Once a great king went to hunt in a forest, and there he happened to meet a sage. He had a little conversation with him and became so pleased with him that he invited him to his palace to accept a present from him. “No,” said the sage reluctantly, “I am perfectly satisfied with my condition; these trees give me enough fruit to eat; these beautiful pure streams supply me with all the water I want; I sleep in these caves. What do I care for your presents, though you be an emperor? I am perfectly satisfied."

But the emperor said - "Just to purify me, to gratify me, come with me into the city and take some present from me." At last the sage consented to go with him, and he was taken into the emperor’s palace, where there were gold, jewelry, marble, costly robes and drapes etc and many more most wonderful things. Wealth and power were manifest everywhere in the palace. The emperor asked the sage to wait for a minute, while he said his prayer. The King went into a corner and began to pray - "Lord, give me more wealth, more children, more territory.” In the meanwhile, the sage got up and began to walk away.

The emperor saw him going, so he rushed after him shouting - "Stay Sir, stay back. Where are you going? You did not take my present and you are going away?" The sage turned to him and said - "You are not a King, you are a beggar and I do not accept anything from beggars. What can you give me? You yourself are begging all the time." And the sage went away.