• Summoned – Called to come or be present, especially at a court or meeting.
• Vision – Metaphorically describes insight or foresight.

Idiomatic Expressions used in ‘In the Kingdom of Fools’:

• Change night into day and day into night – Reversing the normal order or routine of things.
• Not a mouse stirring – Complete silence or stillness.
• Grew fat like a street-side sacred bull – Gained weight significantly, usually from overindulgence.
• Pursuing his ancient trade – Continuing in a longstanding or traditional activity, usually with a negative connotation (here, thievery).
• Justice will be done – Assurance that a fair and just decision will be made.
• The case deepens – The situation or problem becomes more complex.
• Made a mess of – Spoiled or ruined something.
• Come full circle- The situation has returned to its starting point, often ironically or inevitably.
• It’s the royal decree – An official order issued by authority.
• He had got himself into such a scrape – He had got himself into trouble or a difficult situation.
• Through love of food – Motivated by a strong desire for food.
• Thrown into deep thought – Becoming very contemplative or thoughtful.
• Put to death – Executed or killed.
• Promptly executed – Immediately carried out a death sentence.
• Caught up with them – Reached or found them after some time.
• Took longer to persuade – Required more time to convince.
• On the condition that – With the stipulation or requirement that something be fulfilled.

Summary “In the Kingdom of Fools”:

“In the Kingdom of Fools,” (Kannada folktale edited by A.K Ramanujan)about a strange kingdom’s king and minister change the natural order: everyone works at night, sleeps during the day, and costs just one duddu. A wise guru leaves when he sees the danger, but his disciple stays for the cheap food.

After a series of events, the disciple is chosen for execution because he is fat enough to fit the stake. The guru returns and tricks the king into believing whoever is executed will be reborn as the new king and minister. The king and minister are then executed in place of the disciple and guru.

The kingdom’s people, needing new rulers, ask the guru and disciple to become their king and minister. They agree, provided they can restore customary laws. The kingdom has returned to its natural state with normal day and night cycles and reasonable prices.

Theme “In the Kingdom of Fools”:

The Folly of Foolish Leadership and the Power of Wisdom:

The story “In the Kingdom of Fools” explores how foolishness in leadership can lead to chaos. By changing day into night and making everything cost the same, the king and his minister create a kingdom where reason is absent. 

The story shows the dangers of unthinkingly following such leaders, as seen when the disciple faces death due to absurd laws. However, the guru’s wisdom saves the day, demonstrating that cleverness and intelligence can outwit foolishness. 

The theme highlights the importance of knowledge and critical thinking, showing that unthinkingly following foolish rules can lead to disastrous consequences, but wise thinking can restore order and justice.

Character Sketch: 

1. Character Sketch: The King in “In the Kingdom of Fools”:

1. Role: The King is the kingdom’s ruler, making laws and decisions.

2. Personality:

• Foolish: He lacks wisdom and common sense, leading to irrational decisions.

• Stubborn: He insists on changing the natural order, making night into day.

• Arrogant: He believes his ideas are unique and doesn’t question their impact.

3. Actions:

• Imposes Absurd Laws: Orders everyone to work at night and sleep during the day.

• Delivers Unjust Punishments: Punishes people without proper reasoning or justice.

4. Impact:

• Creates Chaos: His decisions lead to confusion and danger in the kingdom.

• Fails as a Leader: Shows how poor leadership can harm a society.

5. Downfall:

• Tricked by the Guru: His foolishness leads to his demise when he is deceived into taking the disciple’s place for execution.

6. Moral: 

• The King’s character illustrates the dangers of foolish leadership and the importance of wisdom in ruling justly.

2. Character Sketch: The Guru in “In the Kingdom of Fools”:

1. Role: The Guru is a wise spiritual teacher who travels with his disciple and observes the kingdom’s strange rules.

2. Personality:

• Wise: He quickly understands that the kingdom’s laws are foolish and dangerous.

• Clever: Uses his intelligence to find a way to save his disciple from execution.

• Compassionate: Concerned about his disciple’s safety and well-being.

3. Actions:

• Recognises Danger: Notices the absurdity of the kingdom’s rules and decides to leave.

