But a little while later, he began to perspire badly and his body started to stiffen. He immediately understood that he had consumed poison. He ran to Vasudev’s house. But it was too late. He started shouting, “You have poisoned me! You have poisoned me!” Then he fell down dead right at the entrance of Vasudev’s house. Vasudev’s was highly perplexed. He did not know what to do. He got angry at his wife saying, “You have murdered a Brahmin. Why did you mix poison in the Kheer?” But his wife was innocent. She felt deeply hurt at the false allegations. She got utterly frustrated and committed suicide by jumping into a well.” Baital stopped here and asked King Vikramaditya, “Tell me who is to be blamed for the death of Vasudev’s wife. Was it Vasudev? Or was it Bhadraavat? What is your opinion?” King Vikramaditya began to think. Then he said, “None of them is to be held guilty.”
The Innocent Wife
