oots or fruits, leaves, or water, or rice or meat, O best of Brahmanas,
it behoveth thee to take for thy food. In consequence of thy dwelling in
this forest under such circumstances of total abstention from food, the
whole community of Nagas, young and old, is being afflicted, since this
thy fast implies negligence on our part to discharge the duties of
hospitality. We have none amongst us that has been guilty of
Brahmanicide. None of us has ever lost a son immediately after birth. No
one has been born in our race that has eaten before serving the deities
or guests or relatives arrived at his residence.'

"'"The Brahmana said, 'In consequence of these solicitations of you all, I
may be regarded to have broken my fast. Eight days are wanting for the
day to come when the chief of the Nagas will return.[1932] If, on the
expiry of the eighth night hence, the chief of the Nagas does not come
back, I shall then break this fast by eating. Indeed, this vow of
abstaining from all food that I am observing is in consequence of my
regard for the Naga chief. You should not grieve for what I am doing. Do
you all return to whence you came. This my vow is on his account. You
should not do anything in consequence of which this my vow may be
broken.'--The assembled Nagas, thus addressed by the Brahmana, were
dismissed by him, whereupon, O foremost of men, they returned to their
respective residences."'"

SECTION CCCLIX

"'Bhishma said, "Upon the expiry of the period of full fifteen days, the
Naga chief (Padmanabha), having finished his task of dragging the car of
Surya and obtained the latter's permission, came back to his own house.
Beholding him come back, his spouse approached him quickly for washing
his feet and dutifully discharging other tasks of a similar nature.
Having gone through these tasks, she took her seat by his side. The Naga
then, refreshed from fatigue, addressed his dutiful and chaste wife,
saying, 'I hope, my dear wife, that during my absence thou hast not been
unmindful of worshipping the deities and guests agreeably to the
instructions I gave thee, and according to the ordinances laid down in
the scriptures. I hope, without yielding to that uncleansed understanding
which is natural to persons of thy sex, thou hast, during my absence from
home, been firm in the observance of the duties of hospitality. I trust
that thou hast not transcended the barriers of duty and righteousness.'

"'"The wife of the Naga said,