3. •There lived a poor Shepherd in Iran. He did not have his
own home. He was illiterate because there were very less
schools and he was very poor.
•But by nature the shepherd was very intelligent and wise.
He could easily understand the problems of other people.
He used to solve the problems of people easily. He became
very popular for his wisdom. His popularity reached upto
the king. Now the king was also very eager to meet this wise
Shepherd.

4. 
The king changed his identity and disguised
himself as a Shepherd. Riding on a mule, he
reached near a cave where the wise Shepherd
lived. The Shepherd welcomed the traveler. He
took the tired traveler inside the cave. He gave
him water and his share of food.
shephered
Disguised
king

5. 
The king stayed in the cave at night. He was
very impressed by his hospitality and wise
conversation. Next morning, the king was
ready to go back. He thanked the Shepherd
by saying, “Many thanks for your kindness to
a poor traveler. I have a long way to go.
Permit me to leave.” The Shepherd was able
to find that he was none other but the king
himself. The king was astonished as well as
pleased. The king was very surprised. The
king appointed him as the Governor of a
small district.

6. Now the Shepherd possessed power and respect.
But he was very humble and soft as before. People
honoured him for this. The Shepherd as a governor
became very popular in the whole country.
When the governors of other districts come to
know about his popularity, they began to feel
jealous of him and they always talked to the king
against him. They told him that he was dishonest
and always kept his share from the taxes which he
collected from the people. They also told the king
that the Shepherd governor had an iron chest in
which he kept his treasure.

7. •The king called the Shepherd governor to his
palace. He himself had seen an iron chest. The
Shepherd governor came on a camel with his
famous iron chest on the back of the camel.
•When the king saw the Shepherd governor
with his iron chest he was very angry and
asked “Why do you always carry that iron
chest with you? What does it contain?”

8. At this the Shepherd governor laughed
and asked the servant to bring his iron
chest. People alongwith the king were
waiting. When the chest was opened,
everyone present there was surprised.
The reason was that the iron chest did
not consist any treasure but a very old
blanket. The Shepherd said that it was
his only treasure. And he carries it
everywhere wherever he goes.
 The king asked the Shepherd why he
carried such an old blanket. The
governor replied, “This blanket is my
oldest friend. It will still protect me, if
any time, your majesty should wish to
take away my new cloaks.”


9. 
The jealous governors were
embarrassed, but the king was very
pleased. He came to know that he
was very humble and wise. Now the
king made him Governor of a
district bigger than before from that
day.