Thereupon Mahaushadha pointed out the excellent intentions in the minds of the first ministers. When the king had looked in, and had seen the six ministers with their hair and beards shorn, and their hands and feet drawn together, he laughed and said to Mahaushadha, “Tell me, whose contrivance is this?”
“It is Viśākhā’s contrivance,” he replied, and then he proceeded to tell the whole story. The king marvelled at the acuteness and resolution shown by Viśākhā, and the cleverness of the carpenter’s daughter Viśākhā obtained praise in all lands.
The king resolved that Mahaushadha should try to find him a wife of similar discretion, in which case everything would be placed on a good footing both at home and as regards affairs exterior to the palace.
“Where shall I look for her?” asked Mahaushadha.
“The king of Panchāla has an exceedingly beautiful daughter called Aushadhī,” replied King Janaka. “She is endowed with knowledge and memory, and I have heard that in acuteness she resembles Viśākhā. Obtain her for me as my wife.”
“O king,” said Mahaushadha, “in this matter must some stratagem be employed, for there is enmity between you and him.”
Then King Janaka sent his ministers and his Purohita in order to make proposals of marriage. The king of Panchāla called his ministers together and asked them what he should do. They said, “As King Janaka formerly refused to listen to your orders, we must manage so that they may fall into our power. Tell them that you will give your daughter, and that an appointment [[168]]must be made for the purpose of receiving her, at a certain hour, on such and such a day of the half-moon, at such and such a place.”
Having thus spoken, they went forth and announced that King Janaka was to receive the Princess Aushadhī.
“When and where?” asked the envoys.
“On such and such a day, at an appointed hour,” was the reply.