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Buying is the first step in the process of marketing. It means the procurement of raw materials, components and finished products. It involves several activities such as selecting the source of supply, ascertaining the suitability of goods and negotiating the terms of purchase. Assembling begins after the goods have been purchased. It involves the collection of goods already purchased from different sources at once commonplace. It facilitates standardisation and grading.

Buying : Buying is the first step in the process of marketing. It involves what to buy. what quality, how much, from whom, when and at. what price. People in business buy to increase sales or to decrease costs. Purchasing agents arc much influenced by quality , sen ice and price. The products that the retailers buy for resale are determined by the need and preferences of their customers.

Assembling : After buying all the materials purchased it should be collected at a central place, it is called assembling. Assembling is required for all kinds of products whether they are agriculture product, consumer product or industrial product.

(a) Survey Method : Survey method involves getting answers to specific questions from the entire market or a representative sample of it. A Survey is a detailed enquiry to collect information from either the entire universe or a part of it. Survey method involves the preparation and use of questionnaire (a list of questions) and therefore, it is also known as ‘QUESTIONNAIRE METHOD’. Survey is the most widely used method of collecting data due to it provides both quantitative as well as qualitative information and can be used to obtain both facts and opinions. 

(b) Non-Profit Organisations need to prepare certain financial statements to know to be surplus or deficit during the year and financial position at the end of the year. Non – Trading Organisations prepare the 

following accounts and statements : 

1. Receipts and Payments Accounts 

2. Income and Expenditure Accounts and 

3. Balance Sheet. 

(c) Examples of Public awareness programmes organized for a better environment are as follows : 

1. Chipko Andolan (Movement) 

2. Beej Bachao Andolan (Save the seeds movement) 

3. Ganga Action Plan 

4. Ralegan Siddhi 

(d) Expectations of Associates from a business enterprise are as follows : 

1. They expect fair trade practices regarding price, quality and service. 

2. They expect an atmosphere of healthy competition and ethical behaviour. 

3. They expect coordination among competitors to ensure the growth of the entire industry. 

(e) Semantic Barrier : Semantics is the science of meaning. The same words and symbols may carry different meanings to different people. Communication breaks down when the sender and the receiver of the message use words and symbols in different senses. Sometimes, the language used by the sender may not be understood by the receiver.

(a) Two methods of On-the job training are: 

1. Coaching: Under this method the employee is trained on-the-job by his immediate superior. 

2. Job Rotation: Under this method the employee is moved from one job to another at planned period of time. This exposure at different levels, makes the employee multi dimensional. 

(b) Indirect Cost: It refers to those expenses which are not directly absorbed or chargeable in the process of production, e.g., rent of a factory building. 

(c) Gratuity is a time based benefit given to an employee when he leaves his employment after having worked under a specific employer for certain number of years. It is a voluntary payment made by an employer to his employees as a loyalty bonus who retires or leaves the service after a long period of time with a dedicated service record. It grants security to the employees against the risk of old age. 

(d) Trade Mark: When a Brand name, mark or a symbol is legally registered it becomes a trade mark. Trade mark gives sellers exclusive rights to use the brand name or mark. 

(e) Two examples of efficient and eco-friendly technology: 

1. Energy efficient technology is a form of eco-friendly technology because with increasing amount of coal or oil being used, not only will exhaust them but also increases the rate of green house gases. This is one main reason for adopting fuel efficient technology in almost all sectors of industry, which results in saving the natural resources for a longer time, providing alternate choice other than them. 

2. Recycling is reusing substances or products. It is an efficient and environment friendly measures to conserve raw materials and nature, e.g., paper industry which turns waste paper into new paper products.

(a) Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. (PAL) used Penetrating icing Strategy. In this strategy, they set low price in the initial stage so as to make the brai d quickly popular and to maximise the market share. Many firms used this strategy while launching fast moving consumer products. The policy results in high sales volume during the initial stages of a product’s life cycle. This strategy is successful because in initial stage product is sell at low price to capture the market trend and catch the customers attention. 

