The Treasure Across the Sea

The Treasure Across the Sea

BY: Ubaid

Long ago, in a distant kingdom, there lived a kind and just king whose name was known far and wide for his fairness and compassion. The king had instructed his ministers to keep him informed of everything happening across the land so that no poor person would ever be deprived of justice.

One day, one of the king’s ministers was traveling along the seashore with his caravan when he noticed an old man running back and forth along the edge of the water. The man kept shouting, “My treasure lies across the sea! My treasure lies across the sea!”

The minister stopped in astonishment. He thought to himself, Why would an old man be running like this, shouting about a treasure? Curiosity got the better of him, and he ordered his guards to seize the old man. The minister secretly hoped that the man’s words might lead him to hidden riches.

Without informing the king, the minister imprisoned the old man. Days passed, but the old man said nothing except, “My treasure lies across the sea.” The minister grew frustrated. He had imagined that once he found the treasure, he would become the richest man in the kingdom, perhaps even more powerful than the king himself. But no matter how much he threatened, questioned, or even punished the old man, he received the same calm reply: “My treasure lies across the sea.”

At last, the minister began to think the old man was mad. If he really had a treasure, he thought, why would he wear tattered clothes and live by the shore like a beggar? Realizing his mistake, the minister’s conscience began to trouble him. He decided to confess everything to the king.

When the king heard the story, he ordered that the old man be brought before him. “Dress him in clean clothes,” the king commanded. “Feed him well and then bring him to my court.”

Soon the old man stood before the throne. The king looked at him kindly and asked, “Old father, tell me—where is your treasure?”

The man bowed respectfully and said the same words again: “My treasure lies across the sea.”

The king smiled gently and turned to his minister. “If that is so,” he said, “take this man wherever he wishes to go. Let us see what treasure he speaks of.”

The next morning, the minister set out with the old man and a group of soldiers. They rode swiftly along the coastline, the horses’ hooves thundering against the sand. After several hours, they reached a place where the ground became soft, and one of the horses sank into the mud. The caravan was forced to camp there for the night.

At dawn, they resumed their journey. Days turned into weeks as they crossed forests, climbed steep hills, and passed through narrow valleys. Finally, they reached the sea. The minister arranged for boats to carry them across the water. After many hardships, they arrived at a lonely, rocky island.

There, a narrow mountain path led to a cave. The old man’s face lit up with joy. “We have arrived!” he cried. Without hesitation, he entered the dark cave, his eyes sparkling with excitement. The minister and his men followed.

Inside, they saw piles upon piles of old, dusty books—pages yellowed with age, bindings torn and faded. The men looked around in disbelief.

“Are these your treasures?” the minister asked in confusion.

“Yes,” the old man replied proudly. “These are the treasures of my ancestors.”

The minister and his men carried the books back to the palace. When they presented them to the king, he, too, was astonished. He gazed at the heaps of worn-out books and wondered silently, Can this really be the treasure the man spoke of?

The king turned to the old man and asked, “Father, how much would you take for these books?”

The old man smiled and shook his head. “Your Majesty,” he said, “these books are not for sale. They were passed down to me by my forefathers. They contain the knowledge and wisdom of generations. How can I sell such an inheritance?”

The king was deeply moved by his words. Still, to test the man’s sincerity, he said, “What if I offer you half my kingdom in exchange for them? Would you agree then?”

But the old man refused again. “Even if you give me your entire kingdom,” he said calmly, “I will not part with my ancestors’ legacy. These books are the true wealth of my family—the treasure of wisdom and learning.”

The king was silent for a moment, then he rose from his throne and bowed slightly before the old man. “You have taught me a great lesson,” he said with admiration. “Gold and silver may shine, but they fade with time. Knowledge never loses its value. It is a treasure that increases the more it is shared.”

From that day on, the king became the old man’s student. He spent hours learning from those ancient books and often said with pride, “It is an honor to be the disciple of a wise man.”

Under the king’s rule, the kingdom prospered not just in wealth but in wisdom. Schools were built, scholars were respected, and the love of learning spread throughout the land.

The story became famous for generations to come. People remembered it whenever they saw someone chasing after gold and silver, forgetting the greater treasures of the mind and heart.

Indeed, just as the wise say:
A tree is known by its fruit, and a person is known by his deeds.