In the meanwhile, the old merchant, Jayashri’s father, ran off, and laid a complaint before the kotwal, and the footmen of the police magistrate were immediately sent to apprehend the husband, and to carry him bound before the judge. The latter, after due examination, laid the affair before the king. An example happening to be necessary at the time, the king resolved to punish the offence with severity, and he summoned the husband and wife to the court.
When the merchant’s daughter was asked to give an account of what had happened, she pointed out the state of her nose, and said, ‘Maharaj! why enquire of me concerning what is so manifest?’ The king then turned to the husband, and bade him state his defence. He said, ‘I know nothing of it,’ and in the face of the strongest evidence he persisted in denying his guilt.
Thereupon the king, who had vainly threatened to cut off Shridat’s right hand, infuriated by his refusing to confess and to beg for mercy, exclaimed, ‘How must I punish such a wretch as thou art?’ The unfortunate man answered, ‘Whatever your majesty may consider just, that be pleased to do.’ Thereupon the king cried, ‘Away with him, and impale him;’ and the people, hearing the command, prepared to obey it.
Before Shridat had left the court, the footpad, who had been looking on, and who saw that an innocent man was about to be unjustly punished, raised a cry for justice, and, pushing through the crowd, resolved to make himself heard. He thus addressed the throne: ‘Great king, the cherishing of the good, and the punishment of the bad, is the invariable duty of kings.’ The ruler having caused him to approach, asked him who he was, and he replied boldly, ‘Maharaj! I am a thief, and this man is innocent, and his blood is about to be shed unjustly. Your majesty has not done what is right in this affair.’ Thereupon the king charged him to tell the truth according to his religion; and the thief related explicitly the whole circumstances, omitting, of course, the murder.
‘Go ye,’ said the king to his messengers, ‘and look in the mouth of the woman’s lover who has fallen dead. If the nose be there found, then has this thief-witness told the truth, and the husband is a guiltless man.’