(b) PAL’s target is to double their sales in the current financial year because they manufacture Ayurvedic and natural product at cheaper rates. They sell their products online to promote their products and tie up with the various retail chain stores like Future group retails, Modern trade stores, Reliance retail etc. 

(c) Sales promotion techniques are used to increase their sales. These are as follows : 

1. Distribution of samples : Under this method, free samples of products are distributed. Consumers use these samples and they purchase it regularly, if it gives them satisfaction. This method is generally used for products of daily use like tea, soap, detergents, toothpaste etc. 

2. ‘Money of coupons : It is a kind of certificate telling that the product mentioned there can be obtained at a specified discount. Possession of a coupon motivates the consumers to buy that product. 

3. Premium or bonus offer: A premium offer is the offer of an article free of cost on the purchase of a specified quantity of a product. For example, one bathing soap may be given free on purchase of two bathing soaps. 

4. Prize contests : The manufacturer of a product organises a contest among the retailers by which the retailers who cross the targeted sales are given an opportunity to take part in a contest which has prizes like Malaysia tours. 

5. Money refund: In this case, the seller refunds a part of price paid by the customer on the production of some proof of purchase. For example, a producer may offer to refund f 10 on sending the cash memo or wrapper of the product.

The four methods of sales promotion are: 

1. Samples: Many business firms distribute free samples of their, product to selected consumers in order to make the products popular. 

2. Trading Stamps: Trading stamps are issued to customers through the retailers in proportion to the amount of purchase. 

3. Coupons: Coupon is a certificate that entitles its holder to a specified saving on the purchase of a specified product. 

4. Premium or Bonus Offer: It implies an offer of a certain quantity of the product, free of cost, on the purchase of a specified quantity of the product.

(a) Sources of Recruitment: 

1. Advertisements: Advertisements in newspaper and journals are the most widely used methods of attracting persons for jobs in banks. The requirement of the job and qualification of candidates are given in newspapers. This method helps to bring talented employees. 

2. Placement Agencies: Another sources of recruitment for the bank can be placement agencies. Bank can engaged private employment agencies for recruiting staff. These agencies advertise the vaccancies, receive applications, conduct interviews and short list candidates on behalf of bank. 

3. Educational Institutions: Management institutes and universities can be another source of recruitment. Here bank can find out best talent among the students. 

4. Promotion: For personal growth of its employees bank can transfer a performing and dynamic individuals from one banking segment to another. 

These source of recruitment are suitable for bank because of following reasons: 

1. Wide Choice: It offer a wider choice in the selection of candidates because a large number of persons apply for jobs. 

2. Fresh Outlook: Recruitment of persons from outside brings in new ideas and fresh thinking. 

3. Familiarity: The internal employees are already aware of the policies, rules and working conditions of the bank. 

(b) 

(i) Proficiency Tests: 

1. Achievement Tests: These tests measure the skills and knowledge which the candidate already posseses at the time of testing. These tests help to determine whether the claims made by the candidate about his knowledge and skills are correct or not. 

2. Intelligence Tests: These tests measure a person’s capacity for listening and compretension in terms of his vocabulary, mental alertness, memory, etc. 

(ii) Aptitude Tests: 

1. Personality Tests: These tests are designed to judge the emotional balance, temperament and maturity of a candidate. They reveal the ability of the person to adjust to new surrounding. 

2. Interest Tests: These tests are aimed at assessing type of work in which a candidate shows special interest and involvement. 

(c) Banks adopt various methods of imparting training to its employees so that their efficiency improves and enhances the productivity of the organisation. 

These are: 

1. Induction Training: It is an On-the-job training method. It involves providing relevant information about the organisation, its key personnel, terms and conditions of employment, rules and procedures of the organisation, etc. 

2. Internship: This programme of training is a combination of theory and practice. It involves practical training of theoretical knowledge. During this period, only stipend is paid to them. 

