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the village of Charmakûṭa lived a Brâhman called Śrîdhara. In the same place there was a cobbler who had made a pair of shoes for Śrîdhara, and though he was always asking him to pay for the shoes, he never could get the money: all that Śrîdhara said was, "Some day or other you shall be satisfied!" So time went by, and at last the cobbler seized hold of the Brâhman and demanded payment. This was very awkward for the Brâhman, for he had no money whatever. So being a man of expedients he said: "My worthy cobbler! I told you that you should be satisfied before long. Now a son has been born to the lord of the village: are you satisfied or not?" The cobbler was in a dilemma, for he knew that if he said "No!" he would fall under the lord's displeasure; if "Yes!" he would lose the money owing to him. So of the two evils he chose the least, and let the Brâhman off without paying.

was a king called Vikramârka, and his wife's name was Chandralekhâ. She took a violent fancy