here he went and sat down by a merchant's shop and asked alms. the merchant inquired whence he had come, why he had come, and what was his caste; to which he replied that he was a brahman, and was wandering hither and thither begging a livelihood for himself and wife and parents. moved with pity for the man, the merchant advised him to visit the kind and generous king of that country, and offered to accompany him to the court. now at that time it happened that the king was seeking for a brahman to look after a golden temple which he had just had built. his majesty was very glad, therefore, when he saw the brahman and heard that he was good and honest. he at once deputed him to the charge of this temple, and ordered fifty kharwars of rice and one hundred rupees to be paid to him every year as wages.