A hilarious Indian folktale about five hundred horses, one measure of rice, and a foolish Valuer whose clever-sounding answers lead to an unexpected disaster. Inspired by one of the ancient Jataka Tales from the Buddhist storytelling tradition of India, The Measure of Rice follows a wealthy king who wants to buy everything for as little as possible. When he dismisses his honest Valuer and replaces him with a foolish man who knows very little about the things he is supposed to value, trouble soon follows. When a horse-dealer arrives at the palace with five hundred magnificent horses, the new Valuer confidently declares that they are worth just one measure of rice. Furious, the horse-dealer seeks help from the former Valuer, who comes up with a wonderfully clever way to expose the foolish man’s mistake. But when the Valuer is asked what that single measure of rice is worth, his answer creates a problem far bigger than he could have imagined. This gentle, humorous bedtime story for children explores greed, overconfidence, honesty, and the difference between sounding knowledgeable and actually being wise. With a clever twist and plenty of courtroom laughter, it reminds us that confidence is not the same thing as wisdom—and that sometimes, a little common sense is worth more than we realise. Perfect for bedtime listening, family story time, classroom discussions about honesty, wisdom, and critical thinking, or anyone who enjoys Indian folktales, Jataka Tales, funny stories, clever characters, and timeless storytelling. 🌿 Support the podcast and help us share more stories: www.oaktreebooks.in/oaktreestories 🎨 Inspired by the story? Share your drawings, paintings, crafts, costumes, LEGO creations, writing, poetry, music, or other artwork with us here: www.oaktreebooks.in/oaktreestories 📲 Follow us on Instagram and Facebook: @oaktreestories New episodes every Monday.
