Medhavati was a very clever woman. As soon as she heard the desperate words of her husband, she had a very good idea. “You have to tell the king that you have to go on a pilgrimage tour. The king cannot deny that.” Medavati smiled at her husband. “So at that time, you have to leave this kingdom and go to foreign lands. That way the king will have to handle the affairs of the kingdom himself and the people will stop blaming you for trying to take over the office of the king.”
Dirghadarsin was thrilled to hear the words of his wife.
He immediately went to the king and told him his plan of visiting the various pilgrimage places of the country.
The king wanted to tell the minister not to go on the trip, but he realized that he could not deny such a wish openly.
The king was still thinking of ways to prevent his minister when the minister quietly packed and left the kingdom in the night, without telling anybody about it.
The minister felt free at least. He visited kingdom after kingdom and finally came to the kingdom of Paundra.
There in the kingdom of Paundra, Dirghadarsin rested in the temple of Shiva.
A merchant by name of Nidhidatta saw the minister there and saw from the marks on the body of the man that he was a very learned man.
After enquiring about the man, Nidhidatta came to the realization that the man was a very learned, trustworthy man and a good person to have around.
Nidhidatta decided to take the man with him. “I am going to the Island of Gold. Will you look after my home here, when I am away?”
The minister convinced Nidhidatta to take him on his adventures to the Island of Gold.
So in a few days, Nidhidatta and Dirghadarsin together left for Swarnadwipa, the Island of Gold.
Adapted from the Katha Sarith Sagara
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