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of his innocence. But the docileness on his face itself shows that he is innocent. So he pondered for some moments and then said to the king
:
'Your Highness! Let us punish him in such a way that he may reap the fruits of his action and you may not have to repent afterwards.'
The king could not grasp it. So, he asked :
'Minister I also do not wish that he may meet with injustice at my hands. You tell clearly how he must be punished.'
Minister said :
'Call for one black cobra. Tell this man to hold that cobra. If the cobra bites him, he will soon die. If lhe cobra does not bite him take it for granted that the man is innocent. Order the snake-charmer that the cobra should be deadly poisonous. શ્રેણી ૪ ક્રૂ. ૯