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STORIES OF RAUHIŅEYA AND OTHERS 297 et cetera. Kapila saw her sorrowful and asked, “Fair lady, why are you pale like a frost-bitten lotus?” She said: “ Today there is a slave-girl's festival. I have no flowers, nor leaves, nor anything. I shall have to hide myself among the slavegirls. What alternative is there for me?“ Kapila, possessed by a Vyantara of sorrow for her stood silent from unhappiness. The slave-girl spoke as follows: “Do not be downcast. There is a rich sheth here. Whoever wakens him at daylight, to him he gives two māşas of gold.228 Go to his house before the night has become light and recite with gentle speech, 'Good fortune, son of a fortunate lady.'” She urged Kapila, who had agreed, (to go) to the house of the rich man this very night at midnight. Wandering on an unfrequented street in the city, he was soon captured and bound by the guards with the idea that he was a thief. For such is the conduct of thieves.
At daybreak he was taken before King Prasenajit and on examination told the story in full of the māşas of gold. The king heard this as it was and, filled with the water of compassion, said to him, “Sir, ask for whatever you wish and I shall give it.” He said, “I shall make a request after I have reflected.” Then the Brāhman went to a grove of aśokas, concentrated on one thing like a yogi, and reflected:
“Two māşas of gold would not be sufficient for clothes, et cetera. Therefore, I should ask the king for one hundred. When you gain a request, should the request be very small ? Even with one hundred (māșas) of gold there would not be high position, carriages, et cetera. I should ask for one thousand, the price of obtaining the things desired. Even with one thousand, whence would come the festivals of children's marriages, et cetera ? Therefore, I should ask for a lac. For I am clever in asking. Even with a lac, whence would come the support of friends, relatives, and the
228 497. The māşa is a jeweler's weight, which varięs, but the one in most general use is 17 gr. Troy. 38 M
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