Note 15 — Chapter CXXIII

When Keśaṭa heard this, he said, “Agreed,” and so the old Bráhman took Keśaṭa with him, and they crossed the Narmadá in boats and landed on the opposite bank. And so he reached the city, and rested outside it with his followers, and at that time the sun also, the traveller of the sky, went to his rest on the mountain of setting. Then the darkness began to diffuse itself abroad, and Keśaṭa, having gone to rinse his mouth, saw a terrible Rákshasa rise up near the water; and the Rákshasa said, “Where will you go from me,15 Keśaṭa? I am about to devour you.” Thereupon Keśaṭa said to the Rákshasa, “Do not devour me now; I will certainly come back to you presently, when I have done the Bráhman the service I promised.” When the Rákshasa heard this, he made Keśaṭa take an oath to this effect, and then let him go; and he returned to the company of the bridegroom’s friends.