A Mine of Faults

In Short

Set against the lofty mountain crags of ancient India, this classical fable recounts the sudden undoing of King Chand, a proud monarch who views women as weak, fickle burdens and vows never to marry. To save his kingdom from Chand’s looming threats, the wise minister Yogeshwara devises a cunning diplomatic trap using King Mitra’s brilliant daughter. Orchestrating a secretive encounter in a remote mountain arbor, the princess weaponizes quiet intelligence, mocking wit, and natural beauty to disarm the young conqueror. The work has endured for its sharp, playful dialogue and timeless exploration of pride surrendered to love.

The Story

The narrative opens with King Chand stoutly defending his decision to remain single. Confronted by his ministers, who insist he must marry to secure a true heir, Chand stubbornly argues that adoption is far superior. He dismisses woman as a mere "mine of faults," branding her a weak, talkative, and treacherous creature who only serves to hinder a hero's greatness.

Meanwhile, in a neighboring kingdom threatened by Chand's rising power, the old King Mitra consults his chief advisor, the crafty Yogeshwara. To avert war, Yogeshwara proposes using Mitra’s highly educated and quick-witted daughter as an "instrument of policy." Knowing Chand's intense misogyny, Yogeshwara designs a subtle trap: he arranges for Chand to visit their mountain capital and leads the unsuspecting king toward a secluded cliffside arbor where the princess sits alone.

When Chand first catches sight of the princess poised near the edge of the dizzying abyss, he initially dismisses her as a fragile coward. Yet as he turns to leave, a sudden spark of curiosity halts him. Draped in red silk and a golden veil under the setting sun, her striking composure completely captivates him. Inventing a hasty excuse to double back to the arbor, Chand finds himself utterly spellbound.

Over the course of their meeting, the princess plays her role with exquisite skill. Secretly watched by Yogeshwara from the bushes, she pretends that Chand is an unwelcome intruder while slyly mocking his famous hatred of her sex. When they discuss political alliances and the threat of war, she acts as her father’s crafty negotiator, playfully pointing out that an enemy of women could never be appeased by the gift of a king’s daughter. Chand, rapidly abandoning his former principles, passionately counters that his opinions have shifted entirely based on a single instance, eagerly offering his heart and kingdom.

Despite her composure, the princess's own feelings are deeply engaged. When Chand briefly departs, leaving behind a white lily she gave him, she breaks down in tears of overwhelming grief and devotion, believing she has lost him. Chand silently steps back into the arbor, witnesses her tears, and realizes her love is genuine. The story concludes in joyful celebration as the two marry, transforming a dangerous political rivalry into an enduring alliance.

How It Unfolds

The misogynist's vow King Chand rejects his ministers' demands that he take a wife to produce an heir, declaring that he will adopt a son instead. He insists that women are useless, fickle burdens created only to drag men down.

The diplomatic counterplot Faced with Chand's military threat, the minister Yogeshwara convinces King Mitra to use his highly trained daughter as an ambassador of charm. Yogeshwara plots to bring the woman-hating king face-to-face with the princess in a mountain sanctuary.

The trap in the arbour Guided through the high-altitude capital, Chand wanders into a cliffside garden where the princess stands framed against the sky. Though he tries to walk away in disdain, her breathtaking appearance forces him to invent a pretext to return.

The verbal duel Sitting together in the arbour, the princess teasingly taunts Chand over his sudden retreat and swift return. She treats him as an unwelcome interloper while brilliantly turning his own arguments against him under the guise of political negotiation.

The surrender and triumph After Chand declares his complete devotion and momentarily steps away, the princess collapses in tears over a discarded white flower. Chand returns, witnesses her sincere affection, and the two are wed amid grand public celebrations.

The People

• King Chand: A proud, uncompromising young ruler and warrior who views marriage as a foolish trap and women as inherently flawed. His firm belief in his own immunity to romance crumbles instantly when he encounters the princess, transforming him into an ardent, self-confessed lover.
• The Princess: King Mitra's brilliant, carefully educated daughter who serves as her kingdom's primary negotiator. She combines sharp intelligence, playful mockery, and poised elegance to utterly disarm Chand, even while secretly falling in love with him.
• Yogeshwara: King Mitra's ancient, masterfully crafty minister. He conceives the entire romantic strategy, orchestrating the meeting between the two young leaders and gleefully observing its success from his hiding place in the bushes.
• King Mitra: An aging monarch who relies entirely on Yogeshwara's diplomatic genius to protect his realm from invasion without resorting to a disastrous war.

In Its Own Voice

"What is a woman but a mine of faults? For she cannot fight, and is destitute of valour; and she is absolutely nothing whatever but a man deprived of his manhood..."

King Chand fiercely explains to his ministers why he refuses to take a wife, setting up his stubborn pride before his eventual fall.

"And in that brief moment of hesitation, he gave the God of Love his opportunity, and was lost beyond recall."

The narrative describes the precise instant Chand pauses to glance back at the princess in the mountain arbour, forever shattering his misogynistic vows.

"Go back and tell thy master, that King Chand would infinitely prefer his daughter to his submission, or anything whatever in the world."

Chand surrenders his political hostility entirely while speaking to the disguised princess, choosing her over total conquest.

What It's Really About

At its heart, the book explores the ultimate futility of intellectual arrogance when pitted against genuine human emotion. Chand constructs an elaborate philosophical framework to justify his contempt for women, viewing his misogyny as a mark of superior male rationality. However, his total collapse upon meeting the princess demonstrates that his pride is merely an illusion waiting to be shattered. The narrative also examines the intimate relationship between diplomacy and romance, suggesting that true influence relies on tact, perception, and subtle psychological insight rather than brute physical force or military dominance.

Why Read It Today

This work will deeply appeal to lovers of classical folklore, romantic fables, and witty, dialogue-driven prose. Readers who enjoy battle-of-wits romances where two highly intelligent figures trade banter will find the central arbour scene particularly satisfying. The writing possesses a distinct, rhythmic charm that mimics traditional Orientalist storytelling, rich with colorful imagery of mountain peaks, floating veils, and symbolic flora.

Prospective readers should be mindful of the period framework and deliberate stylistic choices. The story opens with an extended, somewhat scholarly introduction on ancient Indian statecraft and philosophy that reflects early 20th-century Orientalist perspectives. Additionally, the hero's initial tirades against women feature heavy, outdated misogynistic language, though these views are explicitly set up solely to be dismantled and mocked by the heroine's superior wit. For those willing to navigate its formal framing and period conventions, the story offers a delightfully crafted, warm-hearted tale of pride humbled by love.