चत्वारिंशति रात्रि: दो राजकन्या, सर्षप-मुष्टि और धैर्य का रहस्य

On the fortieth twilight, a messenger arrived with an exquisite gold necklace set with carved ruby rosettes sent to Prabhavati.

Draped in royal crimson-and-gold silk with heavy gold zari borders, Prabhavati fastened the necklace by candlelight, admiring its warm radiance.

She adjusted her sheer veil and walked with swift, eager steps toward the mansion gate.

From his high golden swing, Shuka bowed with dazzling courtly elegance.

Prabhavati paused on the threshold, raising an amused eyebrow.

Shuka looked deep into her eyes, his ruby beak glinting in the lantern glow:

"Hear the masterclass of patience and cultivation!" began Shuka. In the throne room of ancient Avanti, King Somadeva presented each of his two daughters, Princess Vilasavati and Princess Priyavada, with a single handful of golden mustard seeds (*Sarshapa*).

The King decreed: *"Guard these golden seeds for three years and return them to me—the one who preserves their true value shall inherit my royal throne!"*

Elder Princess Vilasavati placed her seeds inside a pearl-studded golden jewel box, locking it away securely in the dark, airless palace vault.

Younger Princess Priyavada took her handful of seeds to the fertile royal farmlands, sowing them with reverent care into the rich, dark soil.

Season after season, Priyavada watered, tended, and harvested the growing crops, replanting the harvest across expanding valleys.

By the third year, endless oceans of bright golden mustard flowers bloomed across the hills, filling the kingdom with honey fragrance and prosperity!

Three years later, King Somadeva convened the grand royal assembly in Avanti to inspect the returned seeds before all ministers and citizens.

Princess Vilasavati brought her golden jewel box with arrogant pride, opening the lid before the King and court.

The entire court gasped in disgust! Locked away in the dark, the hoarded seeds had rotted into a foul, useless heap of black mold and dust!

Princess Priyavada smiled gently, opening the palace gates where **fifty grand decorated bullock carts** entered, loaded with thirty thousand bushels of golden mustard harvest!

King Somadeva embraced Priyavada with tears of joy: *"You understand that life, wealth, and virtue are meant to be cultivated through patient labor and love, not hoarded in dark vanity!"*

The King placed the golden royal diadem upon Princess Priyavada's head, crowning her Crown Princess of Avanti amid the joyful cheers of the entire kingdom!

Back on the moonlit balcony of Chandravati, Shuka concluded the tale with piercing moral clarity under the starlight.

Prabhavati sat on the velvet bolsters, marveling at how virtue, love, and fidelity multiply when cultivated with patience, while idle hoarding leads to decay.

Shuka delivered his fortieth milestone riddle:

Prabhavati sat in quiet introspection, realizing that daily devotion to her household and husband is the golden seed that blossoms into eternal honor.

As the lesson illuminated her soul, golden dawn sunlight flooded the Chandravati skyline! The temple conches sounded across the city. The fortieth milestone night had passed!

Smiling with deep reverence, Prabhavati unclasped the ruby rosette necklace, placed sweet almonds before Shuka's golden swing, and returned peacefully to her bedchamber—her virtue and household protected for the fortieth milestone night!