• Helps the Disciple: Comes up with a plan to rescue his disciple from being executed.

• Tricks the King: Uses clever reasoning to fool the king into thinking he and his disciple want to be executed.

4. Impact:

• Restores Order: His actions lead to the kingdom returning to normalcy.

• Teaches a Lesson: Demonstrates the power of wisdom in overcoming foolishness.

5. Downfall:

• None: The Guru outsmarts the foolish king and saves his disciple.

6. Moral: 

• The Guru’s character shows that wisdom and intelligence can overcome even the most foolish leaders and restore justice.

3. Character Sketch: The Disciple in “In the Kingdom of Fools”:

1. Role: The Disciple is the Guru’s follower who stays in the kingdom despite the warnings.

2. Personality:

• Naive: Easily tempted by the kingdom’s cheap food and does not foresee the danger.

• Greedy: More interested in enjoying the cheap food than leaving the dangerous kingdom.

• Dependant: Relies on the Guru for protection and guidance.

3. Actions:

• Stays for Food: Chooses to remain in the kingdom because of the low prices, ignoring the Guru’s advice.

• Faces Execution: Becomes the target for execution due to his large size, which fits the stake.

4. Impact:

• Involved in Drama: His greed leads him to become the victim of the kingdom’s absurd justice system.

• Learns a Lesson: His experience highlights the consequences of ignoring wisdom and advice.

5. Downfall:

• Almost Executed: His desire for cheap food and ignorance lead him to be selected for execution.

6. Moral: 

• The Disciple’s character teaches the importance of listening to wise advice and the risks of letting greed cloud one’s judgment.

Questions Answers “In the Kingdom of Fools”: 

Q1: What are the two strange things the guru and his disciple find in the Kingdom of Fools? 

A1: The guru and his disciple find two strange things in the Kingdom of Fools:

• People Work at Night and Sleep During the Day: The king and minister have changed the usual order, so everyone is awake and working at night, and they sleep during the day.

• Everything Costs the Same Price: No matter what you buy, whether rice or bananas, everything costs just one duddu.

Q2: Why does the disciple decide to stay in the Kingdom of Fools? Is it a good idea? 

A2: The disciple stays in the Kingdom of Fools because he is excited about the cheap food. Everything costs just one duddu in the kingdom, so he can eat as much as he wants for little money.

However, this is not a good idea. Foolish laws rule the kingdom and may be dangerous. The disciple’s choice to stay for cheap food leads to trouble later when he is chosen for execution.

Q3: Name all the people who are tried in the king’s court and give the reasons for their trial. 

A3: In the king’s court, the following people are tried:

1. The Merchant: He is tried because a thief died after breaking into his house. The king blames him for the thief’s death because the wall was weak.

2. The Bricklayer: He is blamed for building the weak wall that caused the thief’s death. He defends himself by saying he was distracted by a dancing girl.

3. The Dancing Girl: She is tired because the bricklayer said her dancing distracted him. She blames the goldsmith for making her walk back and forth for her jewellery.

4. The Goldsmith: He is tried because he delayed making the dancing girl’s jewellery, which causes her to distract the bricklayer.

Q4: Who is the real culprit, according to the king? Why does he escape punishment? 

A4: The king believes the real culprit is the merchant’s father because he originally ordered the jewellery that caused the dancing girl to walk back and forth, distracting the bricklayer and leading to the weak wall’s collapse.

The merchant’s father is already dead, so he cannot be punished. Instead, the king punishes the merchant because he inherited his father’s sins and wealth. 

The merchant escapes punishment because he is the only one to be held accountable, even though he did not directly cause the crime. This shows the unfairness and foolishness of the kingdom’s justice system.

Q5: What are the Guru’s words of wisdom? When does the disciple remember them? 

A5: The guru’s words of wisdom are that the Kingdom of Fools is dangerous and that the disciple should leave before it’s too late. The guru warns that things might get worse, and the foolishness of the kingdom could lead to trouble.

The disciple remembers these words when he is about to be executed. He realises that staying in the kingdom for the cheap food was a mistake. 

