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CHAPTER SIX
who were not lustful formerly, become lustful, who like a black cobra is a suitable person for confidence ?'
Again the king said, 'After looking at your limbs, your wife entered the fire here beyond a doubt. All the townspeople and also the country-people, and the blessed sun, the eye of the world in the sky, are eye-witnesses in this matter; and the four Lokapālas, the planets, constellations, stars, the blessed earth, and dharma, the father of the three worlds. Therefore you can not say such a cruel thing here. Make some eye-witness from among these your authority
The man spoke again with pretended anger and abuse, • There is no making of other authority, when authority is before the eyes. Who, pray, is this behind you? Indeed, let this guarding of a treasure of stolen money thrown in a hiding-place be observed, O king.'
When the king turned his head and looked behind him, he saw the man's wife seated. The king became depressed from fear at the thought, 'I am ruined by the fault of another man's wife,' like a flower withered by heat. With hands folded submissively, the man began to relate to the king who was depressed by fear of guilt, though free from guilt, the following story:
'Do you remember, O king, that I asked you to let me show you skill in magic, after I had studied it for a long time? I was turned away at the door by Your Majesty, though impartial to all like a cloud, with my wish unfulfilled through the fault of fate. Then by changing my form and staging a fraudulent play, this was shown by me. Your Majesty, I have accomplished my desire. Favor me. Somehow or other, one's own merit must be shown to the great. Weariness arising from the acquisition of merit disappears. How otherwise ? So now my weariness is gone. I shall go away. Give your commands. Everywhere I shall be highly valued from showing my ability before you.'
The king satisfied him with much money, dismissed
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