Seeing Mahosadha alone yet looking cheerful, the king ordered his guards to seize him and hold his hands, feet, nose, and ears. Mahosadha replied, "Just as Your Majesty orders my hands, feet, ears, and nose to be seized, so too will King Videharaja order the hands, feet, ears, and noses of your own Queen Pancancanda, Princess Pancacandi, and Queen Nanda Devi to be seized." King Culani, finding himself outwitted, asked, "Have you learned divine stratagems?" Mahosadha answered, "A wise man in this world must master divine stratagems to liberate himself from suffering." Subsequently, the Bodhisatta led King Culani and the 101 other kings to inspect the secret *ummanga*—a sturdy, subterranean tunnel or passage carved through the earth or mountain. King Culani marveled at the Bodhisatta's wisdom and proposed a solemn oath to cease all future hostilities. Meanwhile, the 101 kings paid homage to the Bodhisatta, expressing their gratitude for him sparing their lives. Mahosadha recounted past events to the 101 kings, explaining how he had saved their lives on numerous occasions—such as the time he had his men overturn and shatter the vessels at a banquet where King Culani, swayed by the Brahmin Kevatta, had intended to poison and exterminate all the kings of Jambudvipa. King Culani acknowledged his wrongdoing toward the 101 kings. He offered to surrender his entire kingdom to Mahosadha, but the Bodhisatta declined the offer. Subsequently, the kings bestowed rewards upon Mahosadha and escorted him back to the city of Mithila. Princess Pancali lived with King Videharaja, and they had a son; when this son, Prince Tikhina, reached the age of ten, the King passed away. After installing the young prince as his father's successor, Mahosadha asked for permission to reside in the kingdom of Uttara-Pañcāla under the King's patronage. While there, he exchanged a riddle as a signal with a woman named Pheri; however, Queen Nandādevī, who already harbored a grudge, reported this interaction to her husband. Upon learning the full story—that Mahosadha and Pheri had merely engaged in a test of wits—the King appointed Mahosadha as his Chief Minister. Pheri then took the opportunity to test the King regarding the sincerity of his affection for Mahosadha. King Cūḷanī replied, "Since Mahosadha the Wise arrived here, he has brought great benefit to the kingdom; should I pass away first, I know he would ensure the well-being of my children. Mahosadha understands what is truly beneficial for both the present and the future." King Chullani was willing to sacrifice the lives of his family—including his own, totaling six people—to the water spirit in response to its threats, yet he adamantly refused to allow the spirit to take the life of Mahosadha, for Mahosadha was a symbol of peace for the entire world.
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