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Chapter Twenty-Four:
Soudas, the son of the king, was a great lover of meat. He obtained permission from his father to eat peacock meat. [13] Every day, the cook prepared peacock meat for him, and he would eat it in secret within the palace. [14] One day, a cat stole the prepared meat, and the cook went out of the city to search for it. There, he saw a dead child and brought it back, preparing it well and giving it to Soudas. Soudas ate the meat with great pleasure and politely asked the cook whose meat it was. [15-16] The cook replied, "O noble one, I have eaten many meats before, but none of them even come close to the taste of this one." [17] "Tell me the truth, good man! You have nothing to fear from me." Thus urged, the cook, guided by his conscience, revealed his actions to Soudas. [18] Hearing this, Soudas praised the cook and said, "I am very pleased with you. Bring me human meat every day." [19]
After his father's death, Soudas ascended the throne, and the cook, using a cunning plan, began killing children every day. [20] Seeing the loss of one child every day, the people of the city were alarmed. They investigated and discovered that Soudas was a child-eater. They quickly expelled him from the country. [21] Now, he lurks like a tiger, snatching humans at night and spending his days in the forest. What can a man consumed by vice not do? [22] O Kumar! This is the same Soudas who terrified the people. He was invincible to us, but you, possessing extraordinary power, have sent him to Yama's abode today. [23]
Thus, the elders of the city, having recounted Soudas's evil deeds, honored Vasudeva with clothes, garlands, and ornaments. [24] Then, leaving that place, Kumar Vasudeva obtained the daughter of the merchant of Achalgram, named Vanamala, and married her. From there, he went to Vedasampur with Vanamala. [25]