3. Vestibule Training: It is an off-the-job training method. In this method, the workers are trained in a separate working away from the job place in almost a similar working environment using same type of technology. 

4. Apprentivesting Programmes: This programme involves putting the trainee under the guidance of skilled worker. Dining this period, trainee is paid less than the skilled worker. It is on-the-job training method.

(a) (i) Empathy: Empathy means looking at things and events from the other’s point of view. It requires that the communicator be intune with communicate. Empathy involves seeing and feeling matters as others see and feel. It enables an executive to be sensitive and sympathetic to the attitudes, expectations and problems of his workers and clients. A person with empathy can be receptive and appreciative of the ideas and opinions of others. Empathy contributes to success of public relations in several ways. It fosters greater understanding and improves relationship with the client. Empathy tells an executive when he should talk and when he should remain silent. It tells when to be firm and when to be restrained. An empathic executive is more accurate in interpreting what a client says or does. 

(ii) Persuasion: Persuasion is an important element of public relations. It is through some kind of communication that persuasion takes place. To persuade means to convince another person of some idea, product, service or institution, to induce a person or group or to do something. A message becomes persuasive when people behave in the source of the message. Messages coming from credible sources are generally accepted without any questions being asked. Reasonable messages presented in an attractive manner tend to be more persuasive. A flexible approach is helpful in persuading others. A sense of human interest is necessary for anyone indulging in persuasion. The speaker has to ensure that people understand, approve and accept him and his words. 

(b) Need and Importance of Training: Training is necessary and useful for a Business enterprise. A trained work force is a very valuable asset to an organisation. For main advantages of training: Increased productivity: Training helps to improve the quantity and quality of work performance. Well-trained employees produce more and better goods. 

1. Better Utilisation or Resources: By training, employees learn new and better methods of doing jobs. They make better use of materials and machinery. As a result, wastage of resources and cost of production are reduced. 

2. Better Safety: Training helps to improve the job knowledge and skills of employees. Trained employees operate machines and equipment more carefully and cause fewer accidents. 

3. Less Supervision: Well-trained employees are less dependent on supervision. They are more disciplined, self-dependent and responsible. Therefore, need and cost of supervision are reduced. 

4. Reduce Turnover and Absenteeism: As trained employees feel more satisfied and interested in jobs, labour turnover and absenteeism are reduced. 

5. Expansion and Growth: With the help of trained staff, an enterprise can expand and grow easily and rapidly. Loss of a few employees does not threaten its survival. Trained employees can adapt more easily to technological advancements and competitive environment. Flexibility of the enterprise is improved. 

(c) Use of Income and Expenditure Accounts: 

1. Income and Expenditure Account shows the surplus or deficit arising from the activities of a non-trading concern during a year. 

2. It shows all items of income and expenditure. With the help of this information, the organisation can take steps to increase income and reduce expenditure. 

3. It serves as the basis for preparing the Balance Sheet of a non-trading organisation. 

4. It fulfils the statutory requirements because non-trading organisation are legally required to prepare it.

The training given to an employee while he/she is performing tasks or processes related to his/her particular occupation. The employee typically performs tasks that are essential to their job function with the supervision of a manager. This type of training is typically used to broaden an employee’s skill set and to increase productivity. 

When the employees are given training outside the actual work location, such a type of training is termed as off the job training. The reason behind imparting training at a place other than the job location is to provide a stress-free environment to the employees where they can concentrate only on learning.

Discounting of Bills of Exchange: Another important form of bank lending is through discounting or purchasing the bills of exchange. A bill of exchange is drawn by a creditor on the debtor specifying the amount of debt and also the date when it becomes payable. Such bills of exchange are normally issued for a period of 90 days. Thus, creditors cannot get it encashed from the debtors before the maturity period. However, if the creditor needs money before the maturity period (i.e., 90 days), he can get it discounted from the commercial bank. The bank makes payment to the creditor after deducting its commission. When the bill matures, the bank will get payment from the debtors.

