was black as a raven and his eyes were of a bloody hue. He
looked like Yama himself. His legs were long, his feet short, his mouth
large, and his cheeks protruding. He had no friend, no relative, no
kinsman. He had been cast off by them all for the exceedingly cruel life
he led. Indeed, a man of wicked conduct should be renounced from a
distance by the wise, for he who injures his own self cannot be expected
to do good to others. Those cruel and wicked-souled men that take the
lives of other creatures are always like poisonous snakes, a source of
trouble to all creatures. Taking his nets with him, and killing birds in
the woods, he used to sell the meat of those winged creatures, O king
(for livelihood). Following such conduct, the wicked-souled wretch lived
for many long years without ever understanding the sinfulness of his
life. Accustomed for many long years to sport with his wife in the forest
in the pursuit of this profession, and stupefied by destiny, no other
profession was liked by him. One day as he was wandering through the
forest intent on his business, a great storm arose that shook the trees
and seemed about to uproot them. In a moment dense clouds appeared on the
sky, with flashes of lightning playing amidst them, presenting the aspect
of a sea covered with merchants' boats and vessels. He of a hundred
sacrifices having entered the clouds with a large supply of rain, in a
moment the earth became flooded with water. While yet the rain fell to
torrents, the fowler lost his senses through fear. Trembling with cold
and agitated with fear, he roved through the forest. The killer of birds
failed to find any high spot (which was not under water). The paths of
the forest were all submerged. Inconsequence of the force of the shower,
many birds were deprived of life or dropped down on the ground. Lions and
bears and other animals, availing themselves of some high spots they had
found, lay down to rest. All the denizens of the forest were filled with
fear in consequence of that frightful storm and shower. Frightened and
hungry they roamed through the woods in packs, small and large. The
fowler, however, with limbs stiffened by cold, could neither stop where
he was nor move. While in this state he eyed a she-pigeon lying on the
ground, stiffened with cold. The sinful wight, though himself in the same
predicament, beholding the bird, picked her up and immured her in a cage.
Himself overwhelmed with affliction, he scruple