IN a certain country, as a man was going through the middle of a city he met a man of the city, and asked him, “In what manner does the King of this city rule ?” The man said, “It does not appear to us that he has any fault.” Then the man said [sarcastically]: “Does the King of this city know these three matters—the centre of this country, the number of the stars in the sky, and the work which the King of the world of the Dēvas 2 does ?” Having asked this, that wicked man went through the midst of the city. Afterwards, the man of the city came to the palace, and declared to the King that there were three matters regarding which a man had wanted information. After he had informed him, the King asked, “What are the three matters ?” The man said, “The centre of the country, the number of the stars in the sky, and the work which the King of the world of the Dēvas does; these three matters,” he said. Then the King, having caused the Raṭēmahatmayās— (the highest provincial Chiefs)—to be told that he ordered them to come, after he had asked them concerning these three matters, the Chiefs said that they could not tell him the answers. When they said that, the king commanded [Page 151] that the Raṭēmahatmayās should be beheaded. Thereupon the executioners came and beheaded them. After that, he caused the Adikāramas—(the Ministers)— to be brought, and asked them if they knew these three matters. Those persons also said that they could not explain them. He commanded that party also to be beheaded, and the executioners came and beheaded them. Having beheaded all the people of both parties, there remained still the Royal Preceptor 3 only, so he caused the Royal Preceptor to be brought, and asked him regarding these matters. Then the Royal Preceptor said, “I cannot tell you about them to-day. I will tell you to-morrow.” After he had said this he returned to his house, and having come there, lying down prone on the bed he remained without speaking a word. The youth who looked after the Royal Preceptor's goats came at that time, and asked, “For what reason are you lying down, Sir ?” The Royal Preceptor said, “They beheaded the Adikā-rama party and the Raṭēmahatmaya party to-day ; they will behead me to-morrow. The post that I have told thee of [under the executioner] will be made over to one’s self.” The youth said, “Lord, you must tell me the reasons for it.” The Royal Preceptor replied, “If I should be, unable to-morrow to say which is the centre of the country, the number of the stars, and the work which the God of the world of the Dēvas does, they will behead me to-morrow.” Then the youth said, “Are you so much troubled about that ? I will say those very things for you.” Afterwards, at the time when the Royal Preceptor, on the morning of the following day, was setting off to go to the palace, he called the youth, and went with him to the palace. The King asked for the answers to these three sayings. Then the Royal Preceptor said,