Circle Round Podcast

Episode Title: Encore: The Scholar's Reward
Original Air Date: September 30, 2025
Host: Rebecca Scheer
Featured Guests: Summer Bishil, Michael Maliakel
Duration: ~25 minutes

Episode Overview

In this special encore episode, Circle Round presents "The Scholar’s Reward," a folktale with roots in India that cleverly blends the invention of chess with a lesson about the ripple effects of our actions. The story explores themes of nonviolence, wisdom, and the unintended consequences that can grow from even the smallest choice. Designed for children and families, this episode invites listeners to think about kindness, generosity, and the power we have to create lasting change.

Key Discussion Points & Story Highlights

The Obsession with War (02:59–04:29)

• Setting: Ancient India, under the rule of a Raja (king) obsessed with war.
• Raja’s Perspective: The Raja is enthralled by conquest, constantly sending his army—comprised of infantry, elephants, charioteers, and cavalry—on new invasions.
• Backdrop: No one in his kingdom, not even his generals or advisers, supports this endless warfare. The people are weary and devastated by the destructiveness ("It’s incredible how much devastation one war can cause." — Advisor, 05:01).

Advisors Seek a Solution (04:29–05:12)

• The Raja’s advisors secretly meet to come up with a plan to curb his passion for war.

The Arrival of the Scholar (05:12–07:02)

• A mysterious scholar arrives at the palace, claiming she can end the Raja’s obsession with war.
• She requests a private meeting with the Raja and presents him with a leather case and a drawstring purse, hinting at a special gift.

The Introduction of the Game (07:00–08:53)

• The scholar reveals a checkered board with 64 squares and beautiful hand-carved black and white pieces.
• Notable Quote:
  Scholar (07:49): “I'm glad you asked, your Excellency. The pieces, the board, they are for waging war.”
• She promises the Raja he can stage battles as often as he wishes, but without real armies or destruction.

Explaining the Game's Symbolism (11:02–12:53)

• The board represents the battlefield; each piece stands for a division in the Raja’s army, symbolizing a miniature, bloodless war.
• Notable Quote:
  Scholar (12:19): “Both players have their own armies... They take turns moving their pieces across the board in hopes of capturing their opponent’s pieces. And whoever succeeds in capturing the Raja, the King, they win the game and the war.”

The Scholar’s Reward—The Rice Doubling Request (14:14–18:44)

• The Raja, thrilled with the game, promises the scholar any reward. She asks only for "one grain of rice" placed on the first of the 64 board squares, doubling the number each day for 64 days.
• Initial skepticism:
  Raja (15:37): “Oh come now, scholar. Even if you double the rice every single day... you’re bound to get little more than a cup, if not less. Is that really all you want?”

The Exponential Surprise (16:53–18:44)

• As days pass, the rice multiplies outlandishly: from 1 grain, to 16, to 128, to 255, then soaring to over 4 billion by the 32nd square, and eventually to totals greater than the entire kingdom’s stores.
• Notable Quote:
  Raja (18:20): "Over 4 billion grains of rice. We're only halfway through the board and the royal granary is nearly empty."
• The Raja realizes the immense consequences of something that started so small—mirroring his underestimation of war's impact.

The Scholar's Lesson and the Ripple Effect (19:30–21:00)

• The Raja cannot fulfill the reward; the scholar is unperturbed.
• Scholar (20:10): “Just as you had no idea what a major effect one war would have. Or 2. Or 4. Or 8. Or 16.”
• The king finally sees the parallel: just as one grain of rice became an incomprehensible quantity, one war led to countless repercussions.

Resolution and Ongoing Ripple (21:00–22:30)

• The Raja abandons war, appoints the scholar as his chief advisor, and spends his days playing chess ("Chaturanga")—a peaceful substitute for battle.
• The lesson: small actions can create far-reaching, sometimes unimaginable consequences.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Advisor (05:01):

  “It’s incredible how much devastation one war can cause.”

• Scholar (12:19):

  “Whoever succeeds in capturing the Raja, the King, they win the game and the war. Then they can reset the board and start all over again.”

• Raja (18:20):

  "Over 4 billion grains of rice. We're only halfway through the board and the royal granary is nearly empty."

• Scholar (20:10):

  “Just as you had no idea what a major effect one war would have. Or 2. Or 4. Or 8. Or 16.”

• Raja (21:00):

  “The wars I waged, the many, many wars—they led to such devastation, such loss. Far beyond anything I could comprehend until now.”

Key Timestamps

• 02:59: Introduction of the Raja and the scale of his warring.
• 04:29: Advisors meet in secret to address the spiral of war.
• 05:12: The scholar introduces herself and her plan.
• 07:00: Scholar presents the board—the origins of chess.
• 11:02: Scholar aligns the pieces with the divisions of war.
• 14:14: The scholar makes her seemingly modest rice request.
• 16:53: The rapid escalation of the rice doubling and the Raja’s growing alarm.
• 18:20: The impossibility of fulfilling the scholar’s request becomes clear.
• 20:10: The scholar reveals the story’s core lesson about ripple effects.
• 21:00: The Raja internalizes the lesson and changes his ways.

Story Activity & Takeaway

Activity Prompt (22:30): Rebecca invites listeners to artistically map the “ripple effect” of kindness:
Draw yourself doing a kind act, then draw how that act inspires others to pass kindness along—a visual demonstration of how small actions can ripple through a community.

Big Takeaway:
Even the smallest action can have enormous, unpredictable consequences—be it kindness, destruction, or the spark of a new idea.

Episode Extras

• Music & Sound: Original music and sound design by Eric Shyamalonis, featuring the tabla, a hand drum from India.
• Coloring Pages & Activities: Listeners can access coloring pages and lesson plans for further engagement at WBUR.org/CircleRound.
• Mini Listener Reactions (24:47–26:30): Young fans share their favorite Circle Round stories in their own words, underscoring the joy and impact of story-sharing within the community.

Tone and Language

Friendly, engaging, and accessible for children and adults. The narrative is imaginative and intentional, using clear analogies and gentle explanations to convey complex ideas simply.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode is a warm, thoughtful retelling of how a clever scholar uses the game of chess—and the concept of exponential growth—to teach a war-hungry king about consequences. Spirited performances, lush sound design, and an activity for kids and families all combine to make "The Scholar’s Reward" a memorable parable about peace and the far-reaching power of even your smallest actions.