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Forty-sixth Chapter
451
The king once went to the forest for recreation, riding on an elephant named Lalita. There he saw a well, and was amazed to see a brilliant, precious red gem, brought by a crow, shining on the tip of a dry branch near the dry bank of the well. [58] Thinking it to be a gem, he and his companions entered the well to get it, but none of them could find it. It is right, because what fruit can be obtained by those who act out of delusion, except for trouble? [59-60] They all looked at the gem in the well for a long time, but when they couldn't find it, they returned to their city, dejected. It is right, because the effort in which the intellect does not lead, never bears fruit. [61] Once, at night, a merchant's daughter named Vasumati, filled with love, marked the king's forehead with a clear mark with her foot, which was wet with saffron, to indicate her good fortune. It is right, because what do women not do when a man is under their control? [62-63] The king considered that mark on his forehead to be more important than a crown, and in the morning, sitting in the assembly, he asked his ministers and others, "What should be done if someone strikes the king's forehead with their foot?" Hearing this, the foolish minister said, "The king's forehead, which cannot be touched by anything other than a crown, if someone has struck it with their foot, then he should be killed until his life ends." [64-66] Hearing this, the king scorned the minister and, with a faint smile, called his maternal uncle Kubera Mitra and asked him about the whole matter. Kubera Mitra, who knew the nature of the matter, said, "The one who struck your head with his foot should be worshipped with all kinds of wealth in the form of ornaments." Thus, satisfied with his words, the king told the story of the gem he saw in the well during his forest excursion.