What comes to your mind when you think of the word power – a king, a politician, a corporate leader?
Most of us hold power in our everyday actions, even if we don’t realize it. We use our power when we offer support to a friend going through a tough time. When we forgive a loved one for a mistake. We use our power when we compliment the food even if the salt is a bit more. We use our power when we acknowledge the person at the payment counter. We can also use our power by choosing the opposite action. This story is for each of us, reminding us of the impact our choices have on others every day.
Power also has the tendency to corrupt. We have seen rulers who misuse their power, squandering public money, permitting their loyalists to get away with their excesses, silencing the opposition and bending the rules to suit themselves. History is full of examples of such self-serving leaders who lived in luxury when the people suffered. Yet, there are a few who stood out as beacons of compassion and justice.
One such figure was Nosherwan Ādel. He was the king of Iran in the 6th Century. He was credited with establishing the city of Baghdad. Though his real name was Khusrav, he was called Nosherwan Ādel—Nosherwan meaning “immortal” and Ādel meaning “just”—in honor of his fairness and integrity. His reign is remembered as one of the most celebrated in Iranian history, a time when Iran’s power was so great that even empires like Rome, China, and Hindustan paid him tribute. Yet Nosherwan’s focus was not on expanding his empire; his primary concern was the welfare of his people. His leadership introduced many reforms, especially in taxation, that served as models for others long after.
A Lesson in Justice: The Price of Salt
In the Shahnama, poet Firdozi provides a detailed account of Nosherwan’s reign and his sense of justice. Sheikh Saadi, another influential Persian poet, narrates an incident in which Nosherwan went hunting in the forest. He sent one of his soldiers to buy salt from a nearby town. Before dispatching him, he handed him some money and remarked, “Be careful—don’t bring the salt without paying for it, lest this town be destroyed.”
The soldier was surprised and asked, “Oh Emperor, what does taking salt for free have to do with the destruction of the town?”
Nosherwan replied, “You don’t understand. Injustice begins on a very small scale, and then it grows. In the orchard where the King plucks a single orange for free, his officials will eventually plunder even the saplings. That is why injustice must be nipped in the bud. It is the right thing to do.”
In the orchard where the King plucks a single orange for free, his officials will eventually plunder even the saplings … injustice must be nipped in the bud.
The Lasting Marks of Hurt
Many incidents shape a great mind and a compassionate heart. One such incident from the childhood of Nosher Ādel illustrates this. He was studying under a tutor when one day, the master called him over, saying, “Come here.” When Ādel approached, the master unexpectedly slapped him on the face and said, “You can go back to your seat.” This incident troubled Ādel throughout the day. “I didn’t do anything wrong,” he thought. “The master didn’t even explain what my error was. Previously, whenever he punished me, he first pointed out my mistake. What was there to explain today? I was punished despite my innocence.”
Years later, Ādel was crowned king. He summoned his former tutor to appear before him. When the tutor arrived, King Ādel asked, “Masterji, one day you punished me without any fault of mine. Why did you do that?”
The master replied, “I remember that day.” He then asked, “I have punished you many times before for various offenses. Why do you remember that day in particular?”
The king answered, “Because that day I was innocent. I was punished for no fault of mine.”
The master responded, “I have been waiting for this day to come. I hoped it would arrive, and I thank the Almighty that I have witnessed it. I always knew you would be the ruler of this kingdom one day, sitting in the seat of decision-making. I wanted to impress upon you that you should never punish an innocent person. Since you did not forget the unfair punishment you received years ago, ensure that no innocent person suffers at your hands. They may lack the power to avenge your actions, but they will curse you for a lifetime.”
With that, Nosherwan fell at his master’s feet and asked for forgiveness.
This story reflects not an endorsement of corporal punishment but a lesson on the impact of injustice. Just as we remember those who were unfair to us, we must ensure we administer justice when we hold power.
Postscript: Healing past mistakes
Despite our best efforts, we may still make mistakes. So, what should we do when we realize our actions may have caused pain to someone? Paulo Coelho, in The Manual of the Warrior of Light, offers invaluable advice on this matter: “…regrets can kill; they slowly eat away at the soul of someone who has done something wrong and they lead eventually to self-destruction.
The warrior does not want to die like that. When he acts perversely or maliciously – because he is a man of many faults – he is never too ashamed to ask forgiveness. If possible, he does his best to repair the wrong he has done. If the injured party is dead, then he does some good turn to a stranger and offers up that task to the soul that he wounded. A warrior of light has no regrets, because regrets can kill. He humbles himself and undoes the wrong he has done.”
References
- Jaswant Singh Parwana, Dharam Kala
- Ramiyar Karanjia, The justice of King Nosherwan
- Anisur Rahman, Nausherwan, Rekhta.org
- Paulo Coelho, Manual of the warrior of light
Reflection
- Is there an act of kindness that left a lasting impression on you? In what way has that affected your perspective or actions in similar situations?
- Was there a time you realized your actions may have hurt someone? How did you make amends?
The Sabad Project - Wisdom stories 
Leave a comment