If the drawer of the bill does not want to wait till the due date of the bill and is in need of money, he may sell his bill to a bank at a certain rate of discpunt. The bill is endorsed by the drawer with a signed and dated order to pay the bank. The bank becomes the holder and the owner of the bill. After getting the bill, the bank will pay cash to the drawer equal to the face value less interest or discount at an agreed rate for the number of days it has to run. This is known as discounting of bills of exchange.

(1) It is the conductivity power of all the ions present in ICC of the solution of the electrolyte.

(2) It states that at infinite dilution, the molar conductance of an electrolyte is the sum of molar conductances of its ions with molar conductance of each ion multiplied with the number of ions present in the formula of the electrolyte.

(i) more than, less than

(ii) Lucas reagent, tertiary

(iii) anode, cathode 

(iv) two, zero

(2) positive

The soldier fought bravely for his country.

(i) String s=“275”; 

(ii) int a=Integer.parseInt(s); 

(iii) total=1000+a;

(i) void—This keyword indicates that the function will not return value. 

(ii) one 

(iii) polymorphism

 (i) Value of res is 65 because the ASCII value of character 'A' in decimal is 65

(ii) java. lang

(i) Value of res is 65. 

(ii) Java.lang

 The prototype for the function  "sum "  with variable  is written as float sum(int x)

Library classes are pre-defined classes which are provided by Java System. There is thousands of library classes and each class contains various functions. These classes provide an effective support to programmers in developing their programs.

e.g., Java.lang, Java.util

(i)

(i) throws IOException. 

(ii) static keyword.

If the value of n assumes to be 1 then the value of x will be 2 and y will be 0; 

If the value of n assumes to be 0 then the value of x will be 1 and y will be 1;

(i) After executing this code the output will be: m=3 n=14 

(ii) After executing this code the output will be: m=97

Byte code is a term which has been used to denote various forms of instruction sets designed for efficient execution by a software interpreter as well as being suitable for further compilation into machine code.

In Java, type conversions are performed automatically when the type of the expression on the right hand side of an assignment operation can be safely promoted to the type of the variable on the left hand side of the assignment. Thus we can safely assign : 

byte to short to int to long to float to double 

for example

long myLongInteger; // 64 bit long integer 

int, myInteger; // 32 bit standard integer 

myLongInteger = myInteger; 

The extra storage associated with the long integer, in the above example, will simply be padded with extra zeros. 

Explicit Conversion (Casting) 

The above will not work the other way round. For example we cannot automatically convert a long to an int because the first requires more storage than the second and consequently information may be lost. To force such a conversion we must carry out an explicit conversion (assuming of course that the long integer will fit into a standard integer). 

This is done using a process known as a type cast : 

For example : 

myInteger = (int) myLongInteger; 

This tells the compiler that the type of myLongInteger must be temporarily changed to an int when the given assignment statement is processed. Thus, the cast only lasts for the duration of the assignment.

Math.pow((a+b),n)/((Math.sqrt(3)) + b);

Difference between pure and impure functions: 

Pure Functions: A function is” said to be a pure function when it return information about the state of an object. These functions contain a return statement in order to pass back the result generated by the module or function. 

Impure Functions: A function is said to be an impure function when they change the state of the variables but they do not return any value. They do not have any return statement. Their function header bears Void’ as a return type. It is also known as Mutator function.

Routine and Special Reports : These reports are required to be prepared and submitted periodically on matters required by the organisation so as to help the management of the organization to take decision in the matters relating to day to day affairs. The main objectives of R/R are to let the management know as to what is happening in the organisation, what is its progress, where the deviation is, what measures have been taken in solving the problems and what to do so that the organisation may run smoothly and efficiently. R/R are generally brief giving facts. Generally forms are prescribed for preparation submission of such report. 

(i) Special reports : Such a type of report is specially required to be prepared and submitted on matters of special nature. Due to an accident occurred the foreman has accused in a factory. The factory manager may ask for a detail report from the head foreman. Such a report is classified as special reports. 

