Once, a queen was childless. She prayed for a child and her wish got fulfilled. Once, the prince heard his father giving a harsh punishment to some men. The prince was disturbed, as he did not want to punish anyone. He decided never to become a king. But, he needed a way to avoid being a king. A priest advised him to become dumb and inactive to avoid being made the king. The prince did likewise. The king realised that his son would never become well and decided to end his suffering. He told his servant to kill him. When the servant was preparing to kill him, the prince got up and told the servant everything. Then he went and told his parents why he had become dumb and inactive. He took their blessings and became an ascetic. Later, his parents also followed him.
The Dumb Prince
