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## The Forty-Sixth Chapter
The king, riding on his elephant Lalitghata, went to the forest for a stroll. There, he saw a well and was amazed by the sight of a dry tree on its bank. A branch of this tree was close to the well, and on its tip, a crow had placed a radiant, precious, red-ruby gem, brought from somewhere. The gem's brilliance was reflected in the well. The king and his companions mistook this brilliance for a gem and were astonished. They all entered the well to retrieve it, but none of them found it. This is only right, for what fruit can be expected from those who act out of delusion, except for trouble?
They all looked for the gem in the well for a long time, but when they couldn't find it, they returned to their city, dejected. This is also right, for any effort where the intellect is not the leader, will never bear fruit.
Once, a wealthy merchant's daughter named Vasumati, filled with love, marked the king's forehead with a clear imprint of her foot, wet with saffron, in the night, to signify her good fortune. This is only right, for what will women not do when a man is under their control?
The king considered this foot-mark to be more important than a crown, and in the morning, he sat in his court and asked his ministers, "What should be done to someone who strikes the king's forehead with their foot?" Hearing this, the wise minister Falgumati said, "The king's forehead, which cannot be touched by anything other than a crown, if struck by someone's foot, should be punished with death until their breath leaves their body."
Hearing this, the king rejected the minister's suggestion and, with a faint smile, called his maternal uncle, Kubera Mitra, and asked him about the situation. Kubera Mitra, knowing the nature of the matter, said, "The one who struck your head with their foot should be worshipped with all kinds of wealth in the form of ornaments." Satisfied with his words, the king then inquired about the gem he had seen in the well during his forest stroll.