King Vikramaditya, as usual, reached the tree. He pulled down the corpse and put it on his shoulder. Baital said, “The crematory is very far. I will tell you a new story to pass the time.” So, he started telling a story as follows:
In the Chedi Desh lived a Brahmin named Dharam Datta. Since he was very ugly-looking, no girl wished to marry him. So, he was very frustrated. One day, Dharam Datta was invited to perform a marriage ceremony. Though he had performed many ceremonies yet he was attracted to the bride-to-be.
So, he thought of an evil plan to get her. After the marriage ceremony, he told the girl’s parents that their daughter was under the influence of a curse. It had to be removed to save her marriage. He told them that she would have to stay with him for one night to perform pooja and other rituals. The parents immediately agreed. But Dharam Datta, pretending that it was part of the ceremony, misbehaved with her. Thinking that it was a part of the ceremony, the girl did not say anything.
The next day, the girl went to her in-laws’ house. After a while, she gave birth to a baby. The baby looked like Dharam Datta, the Brahmin. He had the same ugly face and the same dark complexion.
The girl’s husband was very shocked to see this. Then the girl told him everything. Her husband could not with stand the truth and told her to leave his house. The girl went to the King’s court to claim justice.
Here Baital asked King Vikramaditya, “What would have been the King’s decision in this case? Why did the girl not raise her voice for help that night? Why did she reveal all only when her husband asked her? Whose fault was it—Brahmin Dharam Datta’s or the girl’s parents? Answer my questions, or else, I will break your head into pieces.” King Vikramaditya thought for a while and then he said, “Well, the girl is not at fault at all. She must have been innocent and thought that whatever was being done was a part of the marriage ritual. Hence, she did not tell anyone.”
“Then, who was guilty? Was it Dharam Datta?” asked Baital. King Vikramaditya replied, “No. The girl’s parents were guilty. They handed her over to the Dharam Datta for the whole night without thinking of the consequences. They must be punished.”
Baital said, “You are right, Vikram but the king punished Dharam Datta and he was hanged. And you have broken your promise of silence again. So, I have to leave you again.” Before King Vikramaditya could respond, Baital escaped out of his grip and flew straight to his peepal tree.
