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The merchant said, "The gem was not in the water, but on the bank, resting on a tree. Its reflection was only visible in the well." ||69||
Knowing the wisdom of Kubera Mitra, his own foolishness, and the wickedness of his minister, the king was filled with remorse. ||70||
"See, I have been deceived by these scoundrels," he said, always lamenting. The wise king honored the merchant and kept him close. ||71||
From that day on, the king entrusted the merchant with the responsibility of *tantra* (protecting his kingdom) and *avaya* (managing foreign relations), and he himself, free from worries, experienced the *dharma* and *kama* purusharthas. ||72||
One day, the merchant's wife saw a gray hair on his head and said to him, "You are truly a righteous wife today." The merchant, delighted, left the king and went to the mountain called Devagiri, where he practiced austerities with other merchants like Samudradatta, under the guidance of the *varadharma guru*. Both of them, through their austerities, attained the state of *laukantika* devas at the end of the Brahma-loka. What cannot be achieved by wise people when the time and circumstances are favorable? ||73-75||
On another occasion, Priyadatta (daughter of Samudradatta and wife of Kubera Kanta) gave nine types of gifts to the *charana* sage Vipulamati, a great sage with *riddhi* (divine powers), out of devotion. She then humbly asked the sage, "Is the time for my austerities near?" ||76-77||
The wise sage, whose eyes were the embodiment of *avadhi jnana* (clairvoyance), knowing that her mind desired offspring, showed her five fingers of his right hand and the little finger of his left hand. He indicated that she would have five sons and one daughter. In due time, Priyadatta indeed gave birth to five sons and one daughter. ||78-79||
One day, Amitamati and Anantamati, daughters of the king, the protector of the world, the emperor, adorned with qualities like jewels, went to...