The hermit, seeing Baital lying at his feet, became ecstatic. He said, “King Vikramaditya, you have done a splendid work. I bless you with a long rule.” Then the hermit chopped Baital’s body into pieces. He threw the pieces into the sacrificial fire. After that, he turned to King Vikramaditya and said, “Vikram, now you also bow before this sacrificial fire to please the gods so that they may bless you with a boon to rule over the world.” Vikram, hearing these words, recalled suddenly to mind all that Baital had told him. He replied with the greatest humility, “O pious person! I am a king ignorant of the way to do such obeisance. You are a spiritual being. Please teach me and I will do as you wish.”
The Hermit