(ii) Informational and Interpretative Reports: An informal report presents the data collected or facts observed an organised form 

e.g. a report containing only the data on deposits and advances of a branches at the year end. 

An interpretative report is a report which not only contains facts but also interpretation or conclusions. It may also contain recommendations for action, 

e.g. if causes for dissatisfied position of advances and deposits and suggestions for betterment of the position are included in the informational report mentioned above the report would become an interpretative report.

The advantages of written communication are : 

• It may be transmitted to various persons simultaneously. 

• It provides a permanent record for future references. 

• It is more operative than verbal communications. 

• It is an ideal way of conveying lengthy messages. 

• It is a methodical communication and it carries more weight. 

• It can be cited as legal evidence in the case of controversy.

Cellular phones are devices which facilitates transmission of messages  while 

moving the two basic services provided by cellular phones are : 

• A person can make a call directly with his mobile phone from any place in the city. 

• Calls can be received directly from any place. It is a very convenient system of communication but it is very costly.

The process used for the extraction of metals in their pure form from their ores is referred to as Metallurgy. 

The processes involved in Metallurgy are: 

1. Crushing and Grinding 

2. Concentration 

3. Roasting and calcination 

4. Reduction 

5. Refining

(a) 

1. reached 

2. met 

3. could 

4. found 

5. was 

6. knew 

7. had 

8. thought 

(b) 

1. with 

2. for 

3. from 

4. under 

5. over 

6. of 

7. on 

8. against 

(c) 

1. Despite living in the city for many years, he could not find his way out. 

2. She complained that her brother did not know anything, however her brother claimed he knew everything. 

3. The coffee isn’t strong enough to keep us awake. 

4. Having finished my home work I switched on the T.V. 

(d) 

1. It has been a month since my mother left. 

2. Anil ought not to lose his temper. 

3. No sooner had the chief guest seated himself them the play began. 

4. Rajiv asked Arjun that that was the book he had been reading the previous day. 

5. None but a foolish person would be taken in by this trick. 

6. Who has not heard of Gandhiji? 

7. On hearing from the head office only, he will issue the cheque. 

8. Should father’s flight be cancelled, he will send you a message.

We are living in a world of education. Today education has become a necessary department in everyone’s life. A person has to be educated enough to achieve the desired success in his life. But, today private tuitions have become a big mainstay and are a major part of our educational system. With the competition that the children are facing nowadays, more emphasis is being given to the tuitions than the school. Parents are stressed like never before because of the tuitions. “Failure is the tuition you pay for success.” 

Students now normally start taking tuitions from the 6th standard or some even from 1st standard only. This is only because of the negligence of the parents. If parents try to give their children time to help them in their studies then this won’t happen. But parents now have become so busy with their work that students have to resort to tuitions at an early age. “Tuitions is not an intelligent way to learn” for children of such young age. A physical burden can be seen in every student’s life because of the number of tuitions. Students lose their motivation to work hard as they indulge in tuitions after their school. The result is they don’t get the time for their physical exercises which is also an important part of life. “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”, this saying can be recalled in the case of the tuitions. 

The cost factor is another main concern. Not all parents can afford the tuition fees of his child. It’s just that they have to compromise for the sake of their children just to make them happy and so that their children do not say to them that, you didn’t send me for the tuition, that’s why I got such bad marks. But the real factor is that if the student has the will and desire to study he can get good marks even without the tuitions also students should have self confidence in themselves that we can study and can do well without the tuitions also. 

