प्रपच्य पायसमपि वटवृक्षमुपाश्रितः भोजनं च ततो राजन्सर्पेण गरलीकृतम् ।। 3.2.12.
Having cooked rice pudding, he took shelter beneath a banyan tree; but, O King, the food was poisoned by a snake.
ततो यतिः समायातो भुक्त्वा मदमुपाययौ
Then a mendicant arrived, ate, and became intoxicated.
त्वया प्रदत्तं मूर्खेण पायसं विषमिश्रितम्
You, foolish one, gave rice pudding mixed with poison.
इत्युक्त्वा मरणं प्राप्य शिवलोकमुपाययौ
Having spoken thus, he died and attained the realm of Shiva.
इत्युक्त्वा स तु वेतालो राजानमिदब्रवीत्
Having said this, the Vetala addressed the king.
अतो दोषी हि भुजगो ब्रह्महत्यां न चाप्तवान्
Therefore, the snake is at fault, but did not incur the sin of killing a Brahmin.
बुभुक्षिते ददौ भिक्षां स द्विजो दैवमोहितः
The Brahmin, deluded by fate, gave alms to the hungry.
आत्मना च कृतं पापं भोक्तव्यं सर्वदा जनैः
The sin committed by oneself must always be experienced by people.
ब्रह्महत्या तदा ज्ञेया विषदत्तेन सा तथा
At that time, the killing of a Brahmin should be understood as caused by the one who gave the poison.
यैर्नरैः कथिता वार्ता ब्रह्महत्या त्वया कृता
By those men who narrated the story, the sin of killing a Brahmin has been committed by you.
नगरे चन्द्रहृदये रणधीरो नृपोऽभवत्
In the city of Candrahṛdaya, there was a king named Raṇadhīra.
तत्र वैश्योऽवसद्धर्मी नाम्ना धर्मध्वजो धनी
There, a virtuous and wealthy merchant lived, whose name was Dharmadhvaja.
एकदा नगरे तस्मिन्यातुभक्तो नरोऽभवत्
Once, in that city, there appeared a man who was devoted to eating flesh.
वाशरो नाम तत्रासीद्राक्षसः पुरुषादनः
There was a rākṣasa named Vāśara, a devourer of men.
प्रसन्नो राक्षसो भूत्वा यातुभक्तं तमब्रवीत्
The rākṣasa, having become pleased, spoke to that flesh-eater.
स होवाच वरो मह्यं देयस्ते पुरुषादक
He said, 'Grant me a boon, O devourer of men.'
इति श्रुत्वाकरोद्गर्तं नर बुद्धिविमोहनम्
Hearing this, the man made a pit that would bewilder the mind.
तेन रात्रौ तु चौर्येण नृपदासी वरांगना
By means of theft at night, a royal maidservant, a beautiful woman, was obtained.
सप्तपत्न्योऽभवंस्तस्य चतुर्वर्णस्य योषितः
He had seven wives, women from the four castes.
नृपदुर्गसमं गेहं रचितं तेन रक्षसा 3.2.13.
A house like a royal fortress was constructed by that rākṣasa.
चोरितं बहुधा द्रव्यं गर्ते संस्थापितं बलात्
Much stolen wealth was forcibly placed in the pit.
त्यजाम नगरीं भूप चौरविघ्नकरीं तव स्थापिता नगरे तस्मिश्चौरहिंसापराय णाः
O king, let us abandon this city of yours, which is troubled by thieves; in that city, those devoted to violence and theft have been established.
आज्ञाप्य स ययौ गेहं तैस्तु श्रुत्वा तथा कृतम्
Having given the order, he went to the house, and they, having heard what was done, acted accordingly.
राक्षस्या मायया सर्वे मोहिता रक्षिणस्तदा
Then, by the rākṣasa's magic, all the guards were deluded.
पुनस्ते प्रययुर्भूपं रणधीरं समेरयन्
Again, they went to King Raṇadhīra and informed him.
अर्धरात्रे तमोभूते स चौरो नृपमागतम्
At midnight, when darkness had fallen, that thief came to the king.
नृपोऽब्रवीदहं चौरश्चोदितार्थः समागतः
The king said, 'I am the king, and you, the thief, have come as summoned.'
मया सार्द्धं च बहुधा द्रव्यं हर सुखी भव
Take much wealth with me and be happy.
गर्तमध्ये गतो रात्रौ स्थापयित्वा नृपं बहिः
Having gone into the pit at night, he left the king outside.
भूपतिं प्राह भो राजन्गच्छ शीघ्रं स्वकं गृहम् 3.2.13.
He said to the king, 'O king, go quickly to your own house.'