When she had told her wonderful dream to the king, she added this earnest request :
15. Therefore, my lord, pray endeavour to obtain that deer. Adorned with this jewel-deer, your zenana would be as resplendent as the sky with the Deer-asterism[1].'
The king, who trusted by experience the visions of her dreams, readily complied with her desire, partly that he might do something agreeable to her, partly because he himself was covetous of obtaining that jewel-deer. Accordingly he ordered all his huntsmen to search for that deer, and had this proclamation made public in his capital day after day:
16. 'There exists a deer gold-skinned and spotted with various colours shining like hundreds of jewels. It is celebrated in the holy texts, and some have got the sight of it. Whosoever will show that deer, to him the king gives a very rich village and full ten lovely women.'
Now the man (who had been rescued by the Bodhisattva) heard that proclamation again and again.
17. As he was poor, the reflection on the sufferings of poverty afflicted his heart, but on the other hand he kept in mind the great benefit he had received from the ruru-deer. Distracted by cupidity and gratitude, he was moved in both directions as in a swing by different considerations like these :
'What, then, have I to do now? Shall I have regard to Virtue or Wealth ? Shall I keep the promise to my benefactor rather than the duty of sustaining my family? Which must I esteem most highly, the other world or this? Which must I follow, the conduct of the pious or rather that of the world? Shall I strive after riches or rather after such good as is cherished by the virtuous ? Whether to mind the present time or the time hereafter ?' At last his mind disturbed by covetousness came to this conclusion. 'If I have once obtained great wealth,' so he
- ↑ Viz. Mrigasiras, corresponding with the head of Orion.