Private tuitions have commercialized the studies. “Name a career and you have the experts to guide you. But wait, there is a price tag with everything. Nothing comes free.” Commercializing the education is like injustice done to the people. Commercializing the studies is just unjustified and cannot be accepted. Private tuitions are busy making money at the cost of the students but least are they bothered about their skyrocketing charges. They are creating a divide amongst the students. All students don’t have the same financial condition. Therefore, all cannot afford the expensive tuitions, which ultimately create a divide amongst the rich and the poor. Nowadays, tuition fees are replaced by the course fees, which ranges something between Rs. 6,000-Rs. 10,000 again a headache for the parents. Numerous teachers are provoking the students directly or indirectly to take tuitions for them. Some of these teachers tend to do injustice to the students by leaking class test in the tuition only to the students taking tuitions from them. This is a kind of injustice done to the other students who try to get marks with their own ability. Students have now become so stressed out with the tuitions that they don’t get time for their self study. But to be true, if a student has to get good marks self study is the most important. 

In olden days, teachers were considered as Gurus, they were supposed to be next to God. But nowadays, private tuitions have changed the whole scenario. Firstly, tuitions were given for the betterment of children, to guide them in a proper way. But now, tuitions have become commercialized and teachers have become money minded. Teachers are not given the due respect which they were given in olden days. This is only because of the so many private tuitions and some money minded teachers.

Private tuitions have become a partying hub for the students. Teachers throw parties to the students thinking that this will attract students, and to be precise this happens. Tuitions have now become a high profile because of the faculty and the type of atmosphere and because of their students get, attracted, but the charges there over so high that the parents have to impart all their savings which they saved for their children’s future now only. 

It is the time that the Government should take note of the things and plans to keep in control the skyrocketing charges of the tuition fees. Otherwise, the education system will be spoiled one day and teachers would not be given the respect that they should get. Therefore, it has been rightly said that, “Private tuitions are necessary, but it is an evil.”

THE GIFT 

Aniket was in a fix. It was iris parents' anniversary and he had forgotten to wish them. At work, he was contemplating about finding a gift for them to surprise them in the evening. However, it was easier said than done. His father had keen interest in books and arts while his mother was the quintessential Bengali housewife who only wanted utility stuff as gifts. He just couldn't buy something like a watch, book or jewellery, for the risk of being scolded for spending hard-earned money without consulting them first. Being in the fag end of the month, Aniket had to even look at his stretching expenditures before deciding to buy something. He spent the whole day thinking about gift options while pretending to look busy at work. He also searched online for ideas, for something financially viable, an attractive yet a utilitarian thing, something that brings smile to his parents' faces, but in vain. 

Finally, at around 4 p.m. Aniket decided that it is best to get down to the market and look for a gift rather than thinking around in circles. He left office early, and about an hour later found himself roaming around the busy Karol Bagh market looking at the colourful stores and stalls all around. He walked around for nearly an hour, only to get confused at the end. 

At last, swallowing his pride he dialled his father, "Hello Baba, is Ma around? yes, well I forgot to wish you guys happy anniversary today and I felt bad that I did, so I was here at the market looking for a gift but as always I am totally confused as to what to buy. Can you help me out, please?" He heard a chuckle at the other end. "Where are you? At the market? Well, come home first, we'll decide on the gift later"' With that, his father disconnected the line. "Well at least they are not angry," thought Aniket as he walked back home somewhat relieved. 

As he rang the bell and walked in, he found his father at his desk, working on some project files while his mother was tinkering something in the kitchen. Aniket touched their feet and sought blessings from them and it hit him at that moment. The best gift he can give them is his love and respect which are much more valuable and priceless than any material gift. The blessings ire received from them were by far the Lest gift which can be exchanged between parents and children.

“Love” if you have it, you don’t need anything else, and if you don’t have it, it doesn’t matter much whether you have anything else. Human beings have a very soft heart. They all love someone or other in their life. Some humans are lucky as they get those whom they love while some are not lucky. The story is about my own life which describes how I lost my love and later in life how I found it again. 

The first day I saw her was our first day in the 9th standard of my school. She was a new student to our class. The moment I saw her, I realised that it was love at first sight. She had black eyes, a fair complexion and curly hair. She was intelligent and excelled in studies as later I came to know. I soon developed a friendship with her as “Friendship is the first stepping stone towards every relationship.” 

