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'Having stated religious truths in these and similar utterances, the two friends ruled in that town.'
Now we go on with the story of Ratnaçikha.
Display thou perseverance as a calf produces excrement, But a man obtains joys by merit, like King Virángada.
King Ratnaçikha, having heard this story from the mouth of a bard, said to himself: Wonderful are the exploits of determined men. For
'The real greatness of a man, like that of gold, is manifested When he is severely blackened* in the vessels of a thousand trials.'
King Ratnaçikha thus reflected: "Without travelling to a foreign land one does not obtain glory, fame, knowledge of accomplishments, or anything. So I will certainly go to a foreign land and make trial of my merit.' Having thus reflected, he told the whole story to his minister, named Púrṇabhadra. He said: 'King, who can hinder your wishes? But still I must represent to your majesty that foreign countries are difficult to traverse, the tracks are full of dangers, enemies are on the look-out for weak points, and the kingly body is unable to endure hardships; so having obtained the kingdom, let the king cherish it as the fruit of his merit.'
Though the minister addressed many remonstrances of this kind to the king, he would not desist. Then the king formed a secret plan, and at the end of night he left the city, with his sword for his only companion, and went towards the north. Then, beholding many marvels in villages, assemblies, towns, and cities, relying everywhere on the power of his own merit, the king at last entered a terrible wood. That forest was of the following kind :
It was full of bamboos, banyans, ratans, and kutajas;1
It was rich in ankolla, vilva,2 çallaki, kritamála, tamála, and çálas trees;
*This seems to be clearly the meaning of the Prákrit words; but gold ought not to turn black when tested in the fire.
1 Wrightia Antidysenterica.
2 Egle Marmelos, Bel.
3 Gum olibanum tree, Boswellia Thurifera. Xanthochymus Pictorius.
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4 Cassia Fistula.
• Shores Robusta
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