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PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
363
coins. But they shall be spent out in no time. Why not ask for five hundred coins. The king can afford to give”.
Kapila went on jumping from five hundred to one thousand, then to million and then to ten millions of golden coins. Then he thought that a king enjoys more prominence and powers than a millionaire so he thought of asking for half the kingdom, but in that case he would entertain rivalry with the King, so he thought of asking for half the kingdom, but in that case also he would entertain rivalry with the King ; so he thought of asking for the entire kingdom.
But he recoiled suddenly at this last thought. “Should I make him a pauper, who thought of fulfilling my desires ? No, this is not proper. Should I then ask for half the kingdom ? No, in that case I would be his rival and oppress him who is out to oblige me. Shall I then ask for ten millions of golden coins ? But then what is the use of so much money to me? Excess of money shall breed calamities. Alright, let me ask for ten thousand coins to have a building and lead my life properly". But his conscience did not permit him to ask even ten thousand. “So much money would induce me towards sensual pleasures and I will not be able to lead ideal life. Then what should I do? Shall I ask for one thousand coins? Hundred ? Fifty ? Twenty-five ?”. Thus pondering he felt that he should not ask for anything more than what was required for delivery expenses. But now he was thinking on right lines so his conscience did not even like to demand the petty amount necessary to defray the delivery expenses. He thought he had gone merely to get a reward of only two Masas of gold but the King was pleased to such an extent which induced him to avail of him fully. It was not proper and he decided to ask for only two Masas of gold.
He reflected ! "Avarice creates helpless position and so I should not demand anything. I should rest contented. Indeed, contentment is real happiness. I entertained even small desire to lose my studies and moral character, to be consequently a supplicant. Enough of this desire".
After sometime the king said: "Oh Brahmin, what do you want to ask for ?" Kapila replied: "Your Majesty, I do not want to ask for anything".
