“Your majesty, I can find out what is in the contents of things just by looking at it.” Gunasarma told the king calmly.
He smiled as he studied the servant who had brought the dish because looking at the food and its contents, he had easily figured out the antidote for the poison in the vegetables and he even had it with him.
He pushed the food towards the servant who was now trembling with fright. “I want you to eat this food. If the food is not poisoned, it shall not harm you in any way.”
The servant was shaking with fear and he ate the food because he had no choice.
He became senseless immediately after eating the food.
Gunasarma revived the servant with the poison’s antidote.
When the servant was brought back to his senses, the king commanded the servant to tell him the truth. The servant quailed. “The king of your neighbouring kingdom of Gauda, sent me here with the instructions to poison you. Your majesty so I came to this place and offered my services as a cook. After I was appointed, I brought the poisoned vegetables to you. And somehow this man,” the servant's hands were shaking as he pointed at Gunasarma. “...has found it out.”
After this, the king was even more happy with Gunasarma in return for saving his life, the king granted Gunasarma a gift of a thousand villages.
The servant was discharged from service and allowed to leave the country with his life.
Now back to Queen Asokavati, Gunasarma was still in trouble with her.
Queen Asokavati nagged the king to instruct Gunasarma to become her teacher of music.
When Gunasarma had run out of excuses he taught the Queen veena.
In the course of the first lesson, the Queen indicated to Gunasarma that she was attracted to him.
However, Gunasarma was firm and refused to be swayed by this.
The Queen finally confessed her love for Gunasarma.
After hearing her, Gunasarma mildly admonished her. “You are the wife of a king and the man who has employed me. I will never think of you in any other way.”
Adapted from the Katha Sarith Sagara
No comments:
Post a Comment