As we all know that Harshvardhan was the patron of both art and education. He was a writer himself and wrote three Sanskrit plays, Nagananda, Ratnavali, Priyadarshika. For this reason, he always appreciated new artists and knowledgeable people and honored them all with various awards.

Two such sculptors named Chitravasu and Kritakarma visited the royal court of Harshavardhan. Both of them were very famous for their art. Therefore, there was a debate in both of them, who is better? But due to not reaching any conclusion, both of them took their plea to King Harshavardhan.

King Harshavardhan thought for a moment and said, "There will be a test to know who is better among you two. You will have to build the statue of the queen in the same style within one day. The next day I will announce my decision in the assembly."

The Queen took a gold plate in her hands and stood with fruit in it. Both the sculptors in the same figure made their sculptures.

The next day both of those idols were brought to the assembly. All were shocked to see those two idols. Both of those statues looked the same in appearance. It was like someone kept a statue in front of a mirror. They were filled with such colors that it was as if the real queen was standing there.

King Harshavardhana asked all the councilors to give their opinion. They all said miraculously, "It seems like, Her Highness is standing in front of us. The hand plate looks real gold. Its fruits also look real. We think it would be appropriate to share the prize equally between the two sculptors."

Hearing this, Harshavardhan said, "I accept that these two idols look the same in every way. But there is still another test to know who is the best sculptor among them. Now there will be a test of these two idols "

The king order to keep the two idols together side by side. Then ordered to release one of his pet parrots from the cage. The parrot flew and sat on the plate of the idol made by Kritakarma. It tried to eat fruit from the plate but flew helplessly.

The second parrot was then released. It too did like the first parrot.

Kritakarma is a better sculptor. Everyone said.

"No. Chitravasu is the better sculptor. I will only award him." Harshavardhan said.

Everyone was surprised and asked him the reason for this.

"Both parrots sat on the statue made by Kritakarma because they realized it was a craft. While they considered the statue made by Chitravasu as a human being and did not sit on it.  The liveliness and sparkle in the eyes of the idol created by Chitravasu are missing in the idol created by Kritakarma. Therefore Chitravasu is the better sculptor in both." Harshavardhan explained.

Everyone cheered on the wisdom of their king and accepted his decision with pleasure.