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PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
him and having conferred benedictions he had received gold. On the third day also Kapila tried in vain. He tried successively for eight days—but any how he reached later than any other Brahmin who already received gold before him. Thus Kapila was much annoyed and he determined to reach the palace earliest of all. Whim of any nature makes the man lose all considerations. He got up very early and began to run with the idea that some one else would reach earlier. It was not even the fourth quarter of the night. People yet did not move on the roads. Some watchmen were strolling here and there. They found Kapila who was suspected to be a thief, and they arrested him. Kapila tried to convince them but the watchmen did not listen to him. They said : "You may state what you want to state in the morning before his Majesty”.
In the morning Kapila was produced before his Majesty. For the first time he appeared in the Royal Assembly that too as a culprit. So he began to tremble. The king made out that he was not a culprit in fact. The King asked ! "What are you by caste? Why did you run on the road at night”?
Kapila said : "Your Majesty, I am Brahmin by caste and I was running to you to confer by blessings upon you". The King asked : "But so early !" Kapila said ! "Your Majesty, I have been trying to confer my blessings upon you for last eight days to earn two Masas of gold. But my luck did not favour me to get the reward. So I got up very early to overcome anyone who tried to reach earlier. But unluckily I am before you as a culprit”.
The King said ! "You suffered so much pains to confer blessing upon me and that too for two Masas of gold. This implies your utter poverty. Oh Brahmin, I am pleased with you and ask you to demand from me anything you like, I shall certainly fulfil your wish".
The Brahmin was astonished to find his clouds of miseries dispelled. He said : "Your Majesty, I ask you for some time to think as to what I should ask for".
The King granted him time.
The Brahmin thus reflected : "Why should I not ask for ten golden coins-Nay! they are too less I would prefer fifty golden
