Talk:Gopāla Bhāra the Jester

By Vishal Agarwal

Stories of Gopāla Bhāra the Jester

In the 18th century, in the town of Kṛṣṇanagara in West Bengal, there lived a clever barber named Gopāla. He was intelligent and funny, always finding clever ways to get out of trouble. Sometimes he fooled people, but they forgave him because he made them laugh. A jester is one who does pranks and funny tricks to make others cheerful.

Story: Gopāla measures the Size of the Earth

One day, the king of Bengal announced a strange reward: anyone who could measure the size of the earth would receive 100 gold coins. No one came forward.

Gopāla boldly said, “Mahārāj, I can measure the earth. But I want my reward now.” The king, surprised but curious, gave him 100 coins. Gopāla asked for 3 months’ time. With the gold, however, he spent lavishly on food and clothes, keeping only a few coins to buy yarn, rope, and notebooks in which a helper wrote endless numbers.

After 3 months, he demanded another 100 coins, saying the task was vast. Again, he partied and filled a shed with rope and scribbled books. Finally, he told the king, “Send 25 bullock carts to fetch my calculations.”

The king saw carts filled with rope, yarn, and notebooks. Gopāla said, “I measured the earth with these. Please ask your mathematician to add them up.” When the king objected, Gopāla added slyly, “Give me 100 more coins and I will calculate myself.”

The king refused but said, “Keep the 200 gold coins already given. I trust your measurement.” Gopāla chuckled, having tricked the king and enjoyed himself on the reward!

Story: Gopāla and the Free Rasagullās

The village children loved Gopāla. One day, they begged him, “Bhola’s shop has delicious rasagullās, but we have no money. Can you help?”

Gopāla agreed. When Bhola went for his nap, leaving his young son to mind the shop, Gopāla began eating rasagullās. The boy shouted, “Stop stealing!”

Gopāla said, “Ask your father. He lets me eat free.” When asked his name, Gopāla replied, “Tell him I am Makkhī (a fly).”

The boy ran to his father, saying, “Father, a Makkhī is eating all the rasagullās!” Bhola, half asleep, scolded, “You fool! Do not wake me for a fly. Let the fly eat all it wants.”

The boy returned silent, and Gopāla laughed, “See, your father allows it.” He picked up the whole jar and shared it with the village children, and they feasted joyfully.