འདལ་བ་གཞ 1.24

1.24

When the brahmin Tiṣya heard that the preceptor Māṭhara was to leave, he went to him and said, “I have come only for a short time⁷⁷ and before long am certain to go. Let this remain your victor’s prize. Do not leave, you must stay.”

Māṭhara replied, “I intend to leave, young brahmin.”

“Preceptor, if that is how you feel, you should keep half of this village and I shall keep claim to the other half.”

Māṭhara thought, “Though I have done much for this king, he has not taken care of me. Yet out of consideration for me, this brahmin Tiṣya has offered to share our prize—a most beneficial arrangement. I will give Śārikā to him as a wife.”

Māṭhara then said to his wife, “Noble lady, though I have done much for this king, he has not taken care of me. Yet out of consideration for me, this brahmin Tiṣya has offered to share our prize—a most beneficial arrangement. I shall give Śārikā to him as a wife. Call our son, Koṣṭhila.”

His parents summoned Koṣṭhila and said, “Son, though we have done much for this king, he has not taken care of us. Yet, out of consideration for me, this brahmin Tiṣya has offered to share our prize—a most beneficial arrangement. I shall give Śārikā to him as a wife.”

Koṣṭhila replied, “Father! Mother! How could I accept this enemy into our family? Hasn’t he robbed⁷⁸ us of our livelihood? Anyone else in our position would try to take his life. If he has robbed us so, why would you give Śārikā to him in marriage?”

His parents