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JAINA STORIES
matters, the merchant was now wholly dependent on the minister In fact, the minister was now looking after the whole business, and the merchant was having a nice time in this new city.
Soon the merchant developed a great intimacy with a fallen woman in that city and started living with her. Whatever money he needed was sent to him by the minister. This the woman noticed and she thougbt that the man who was actually running the merchant's business must be very wealthy. She now made plans to develop intimacy with the minister so that she would have no limit to ber wealth. But in this she failed The minister did not respond to her overtures
Soon the minister became well-known in the city for his honesty and uprightness and skill in business.
A tank was being dug in the city at the command of the king A fer inscriptions came to hand but none could read their content This increased the curiosity of the king. He announced a reward of half the kingdom and the princess herself to anyone who would decipher the inscript.ons When the minister came to know of it, he came to the court and read out the inscriptions which contained the following message.
From where these copper inscriptions are found, as one INLOVES Seten cubits towards the east and digs the ground waistdeep, he comes across a slab of stone beneath which is hidden a treasure of 19,99 999 gold coins
The king at once came to the spot and acted as per the instruction, and to bis great joy, he was in possession of the great treasure The king dow gave half the kingdom and the princess, Saibhagyasundarı, to the minister and also bestowed on the couple a vast dowry. Rarest are those who are happy at their friends' good fortune , even those who would be indifferent are not many ;
