The wise and learned one began to speak to the king, saying, "O king, listen to this tale. In the delightful city of Kamapura, there once ruled a great and noble king named Virasimha. In that same city lived a wealthy and proud merchant named Hiraṇyadatta, who enjoyed a life of ease and comfort, ever delighting in the beauty of spring’s blossoms. One day, as fate would have it, the strong son of Dharmadatta saw a woman as she was passing by. She was modest and virtuous, and, finding a secluded moment, she spoke to him. She said, 'If marriage takes place, I will come to you on the tenth day.' Accepting her words, he agreed and returned to his own home. Meanwhile, the merchant Madapāla and the daughter of Maṇigrīva were also involved in this unfolding story. On the ninth day, before the promised union, her master forcefully took the woman away. Distressed by the words of her friend, the woman wept bitterly. Her friend asked her, 'Why do you weep, O proud one? Tell me the truth, beautiful lady.' The woman replied, 'If I do not go to Somadatta, best of the wealthy, I will be bound by my word. Today, I must go to him.' That night, overcome by desire, she slept beside him. But the greedy one questioned her, 'Where are you going, O beautiful one?' Still languid with longing, she answered the thief, her mind disturbed by passion. The thief then said, 'O lovely-browed lady, give me your ornament.' She replied, 'Embracing your lover, your friend, I will give you the ornament.' When she arrived, the merchant asked her, 'How have you come, tired from love?' Kamalasa, having heard all that had transpired, spoke truthfully, recounting everything as it had happened. Considering the woman to be devoted to her husband, the merchant honored her, circumambulated her, and released her. He then brought her into the house where her husband was staying. There, he enjoyed the pleasures granted by the gods. Now, among all those involved, whose truthfulness was the greatest? The answer is this: the thief’s truthfulness was supreme. Out of fear of widowhood, the lady had sought out her friend, but the thief, fearing to break his word, let her go and thereby attained joy. O king, hear now another tale. In the land of Gauda, there is a city named Vardhana, ruled by the righteous king Gunasekhara. Once, this king visited the temple of the lord of Girija. There, a scorpion approached and, in anger, stung the king. But Nirbhayananda came and removed the poison from him. Listen, O fortunate king, to the six enemies of the mind, which arise from the quality of passion: delusion, hypocrisy, intoxication, possessiveness, hope, and reproach. Desire is said to be Vishnu; likewise, Rudra is desire, and anger, greed, and destiny too. All these are subject to illusion—so what is the purpose of their worship? He who has not been conquered by these should be known as the true conqueror, the non-dualist, and the stainless one. Hear from me, O lord of the earth, the dharma by which one attains his favor. Therefore, worship of cows is pure, and violence should be avoided everywhere. Meat and intoxicating drink are always to be shunned; instead, one should feed the hungry with wealth earned justly." Thus the wise one spoke, weaving together lessons of truth, virtue, and the path to righteousness.