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The Fortieth Chapter
327. He honored and dismissed the great men and envoys who had come with gifts and messages, having fulfilled their purposes. ||125|| He also delighted the artists who had come to perform dances and other shows, by giving them great rewards. ||126|| Then, rising from the royal throne, he engaged in leisurely pursuits of his choice, accompanied by delicate amusements. ||127|| At midday, after bathing and taking his meal, he adorned himself. ||128|| The ladies of his household, approaching him, spontaneously offered him the services of waving the fly-whisk, presenting betel, and massaging his feet. ||129|| After his meal, he sat in a suitable hall with some kings, and engaged in discussions of knowledge with a group of learned men. ||130|| There, the courtesans and beloved wives of kings, intoxicated with the arrogance of youth, surrounded him. ||131|| He spent some time in that pleasant place, enjoying their conversation, banter, and humorous stories, along with the pleasures of the senses. ||132|| Then, in the remaining part of the day, he strolled about on the floor inlaid with jewels, admiring the magnificent beauty of the royal palace all around. ||133|| Sometimes, placing his hand on the shoulder of a jester-secretary, he walked about, shining like a divine prince. ||134|| At night, he performed the duties befitting an emperor, and spent the night happily, accompanied by his wives and ministers. ||135|| Even though he, the emperor, had accomplished his tasks, having achieved victory and fulfilled all his purposes, he still consulted with his ministers at appropriate times, considering it a matter of duty. ||136|| The emperor, who had conquered the earth, had no anxiety about the affairs of the kingdom. For, in this land of Bharat, anxiety about the kingdom is the burden only of those who are not independent. ||137||