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Story of the Poisoned Food.

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first of them was the arrows despatched by the kingof Vijayanagara as sweetmeats to our Sovereign;the second was the poisoned rice, and the third theserpent. In trying to avert these calamities, I havecommitted the offence of entering the harem."

And he thereupon explained the whole affair fromfirst to last.

King Alakesa and the whole assembly were highlydelighted at the fidelity and devotion of Bodhaditya;for it was now very evident that he had done nothingamiss, but had saved the life of the king on threeoccasions, and indeed also the life of the queen bywiping off the serpent's poison which had fallen onher bosom. Then Alakesa related the followingstory in explanation of the proverb:-

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