Baal Kaanda
33 - The story of king Pratapabhanu
Chaupais
Description
The priest cooked four kinds of foods with six different tastes as mentioned in the Vedas. He prepared an illusory banquet and a variety of seasoned dishes more than one could count. Dressing the flesh of a variety of animals the wretch mixed with it the cooked flesh of Brahmanas. All the invited Brahmanas were then called for the dinner. Their feet were duly washed and they were respectfully shown to their places.The moment the king began to serve the food, a (fictitious) voice from heaven (raised by the demon Kalaketu himself) said, "Up, up, Brahmanas! and return to your homes. Taste not this food; it is most harmful. The dishes include the flesh of the Brahmanas."Up rose all the Brahmanas believing the ethereal voice. The king lost his nerve; his mind was bewildered with infatuation. As fate would have it, he could not utter a word.