Having concluded his reflections, the Raja gave orders to assemble a meeting of learned men. Then said he—
"Hear now, O my Pundits! Is there one among you so wise that he will undertake to give the second birth of Wisdom to these my sons, by teaching them the Books of Policy; for they have never yet read the Sacred Writings, and are altogether going in the wrong road; and ye know that
"Silly glass, in splendid settings, something of the gold may gain;
And in company of wise ones, fools to wisdom may attain."
Then uprose a great Sage, by name Vishnu-Sarman, learned in the principles of Policy as is the angel of the planet Jupiter himself, and he said—
"My Lord King, I will undertake to teach these princes Policy, seeing they are born of a great house; for—
"Labors spent on the unworthy, of reward the laborer balk;
Like the parrot, teach the heron twenty times, he will not talk."
"But in this royal family the offspring are royal-minded, and in six moons I will engage to make your Majesty's sons comprehend Policy."
The Raja replied, with condescension:—
"On the eastern mountains lying, common things shine in the sun,
And by learned minds enlightened, lower minds may show as one."
"And you, worshipful sir, are competent to teach my children the rules of Policy."