The chaplain, thus entreated, went near Siva, and beheld him immoveable, pretending to be engaged in meditation. And then he walked round him, keeping him on his right hand, and sat down in front of him: and immediately the rascal slowly opened his eyes. Then the family priest, bending before him, said with bowed head,--"My Lord, if it will not make you angry, I will prefer a petition to you. There is dwelling here a very rich Rájpút from the Deccan, named Mádhava, and he, being ill, is desirous of giving away his whole property: if you consent, he will give you that treasure which glitters with many ornaments made out of priceless gems." When Siva heard that, he slowly broke silence, and said,--"O Bráhman, since I live on alms, and observe perpetual chastity, of what use are riches to me?" Then that chaplain went on to say to him, "Do not say that, great Bráhman, do you not know the due order of the periods in the life of a Bráhman? [379] By marrying a wife, and performing in his house offerings to the Manes, sacrifices to the gods and hospitality to guests, he uses his property to obtain the three objects of life; [380] the stage of the householder is the most useful of all." Then Siva said, "How can I take a wife, for I will not marry a woman from any low family?" When the covetous chaplain heard that, he thought that he would be able to enjoy his wealth at will, and, catching at the opportunity, he said to him: "I have an unmarried daughter named Vinayasváminí, and she is very beautiful, I will bestow her in marriage on you. And I will keep for you all the wealth which you receive as a donation from Mádhava, so enter on the duties of a householder." When Siva heard this, having got the very thing he wanted, he said, "Bráhman, if your heart is set on this, [381] I will do what you say. But I am an ascetic who knows nothing about gold and jewels: I shall act as you advise; do as you think best." When the chaplain heard that speech of Siva's, he was delighted, and the fool said, "Agreed"--and conducted Siva to his house. And when he had introduced there that inauspicious guest named Siva, [382] he told Mádhava what he had done and was applauded by him. And immediately he gave Siva his daughter, who had been carefully brought up, and in giving her he seemed to be giving away his own prosperity lost by his folly. And on the third day after his marriage, he took him to Mádhava who was pretending to be ill, to receive his present. And Mádhava rose up and fell at his feet and said what was quite true, "I adore thee whose asceticism is incomprehensible." [383] And in accordance with the prescribed form he bestowed on Siva that box of ornaments made of many sham jewels, which was brought from the chaplain's treasury. Siva for his part, after receiving it, gave it into the hand of the chaplain, saying, "I know nothing about this, but you do." And that priest immediately took it, saying, "I undertook to do this long ago, why should you