We were in 10th standard when we started talking more to each other. I liked her very much but I never tried to let her know about it. Our board examinations were coming so we started giving time to studies. We passed our examination with good grades and came to 11th standard. Now my liking began to increase day by day. The time which I used to spend with her was the best time of the day. I could never make out from her behaviour that what were her views about me. We became best friends from good friends. Yet I could never gain the courage to tell her because I was afraid that if I told her the truth, I might lose her as a friend. The fear of losing her was more than the happiness of loving her. Though sometimes I felt that she knew the fact that I liked her. 

Then came the ‘twist in the tale’. There was a boy in our class, Arbaaz, she started liking him. Even I heard about it. Since I deeply and truly loved her and “love is giving happiness to our loved one” so I decided that if she is happy with someone else then I would stay away from her. I know that it would be difficult but…. Once we quarrelled with each other over a petty issue which turned into a big one end I “lost’ her forever. I cried a lot not being able to control my emotions. Time passed and our 12th standard was over and we all were separated. 

Each one of us got busy finding a road to our career and I made it through Sri Ram College of Commerce Delhi a leading college of India. The first day of my college, I went into the class and was in for a shock. There she was, sitting in the front row of the class. I was very happy to see her. Neither she came to me, nor I stepped forward towards her “We were close yet very far” from one smother. A little later I heard from her friends that the boy with whom she was in a relationship broke her heart for some other girl. I felt pity on her. I wished to step forward but I was not able to do so. 

One day she met me at the church when I saw her I kept looking in her eyes and she also did the same. Nobody could speak anything and went our ways soon. It was the last day of our college. I was unable to control my feelings and emotions for her and so the words which I wanted to speak 8 years before I spoke them now. I proposed to her and she accepted my proposal. We embraced each other and got lost in each other’s eyes. Finally I had FOUND my love. 

This was how I found my lost love and I consider myself to be the luckiest person on this earth.

Once upon a time, a prince made friends with a merchant’s son and the son of a man of learning. Every day they would spend their time playing games or relaxing. The prince refused to learn the art of archery, riding or hunting. At last the king got tired of him and told him that he could not be a good king, as he showed no interest in royal pursuits. The prince, unhappily went and told his friends about what his father had said. 

His two friends were also not happy with their fathers. Thereupon the prince said, “Let us go somewhere and earn some money.” The other friends agreed to him and they together decided to go to the climbing mountain where they might find precious gems. They all liked the idea and set out for the climbing mountain. 

As luck would have it, each of them found a priceless gem. Now they were faced with another problem—the problem of guarding the jewels. The son of the man of learning said, “We should swallow the gems and carry them back in our stomachs.” 

The others agreed and along with their food, they swallowed the gems. Meanwhile a man, hiding behind the bushes, heard their talk and saw them swallowing the gems. He thought of travelling with them and when they went off to sleep, he Would cut their stomach open and take all the gems. With this plan in his mind, he approached them and made friends with them. 

All the four happened to cross a village in the middle of the forest. Now the village chief had a strange bird that began to sing. The chief could understand everything the bird sang. This time too, he understood that the bird was singing about the travellers with precious gems. 

The chief ordered the villagers to catch the travellers and bring before him. He searched them carefully but found nothing. They were freed. The bird sang the same song again. So the same process was repeated thrice. Finally the chief said, “If the bird says that repeatedly, the gems are surely with you, probably in your stomach. Tomorrow morning, I will act open your stomach for the gems. Now the fourth traveller, the one who had originally planned to steal the gems thought, “The chief will also act my stomach in hope of finding a gem. So my death is certain. Therefore, it is best to offer my own stomach first to cut, saving the other three”. 

Next morning, the thief begged the chief to cut his stomach first. The chief agreed but he found no gem in the stomach. Now the chief was full of repentance. The three friends who narrowly escaped death were freed. They quickly crossed the forest till they reached a safer spot.