As he faces death, he recalls the guru’s warning and understands the danger of the foolish kingdom. The disciple’s regret shows that the guru’s wisdom is correct, but it is too late for him to change his fate by then.

Q6:  How does the guru manage to save his disciple’s life? 

A6: The guru tricking the foolish king saves his disciple’s life. He tells the king that the stake used for execution is magical. According to the guru, whoever dies on it first will be reborn as the new king of the kingdom.

The king, wanting to stay in power, becomes afraid. He and his minister decide to replace the disciple and the guru to avoid losing their positions. They disguise themselves as the disciple and the guru and are executed instead.

This clever trick allows the guru and his disciple to escape from the kingdom unharmed and avoid execution while the foolish king and minister face their end.

Extra Questions “In the Kingdom of Fools”: 

Short Answer Type Questions: 

Q1: Why did the king and the minister of the Kingdom of Fools decide to change night into day and day into night?

A1: The king and minister of the Kingdom of Fools wanted to be different and do things their way. They made everyone stay awake at night and sleep during the day. They used the threat of death to force people to follow this strange rule.

Q2: When they first arrived, how did the guru and his disciple react to the city’s unusual way of life?

A2: The guru and his disciple were surprised and confused when they arrived. They saw that everyone was asleep during the day and active at night. They were amazed by how cheap everything was, but they quickly realised the city was foolish and decided it was not a good place to stay.

Q3: What was the consequence for the wealthy merchant when a wall from his house fell and killed a thief?

A3: The wealthy merchant was held responsible for the thief’s death because the wall from his house fell on the thief. The king decided that the merchant must be punished for murder, even though the merchant explained it was the fault of the old wall builder, not him.

Q4: How did the dancing girl’s presence affect the trial of the bricklayer who built the faulty wall?

A4: The dancing girl’s presence affected the trial because the bricklayer claimed her presence distracted him while building the wall. He said her dancing made him build a weak wall. As a result, the blame shifted from the bricklayer to the dancing girl, who was then blamed for the wall’s failure.

Q5: Why was the disciple chosen for execution, and how did the guru save him?

A5: The disciple was chosen for execution because he was fat enough to fit the stake. The guru saved him by tricking the king into thinking that dying on the stake would make them rulers in the next life. The king and minister were fooled, and the guru helped them escape.

Q6: What plan did the king and minister devise to avoid losing their kingdom to the guru and disciple?

A6: To avoid losing their kingdom, the king and minister disguised themselves as the guru and disciple. They went to the stake to be executed in place of the real guru and disciple. The real guru and disciple escaped, and the king and minister were secretly executed instead.

Q7: How did the people of the Kingdom of Fools react when they found out their king and minister had been executed?

A7: When the people discovered their king and minister had been executed, they were shocked and worried. They needed new leaders and remembered the guru and disciple. They convinced them to rule the kingdom, and the new rulers changed the laws, bringing the city back to normal.

Q8: What made the guru decide that staying in the Kingdom of Fools was not a good idea?

A8: The guru decided not to stay in the Kingdom of Fools because he saw that foolish people and their strange rules ruled the city. He realised that staying there could lead to more trouble and danger, so he decided it was better to leave.

Q9: How did the disciple’s preference for staying in the kingdom lead to his eventual fate?

A9: The disciple’s choice to stay in the kingdom led to his fate because he enjoyed the cheap food. The king and minister, needing a fat person for execution, chose him. His desire for food made him stay, ultimately leading to his being selected for the stake.

Q10: What was the goldsmith’s excuse for delaying the completion of the dancer’s jewellery?

A10: The goldsmith delayed the dancer’s jewellery because he was busy with orders from a wealthy merchant who needed the jewellery for a wedding. The merchant’s impatience caused the goldsmith to make excuses, which made the dancer walk up and down, distracting the bricklayer and causing the wall to fall.

Q11: How did the king’s decision to execute the guru and disciple reveal his foolishness?

A11: The king’s decision to execute the guru and disciple showed his foolishness because he believed dying at the stake would make them future rulers. He was tricked into thinking this was a divine punishment method. His lack of wisdom led him to execute himself and his minister instead.

Q12: Why did the king and minister execute the guru and disciple themselves?

