Manduka was also appointed as a Royal astrologer of the King’s Court.
It was during this time that a very learned man came to the court. The learned man had a jar in his hands.
The jar was closed tightly and the learned man held it in his hands. The learned man looked at the king. “This is a test for the royal astrologer, your majesty. If he is able to pass it I shall admit that he is the best astrologer in the world.”
The king was confident that Manduka would be able to meet the challenge and summoned Manduka to court.
Manduka was fearful but put on a face of false bravado as he came to the court.
The learned man held up the closed jar and showed it to Manduka. “I have been to various pilgrimage places and I found something in Rameshwaram which is in the south of the country. I have put that inside this jar. Can you tell me what is inside it?”
Manduka kept staring at the jar for a long time and he was genuinely afraid. He knew that he could not find the answer to this question so he looked around for some help and found none.
Finally feeling hopeless, Manduka cried out. “Your time is up Manduka! The game is over.”
The learned man was shocked because when he opened the chair a frog jumped out of the jar and a frog is a Manduka in Sanskrit.
The learned man admitted that Manduka was indeed a great astrologer and left the place.
Manduka became even more famous in the entire kingdom.
Adapted from the Katha Sarith Sagara
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