In a city in southern India lived a carpet weaver named Xaca. He was highly skilled and meticulous, but his work was slow. It took him nearly a full year to finish a single carpet, so despite his talent, his family lived in poverty. People admired the quality of his carpets, yet admiration alone could not put food on the table.
One day, when he was close to finishing an especially beautiful carpet, his loom suddenly broke. Desperate, Xaca picked up his hammer and searched everywhere for strong wood to repair it. The next day, deep in a forest, he discovered a tall golden willow tree with thick branches and solid wood. Just as he lifted his hammer, a voice spoke. It was the Mountain Spirit, who warned that the tree was his home and could not be cut down.
Xaca stopped and explained his situation honestly. Without a working loom, he could not finish his carpet, and his family would face hunger. The Mountain Spirit refused to give up the tree but offered Xaca something else instead. He promised to grant any wish Xaca desired. Unsure of what to ask for, Xaca requested time to think and hurried home.
On the way, he met a close friend who gave bold advice. The friend suggested that Xaca should ask to become king, promising wealth, power, and comfort for life. Xaca found the idea tempting but chose to discuss it with his wife first. When he told her everything, she disagreed strongly. She explained that a king’s life is filled with worry, danger, and betrayal, not peace or happiness. She suggested asking for a magical loom that could weave endlessly and produce only perfect carpets.
As Xaca returned to the forest, he thought carefully about her words. Slowly, he realized that a magical loom would take away the joy of his craft. The carpets would no longer reflect his own skill or effort. Standing before the golden willow, he made his final request. He asked the Mountain Spirit to repair his loom and help him weave faster and better with his own hands, not through magic alone.
When Xaca reached home, the loom was already repaired. He began weaving with renewed energy and confidence. His speed increased, and the beauty of his work improved, yet every carpet was still the result of his own effort. Soon, his carpets were sold everywhere, and his name became widely respected. Long after his death, people continued to remember Xaca as a master craftsman whose skill, honesty, and dedication created work that truly lasted.