"One day the wife of a Pandya king said to her husband,"How is it that you pay your minister of state 1000 gold pieces a month whilst he does nothing but only makes speeches to you and you only give two or three pieces a month to those who work for you day and night?" The king said, "I will explain to you by an example." He took two little jewel caskets in each of which he placed some hair and some ashes and closed them up. He then called his minister and a soldier whom the queen had pointed out to him, gave a casket to each and said, "Go and take this to the king and when you have done this come back again." They both set out on their journey. When the minister arrived at the king of Sera he said, "The Pandya king sends to thee this casket." The king opened it and when he found nothing but hair and ashes, he angrily exclaimed, "What means this?" The minister, although he had only just then discovered the contents of the casket, with great presence of mind answered, "Your Majesty, our king a short while ago made a sacrifice, from which a spirit proceeded and nothing but some hair and ashes was left, therefore the king sends you a part, for it is a soul-saving present for kings. Keep it carefully I beseech thee." When the king heard this explanation he rejoiced, gave the minister a present and also sent back by him to the Pandya king valuable gifts in exchange. The soldier was then brought before the king of Sera and respectfully presented his casket; when the king opened it he was again angry and asked, "What does this mean?" The soldier, however, remained dumb and did not know what to reply. The king in a fury said, "Does the Pandya king dare to insult me so?" and ordered his servants to seize the soldier, beat him and turn him out.

When the minister and the soldier returned to the court of the Pandya king, he told his wife of the different results of his misson and asked her "who merited the highest reward." The queenwas abashed and went silently away."