Author: Thalatha Wijerathna

Once upon a time, there was a gardener looking after the palace garden in Varanasi. While he was working in the garden a golden deer came in to the garden from the nearby forest. But as soon as it saw the gardener, it ran away. This happened for many days. After sometime, the deer had understood that the gardener wouldn’t harm itself. Then the deer used to enter the palace garden and stay there for some time. The golden deer was beautiful. One day the gardener went to the palace to give flowers and fruits to the king’s servants. “Gardener, are you looking after my garden well? How is it now looking?”, The king asked. “My lord, there is nothing of greater importance. But often a golden deer comes there and wanders inside the garden.” The gardener said. “Can you bring that deer to the palace?” “Yes, of course. Please give me a little honey. I will lure and trap the deer. Let me try my best.” The king commanded royal servants to give him a pot full of honey. The gardener took it and poured honey over the grass. The deer came as usual. He found the grass dipped in honey. The deer sat there eating grass. The next day, the gardener slowly poured honey over the grass along the path which ran towards the royal palace. The...