tells me this.  Admit or prove the falsehood of the accusation quickly.’  The sage then proclaimed the names of other officers who had similarly been guilty of embezzlement, adding, ’My crow never says anything that is false.’  Thus accused and injured by the sage, all the officers of the king, O thou of Kuru’s race, (united together and) pierced his crow, while the sage slept, at night.  Beholding his crow pierced with a shaft within the cage, the regenerate Rishi, repairing to Kshemadarsin in the morning said unto him, ’O king, I seek thy protection.  Thou art all-powerful and thou art the master of the lives and wealth of all.  If I receive thy command I can then say what is for thy good.  Grieved on account of thee whom I regard as a friend have come to thee, impelled by my devotion and ready to serve thee with my whole heart.  Thou art being robbed of thy wealth, I have come to thee for disclosing it without showing any consideration for the robbers.  Like a driver that urges a good steed, I have come hither for awakening thee whom I regard as a friend.  A friend who is alive to his own interests and desirous of his own prosperity and aggrandisement, should forgive a friend that intrudes himself forcibly, impelled by devotion and wrath, for doing what is beneficial.’  The king replied unto him, saying, ’Why should I not bear anything thou wilt say, since I am not blind to what is for my good?  I grant thee permission, O regenerate one!  Tell me what thou pleasest, I shall certainly obey the instructions thou wilt give me, O Brahman,’

“The sage said, ’Ascertaining the merits and faults of thy servants, as also the:  dangers thou incurrest at their hands, I have come to thee, impelled by my devotion, for representing everything to thee.  The teachers (of mankind) have of old declared what the curses are, O king, of those that serve others.  The lot of those that serve the king is very painful and wretched.  He who has any connection with kings is to have connection with snakes of virulent poison.  Kings have many friends as also many enemies.  They that serve kings have to fear all of them.  Every moment, again, they have fear from the king himself, O monarch.  A person serving the king cannot (with impunity) be guilty of heedlessness in doing the king’s work.  Indeed, a servant who desires to win prosperity should never display heedlessness in the discharge of his duties.  His heedlessness may move the king to wrath, and such wrath may bring down destruction (on the servant).  Carefully learning how to behave himself, one should sit in the presence of the king as he should in the presence of a blazing fire.  Prepared to lay down life itself at every moment, one should serve the king attentively, for the king is all-powerful and master of the lives and the wealth of all, and therefore, like unto a snake of virulent poison.  He should always fear to indulge in evil speeches before the king, or to sit cheerlessly or in irreverent postures, or to wait in attitudes of