In Indian Nights’ Entertainment (Swynnerton), p. 60, a girl who had promised to prove that the King sometimes lied, invited the King to visit a palace she had built, and to see God there, but stated he was visible only to one person at a time, and only if he was of legitimate birth. The two Ministers first entered successively, saw nothing, and declared that they had seen God inside. The King then entered, and on coming out insisted that he also had seen God there. The girl then convicted him of telling a falsehood, and as usual in folk-tales was married by the King.
In Les Avadānas (Julien), No. xxxix, vol. i, p. 150, there is a story of a fool who handed some cotton to a spinner, and begged him to make it into extremely fine thread. The man did so, but the fool thought it too coarse. The spinner became angry, and pointing to the air with his finger, said, “There are extremely fine threads.” When the man asked how it was he could not see them, the spinner replied it was because of their extreme thinness, which was such that even the best workmen could not see them, much less a stranger. The fool gave him a fresh order, and paid him handsomely.
[1] Another title is, “Concerning a Foolish King.” [↑]
[2] Magul, auspicious or festival. [↑]
[4] As though using a shuttle. [↑]
[5] Honorific, instead of “your.” [↑]
[6] Rājābaraṇa, which usually refers to the ornaments and insignia; in No. 156, para. 5, and on p. 84, ābaraṇa includes the royal clothes. [↑]