It happened once that in a certain kingdom there was a man by the name of Ramaya who had somehow acquired the reputation of having a ‘bad’ countenance – people said that if he looked at a pot of milk, it would turn sour; if he was present when a business was started, it would fail; if he was present when a cow gave birth, the calf would die. Such superstitions do people have!

This reputation came to the attention of the king, who wondered if there really was such a thing as a bad countenance, and he decided to test it for himself. He commanded that the man should come and sit near him in the throne room for a day, so that the king could see what happened.

Around the middle of the day, some food was brought to the king, but as the king saw a fly sitting on the plate, he sent the food back to the kitchen. By the time some fresh food was brought, the king had lost his appetite, and did not feel like eating. At the end of the afternoon, he felt out of sorts, and decided it must be because of the influence of the bad countenance of Ramaya.

“He does have a bad countenance. Take him to be hanged tomorrow,” the king told the guards.

The next day, when the guards came to take Ramaya to his execution, they asked him if he had a last request.

“Yes,” he replied, “I wish to send a note to the king, and do not kill me until he has read it.”

But when the king read the note, his expression changed and he immediately ordered that Ramaya should be freed.

The note said, “I am condemned for having a bad countenance. From seeing my face for a day, a king lost his appetite. From seeing the king’s face for a day, I will lose my life. Whose countenance is worse?”