And Takshaka,
addressing them, said, 'Go ye all to the king, on the pretext of pressing
business, without any sign of impatience, as if to make the monarch only
accept the fruits and flowers and water (that ye shall carry as presents
unto him).'
"Sauti continued, 'Those snakes, thus commanded by Takshaka, acted
accordingly. And they took to the king, Kusa grass and water, and fruits.
And that foremost of kings, of great prowess, accepted those offerings.
And after their business was finished, he said upto them, 'Retire.' Then
after those snakes disguised as ascetics had gone away, the king addressed
his ministers and friends, saying, 'Eat ye, with me, all these fruits of
excellent taste brought by the ascetics.' Impelled by Fate and the words
of the Rishi, the king, with his ministers, felt the desire of eating
those fruits. The particular fruit, within which Takshaka had entered, was
taken by the king himself for eating. And when he was eating it, there
appeared, O Saunaka, an ugly insect out of it, of shape scarcely
discernible, of eyes black, and of coppery colour. And that foremost of
kings, taking that insect, addressed his councillors, saying, 'The sun is
setting; today I have no more fear from poison. Therefore, let this insect
become Takshaka and bite me, so that my sinful act may be expiated and the
words of the ascetic rendered true.' And those councillors also, impelled
by Fate, approved of that speech. And then the monarch smiled, losing his
senses, his hour having come.
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