A12: The king and minister executed the guru and disciple themselves because they wanted to keep their power. They disguised themselves as the guru and disciple, went to the stake, and were secretly killed. This way, they avoided losing their kingdom to the guru and disciple in the next life.

Q13: How did the guru and disciple take over as the kingdom’s rulers?

A13: The guru and disciple took over as rulers when the people discovered that the real king and minister had been executed. The people needed new leaders and persuaded the guru and disciple to rule. The new rulers then changed the foolish laws and restored normalcy to the kingdom.

Q14: What changes did the new rulers make to the laws of the Kingdom of Fools?

A14: The new rulers changed the laws to make the kingdom normal again. They returned night to being night and day to being day. They also stopped the strange rule where everything cost only a duddu. The kingdom became like any other place, no longer ruled by foolish laws.

Long Answer Type Questions: 

Q1: What were the consequences of the guru and disciple’s decision to stay in the Kingdom of Fools, and how did their actions ultimately influence the kingdom’s fate?

A1: The guru and disciple arrived in the Kingdom of Fools, where everything was strange, like day being night and food being very cheap. The guru felt it was dangerous and wanted to leave, but the disciple stayed because he enjoyed the cheap food. 

Over time, he became fat. When the foolish king needed someone to execute, he chose the disciple because of his size. The disciple then realised the danger and prayed to his guru for help. The guru returned and cleverly tricked the king into taking the disciple’s place on the stake. 

The king and his minister were executed instead. Afterwards, the people made the guru and disciple the new rulers, who changed the kingdom’s foolish laws and restored order.

Q2: Describe the series of blame and accusations that led to the execution of the wealthy merchant and how this reflects on the justice system in the Kingdom of Fools.

A2: In the Kingdom of Fools, a thief died when a wall collapsed on him during a burglary. The thief’s brother blamed the wealthy merchant who owned the house, saying the wall was weak. The king agreed and decided to punish the merchant.

The merchant blamed the bricklayer who built the wall, so the king ordered the bricklayer to be punished. The bricklayer blamed a dancing girl who distracted him, and she blamed a goldsmith for delaying her. Finally, the goldsmith blamed the merchant’s father, who had ordered the jewellery.

Since the merchant’s father was dead, the king decided the merchant should be punished. This series of blame shows how foolish and unfair the justice system was in the Kingdom of Fools.

Q3: How did the guru use the king’s desire to remain in power to avoid the execution, and what was the outcome of this strategy?

A3: When the disciple was chosen for execution, the guru returned to save him. The guru knew the king wanted to stay in power, so he devised a clever plan. He told the king that whoever was executed on the new stake would be reborn as the next king and minister. 

The guru and disciple pretended to fight over who should be executed first, making the king curious. The king, eager to secure his power in the next life, decided to take their place on the stake with his minister. 

That night, the king and minister were executed instead, and the guru and disciple were saved. The guru and disciple became the new rulers, ending the kingdom’s foolishness.

Q4: What role did the disciple’s physical appearance play in the events that led to the final execution, and how did this affect his fate?

A4: The disciple stayed in the Kingdom of Fools because he enjoyed cheap food, ate a lot, and became fat. His physical appearance played a vital role in the events that followed. When the king decided to execute someone, he needed someone large enough to fit the new stake. 

The disciple’s size made him the perfect candidate. However, this put him in great danger, as he was chosen for execution simply because he was fat. His fate changed when his guru cleverly tricked the king into taking his place. 

In the end, the disciple’s physical appearance almost led to his death, but thanks to the guru’s wisdom, he was saved and became a ruler instead.

Q5: How did the people of the Kingdom of Fools react to the sudden death of their king and minister, and what actions did they take afterwards?

A5: When the people of the Kingdom of Fools discovered that their king and minister had been executed, they were shocked and confused. They didn’t know what to do without their leaders. 

The sudden death of the king and minister caused panic and worry among the people. They mourned and discussed what to do next. Realising they needed new leaders, they remembered the guru and disciple who had outsmarted the old king. 

They begged the guru and disciple to become their new rulers. After some persuasion, the guru and disciple agreed that they could change the kingdom’s foolish laws. The people accepted, and the guru and disciple restored order and normalcy to the kingdom.

