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74
PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
adversary thereby. The ex-minister was very anxious to prove his miraculous power before the king. The ex-minister showed the seeds of musk-melon to the king and said, "Your majesty, I shall spread sand on this seed, sprinkle some water thereupon and just now you will find the musk-melons ready." On hearing the statement the present minister made a sarcastic smile. The ex-minister spread sand on the seeds, sprinkled water and waited for long to find no result. He was much shocked and surprised not to find the result. He was much perplexed. Before stooping to the defeat he requested that he would be given some time like 15 days to prove his challenge. The deputy minister (The present minister) posing to be generous before the king agreed to give the time asked for and the ex-minister expedited to the wisdom-vendor and narrated to him how he had failed. He said, "You have divulged your secrets to a lady. i.e. your wife. The deputy minister and your wife, both have conspired against you. These seeds if you examine closely are fried." Then the shopkeeper gave him new seeds, duly demonstrated and gave him important instruction. The ex-minister returned to the king's court and invited the king and the minister to watch the demonstration at his house. He sent his wife upstairs and removed the staircase. The king and the deputy minister arrived. The ex-minister's wife called out from upstairs to inform the deputy minister that she was upstairs. The deputy minister tried to replace the staircase to go upstairs and touch the ex-ministers wife with a mind to possess her under condition laid down previously. The ex-minister stopped him and said, "Now you possess this staircase only as you have touched it.', The deputy minister felt abashed.
Later on the ex-minister insisted on demonstrating how seeds bore fruits soon. The demonstration was carried out successfully. The ex-minister further clarified that last time the seeds were fried overnight, through conspiracy of this minister. The king further realised that the deputy minister bore bad moral conduct as he intended to go upstairs to touch the minister's wife. The minister was dismissed and the ex-minister was re-installed as the minister. Thus never underestimate the importance of knowledge and intelligence.
Different varieties of knowledge and other attributes of knowledge will be discussed later on as perceived by learned preceptor.