Costly Gifts

 

Some weeks later the man was at the palace gates once again.

This time he had two men with him.

“I lost 500 varahas to each of these men while playing in your name, Maharaj,” said the man. “I have no money to pay them.”

The king realised he had made a mistake in accepting the man’s gifts on the previous occasions.

Now he could not refuse to help him. He paid off the two men and warned the gambler never to play in his name again.