A wise and just king, advanced in years, had to choose a successor from his three sons. Having governed his people with wisdom for many years, he devised a test to determine the most worthy to inherit the throne. He gathered the three sons and announced, “I am entrusting each of you with a sheep. Your task is to transport it to a designated village – a journey of about a one-day walk. Whoever accomplishes this intelligently and assiduously will demonstrate their preparedness for the throne.” “Is this the test?” The eldest son confidently chuckled. “It is incredibly simple. I will prove my worthiness for the throne.” He then set off with his sheep. Along the road, four thieves meticulously planned to steal the sheep and positioned themselves strategically.
The first thief, sitting at the start of the road, greeted the king’s son as he passed,”Sir,” the thief began, “why are you leading this dog on a leash?” “That is not a dog; it is a sheep,” the man confidently declared before continuing on his way – a flicker of surprise at the thief’s question beginning to register. A short distance later, a second thief approached him. “Man, why are you leading this dog tied up?” he inquired. The man paused, then replied, “it is a sheep, not a dog.” Despite his assertion, doubt began to creep in, and he started to feel the animal with his hands.
Halfway down the road, the third thief approached him. “Sir,” he remarked, “do you truly intend to lead a dog tied up like this for the entire journey? Does it not strike you as odd?” The king’s son stood there, dumbfounded, unable to formulate a reply. He gazed at the sheep, his doubts escalating. How could three different individuals utter the same words? As he continued on his way, the fourth thief appeared. This thief smiled, greeted him, and then inquired, “What is the matter, friend? Why are you leading that dog tied up behind you?” He eventually realized he was leading a dog, not a sheep. Convinced by the thief’s statement, he thought, “Not all four of them may be lying.” He then told the thief, “I was in a rush and mistook this dog for a sheep. I tied it up, believing it would be suitable for sale at the market. I only just discovered it is a dog.” The king’s son quickly untied the sheep, setting it free, and returned to the palace to find his real sheep. Upon learning of this, the king laughed and said, “You have failed your mission; thieves have deceived you.” “I shall be king!” the younger brother excitedly declared, leading his sheep as he departed. Midway to his destination, he encountered a group of fatigued, famished individuals by the roadside. He inquired about their predicament, and one replied, “We are hungry and without shelter. Can you help us?”
He regarded them with indifference. “I am unconcerned with your plight. I am on the way to becoming king,” he stated before confidently proceeding on his journey. Soon after, he encountered a man of apparent wealth and success. The man expressed his admiration, “What a remarkable sheep you are leading! I will purchase it from you for a substantial sum.” The king’s son paused, his eyes gleaming at the offered amount. “I shall transport this sheep to the city and sell it to you there,” he responded. The rich man agreed, and they continued their journey. Upon arrival in the city, the prince sold the sheep to the wealthy man and returned to the palace with a broad smile. When he faced his father, he confidently stated, “I have successfully delivered the sheep to the city.” He feigned faithful completion of the task, believing his father would not discover his deception.
However, the king had been aware of his plan all along. The king looked at his son and, with a sly smile, said, “You did well selling the sheep. But do you think a true king deceives his people or neglects the needy? You must learn that a king is not just someone who collects money, but also someone who thinks and considers others.” Then the younger brother felt ashamed. He realized that money is not everything, and that the throne requires wisdom and compassion before power and greed. Next, the middle son began his journey with the sheep, focused on his goal. Along the way, he encountered a poor man who requested some wool to clothe his son, suffering from the cold. The son considered the plea, deciding to help, believing the wool would regrow. He sheared some wool for the man and continued on his way. Further down the road, he found a blind, tired, and hungry old woman. She weakly asked for food.
He felt conflicted, knowing the sheep was his only means to reach the city and become king. Nevertheless, compassion quickly prevailed. He could not leave her hungry, sensing this might be a true test. He decided to slaughter the sheep and prepare a meal for the old woman. As she ate, she offered him blessings and well wishes. Finishing her meal, she declared, “You have proven you possess a compassionate heart, and that is what makes a person worthy of leadership.” The middle brother returned to the palace without the sheep, but he felt content and relieved that he had chosen goodness over personal ambition. The father met with his three sons and told them that the time had come to choose who was worthy of being king. Then he looked at the youngest brother and said, “Money is not everything; wealth does not make a wise ruler.” Then he turned to the eldest brother and said, “A king is not just ambition; true leadership requires more than just the desire for power.”
Finally, he turned to his middle son and declared, “Compassion is the bedrock of true leadership. Your actions have proven you possess this quality, making you worthy of leading this nation.” He continued, “Delivering the sheep to the city was merely a test. I intentionally placed obstacles on your path to observe how you would navigate challenges and what values would guide your decisions. I needed to see if you would prioritize money or ambition over compassion.” The story’s moral is that genuine leadership is not solely about wealth or personal ambition, but is deeply rooted in human values, such as compassion and humility.
