Here is a story of a Jaina ascetic, taken from a work named ‘The Panchatantra,’ a collection of fables and tales that long ago found their way into Persia. Nûshîrvân, the King of Persia sent a physician to India in search of medical knowledge and books; the physician not only brought back medical books, but collections of fables also, which, being translated into Pehlevi went forth to the world as the fables of Pilpay. The book opens by stating that a certain king was concerned at finding that his sons were growing up without knowledge. He called a council at which the necessity of acquiring knowledge was discussed, and also the length of time required for the acquisition of such kinds of knowledge that was considered indispensable. The conclusion at which the councillors arrived was that the king must be advised to entrust his sons to a Brahman named Vishnusarman, who undertook to teach them nîti in six months. This being arranged, Vishnusarman took the young princes to his house, and composed for their benefit a series of fables—the ‘Panchatantra,’ so called from ‘pancha,’ five, and ‘tantra,’ section—namely, five narratives. They are stories within stories, woven most intricately one within the other; here is a short one, treating of the cunning ascetic. A certain king who reigned in Ayodhyâ, the capital of Kosala, sent his minister to subdue a rebellion among some of the Rajahs in the hills. Whilst the minister was absent a religious mendicant came to Kosala, who by his skill in divination, his knowledge of hours, omens, aspects, and ascensions; his dexterity in solving numbers, answering questions, and detecting things covertly concealed, and his proficiency in all similar branches of knowledge, acquired such fame and influence that it might be said he had purchased the country, and it was his own. The fame of this man at last reached the king, who sent for him, and found his conversation so agreeable that he wanted him constantly beside him. One day, however, the mendicant did not appear, and when he next came, he accounted for his absence by stating that he had been upon a visit to Paradise, and that the deities sent their compliments to the king. The king was simple enough to believe him and was filled with astonishment and delight. His admiration of this marvellous faculty so engrossed his thought, that the duties of his state and the pleasures of his palace, were equally neglected. But after awhile his minister returned, having subdued the king’s enemies in the hills, and is amazed and disgusted to find his king in close conference with a naked mendicant, instead of occupying himself as formerly with his appointed duties. He quickly ascertains the pretensions of the ascetic, and asked the king if what he had heard of the mendicant’s celestial visit was true. The king assured him that it was, and the ascetic offered to satisfy the general’s apparent scepticism, by departing for Swarga in his presence.