Q6: In what ways did the guru and disciple change the laws and daily routines of the Kingdom of Fools once they became the rulers?

A6: Once the guru and disciple became rulers of the Kingdom of Fools, they significantly changed the laws and daily routines. First, they changed the strange rule that made people work at night and sleep during the day. 

They restored the natural order, so night became night again, and day became day. People could now work during the day and rest at night, just like in any normal kingdom. They also stopped the practice of selling everything for just one duddu (a small coin). 

By making these changes, the guru and disciple brought back a sense of normalcy and fairness to the kingdom, helping the people live better and more sensible lives.

Q7: Explain how the sequence of events, from the bricklayer’s mistake to the goldsmith’s role, influenced the king’s decision to punish the wealthy merchant.

A7: The sequence of events started when a thief died after a wall collapsed on him during a burglary. The king wanted to punish someone for the thief’s death, so he blamed the wealthy merchant who owned the house. 

The merchant then blamed the bricklayer who built the wall, saying it was poorly made. The bricklayer defended himself by blaming a dancing girl, saying she distracted him. The dancing girl, in turn, blamed the goldsmith, who delayed making her jewellery and made her walk up and down the street. 

Finally, the goldsmith blamed the merchant’s father for giving him a big order. Since the father was dead, the king punished the merchant instead, even though he was not directly at fault.

Important excerpts from “In the Kingdom of Fools”:

The following excerpts highlight the key events and themes in the story, including the absurdity of the king’s decrees, the series of misguided judgments, and the eventual resolution of the kingdom’s governance.

1. The King’s and Minister’s Decrees:

“The king and the minister were idiots… They decided to change night into day and day into night.”

The king and the minister in the story were very foolish. They made a strange decision: they wanted to switch the times of day and night. They ordered that everyone should stay awake at night and do their work then, while they should sleep during the day. If anyone disobeyed, they would be punished with death.

Relevance and Context:

This passage sets the stage for the story’s unusual and foolish situation. It shows how the kingdom’s rulers are not only silly but also very strict and unreasonable. Their strange rules create chaos in the kingdom, leading to the following events. The king and minister’s actions highlight their lack of wisdom and inability to make sensible decisions, which is important for understanding why the kingdom is filled with problems.

2. The Guru and Disciple’s Arrival:

“A guru and his disciple arrived in the city. It was a beautiful city, it was broad daylight, but there was no one about.”

A guru and his student came to the city. Even though it was a bright and sunny day, the town seemed empty, with no people around.

Relevance and Context:

This passage is important because it shows the unusual nature of the city. While most cities were busy during the day, this one was strangely quiet because the people followed the king’s rule to sleep during the day. The empty city surprises the guru and his disciple, highlighting how the king’s foolish decision has affected everyday life in the kingdom.

3. The Kingdom’s Peculiar Economy:

“Everything costs the same, a single duddu — whether they bought a measure of rice or a bunch of bananas, it cost a duddu.”

In the city, all items in the shops were priced the same. Whether someone buys rice or bananas, everything costs just one duddu.

Relevance and Context:

This part of the story shows the unusual and silly rules of the kingdom. Different items have different prices, but everything costs the same amount in this kingdom. It highlights how strange and impractical the king’s laws are, making the kingdom even more absurd. This pricing system attracts the guru’s disciple, who are fascinated by the cheap food.

4. The Guru’s Warning:

“The guru realized that this was a kingdom of fools and it wouldn’t be a good idea for them to stay there.”

The guru understood that the kingdom was very foolish and that it was not wise for them to stay there.

Relevance and Context:

The guru’s realisation shows that he sees the king’s and people’s behaviour as unwise and unreasonable. He recognises that staying in such a place could lead to problems. His decision to leave contrasts with his disciple’s choice to stay, emphasising the difference between their views on the kingdom’s strange rules and practices.

5. The Thief’s Death:

“A thief broke into a rich merchant’s house… the wall of the old house collapsed on his head and killed him on the spot.”

A thief sneaked into a wealthy merchant’s house by breaking through a wall. While he was stealing, the old wall fell and crushed him, killing him instantly.

