When Manuniti had concluded his story of the wonderful mango-fruit,
king Alakesa ordered his four ministers to approach the throne,
and then, with an angry countenance he thus addressed Bodhaditya:--
"What excuse have you for entering my bedchamber without permission,
thus violating the rules of the harem?"
Bodhaditya humbly begged leave to relate to his majesty a story of
how a Brahman fed a hungry traveller and had afterwards to endure the
infamy of having caused that traveller's death, and on king Alakesa
signifying his consent, he thus began:--