Story of the miserly king.
There was a certain foolish king, who was niggardly, though he possessed an abundant treasure, and once on a time his ministers, who desired his prosperity, said to him: “King, charity here averts misery in the next life. So bestow wealth in charity; life and riches are perishable.” When the king heard this, he said, “Then I will bestow wealth, when I am dead, and see myself reduced to a state of misery here.” Then the ministers remained silent, laughing in their sleeves.
“So, you see, a fool never takes leave of his wealth, until his wealth takes leave of him. You have heard, prince, of the foolish king, now hear the story of the two friends, by way of an episode in these tales of fools.”
Story of Dhavalamukha, his trading friend, and his fighting friend.[27]
There was a king in Kányakubja, named Chandrapíḍa. And he had a servant named Dhavalamukha. And he, whenever he came to his house, had eaten and drunk abroad. And one day his wife asked him,—“Where do you always eat and drink before you come home?” And Dhavalamukha answered her, “I always eat and drink with my friends before I come home, for I have two friends in the world. The one is called Kalyáṇavarman, who obliges me with food and other gifts, and the other is Vírabáhu, who would oblige me with the gift of his life.” When his wife heard this, she said to Dhavalamukha, “Then shew me your two friends.”
Then he went with her to the house of Kalyáṇavarman, and Kalyáṇavarman honoured him with a splendid entertainment. The next day he went with his wife to Vírabáhu, and he was gambling at the time, so he welcomed him and dismissed him. Then Dhavalamukha’s wife, being full of curiosity, said to him: “Kalyáṇavarman entertained you splendidly, but Vírabáhu only gave you a welcome. So why do you think more highly of Vírabáhu than of the other?” When he heard that, he said, “Go and tell them both in succession this fabrication, that the king has suddenly become displeased with us, and you will find out for yourself.” She agreed, and went to Kalyáṇavarman and told him that falsehood, and he answered: “Lady, I am a merchant’s son, what can I do against the king?” When he gave her this answer, she went to Vírabáhu, and told him also that the king was angry with her husband; and the moment he heard it, he came running with his shield and his sword. But Dhavalamukha induced him to return home, saying that the king’s ministers had pacified his resentment. And he said to his wife: “This, my dear, is the difference between those two friends of mine.” And she was quite satisfied.
“So you see that a friend, that shews his friendship by ceremonious entertainment only, is a different thing from a real friend; though oil and ghee both possess the property of oiliness,[28] oil is oil, and ghee is ghee.” When Gomukha had told this story, he continued his tales of fools for the benefit of Naraváhanadatta.