Relevance and Context:

This event sets off a chain of problems in the story. The thief’s death leads to a legal case where the merchant is blamed for not having a strong wall. It shows how the foolishness of the kingdom’s rules and judgments can lead to severe and unfair consequences for people.

6. The Trial: 

1. The Merchant’s Trial: “You have murdered a man. We have to punish you.”

2. The Bricklayer’s Defense: “It’s true I built this wall and it was no good… I remember very well a dancing girl who was going up and down that street all day with her anklets jingling.”

3. The Dancing Girl’s Explanation: “It’s not my fault, My Lord, it’s the damned goldsmith’s fault.”

4. The Goldsmith’s Role: “I gave her excuses because I couldn’t finish making her jewellery before I finished the rich merchant’s orders.”

Relevance and Context:

• The king told the merchant he was responsible for the thief’s death because his wall was weak and that he would be punished. This unfair judgment highlights the kingdom’s foolish legal system, where people are blamed for things beyond their control.

• The bricklayer said his poor work on the wall was due to being distracted by a dancing girl with jingling anklets. This defence shows the shifting of blame and adds to the story’s theme of misplaced responsibility and confusion within the kingdom’s legal system.

• The dancing girl claimed that the real fault was the goldsmith’s, as he delayed making her jewellery, causing her to walk up and down the street. This shifts the blame further and illustrates the absurdity of the kingdom’s legal process, where everyone passes on responsibility.

• The goldsmith explained he couldn’t finish the dancing girl’s jewellery because he had to complete orders for the wealthy merchant first. His role in the story demonstrates how each person involved tries to avoid responsibility, reflecting the chaotic and irrational nature of the kingdom’s justice system.

7. The King’s Judgment:

“It’s true your father is the true murderer… You’ve inherited everything from that criminal father of yours, his riches as well as his sins.”

The king said the wealthy merchant’s father was responsible for the crime. However, since the merchant inherited everything from his father, including wealth and wrongdoing, the merchant must be punished instead.

Relevance and Context:

The king’s decision to punish the merchant, even though his father committed the crime, shows how unfair and illogical the kingdom’s justice system is. The king believes that because the merchant has inherited his father’s possessions and sins, he should also face the consequences. This highlights the absurd and unreasonable nature of the kingdom’s laws and judgments.

8. The Guru’s Plan:

“The stake is the stake of the god of justice. It’s new, it has never had a criminal on it. Whoever dies on it first will be reborn as the king of this country.”

The guru tricked the king by claiming that the stake was special and whoever was executed on it first would be reborn as the new king. He said this to convince the king to agree to the execution.

Relevance and Context:

The guru’s explanation is a clever trick. He uses the king’s greed and desire to stay in power to delay the execution and save his disciple. This moment highlights the guru’s wisdom and resourcefulness in dealing with the absurd and foolish nature of the kingdom’s rules.

9. The King’s and Minister’s Disguise:

“The king and his minister went secretly to the prison, released the guru and the disciple, disguised themselves as the two, and as arranged beforehand with loyal servants, were taken to the stake and promptly executed.”

The king and his minister secretly went to the prison and freed the guru and the disciple. They then disguised themselves as the guru and the disciple and were taken to the stake to be executed, as they had planned with their loyal servants.

Relevance and Context:

The king and his minister tricked everyone to avoid losing their power. They pretended to be the guru and the disciple to be executed in their place. This action reveals the extent of their deceit and the lengths they will go to keep their positions, showing the kingdom’s and the characters’  deep foolishness. 

10. The New Rulers’ Agreement:

“They begged the guru and the disciple to be their king and their minister… They finally agreed to rule the kingdom of the foolish king and the silly minister, on the condition that they could change all the old laws.”

The kingdom’s people asked the guru and the disciple to become their new king and minister. They agreed to take these roles, but only if they could change all the old, foolish laws.

Relevance and Context:

The people’s request and the guru’s acceptance show how much they wanted to improve their kingdom. The old laws were considered foolish and unfair, so the new leaders agreed to rule only if they could improve things. This change marks a shift from the absurd and ineffective rules of the past to a more sensible way of governing.