words were uttered by the high-souled Rakshasa king (on the occasion of that particular feast), those bulls among Brahmanas took as much wealth as each desired.  Worshipped with those costly jewels and gems, those best of Brahmanas, attired in excellent robes, became filled with delight.  Once more, the Rakshasa king, having restrained the Rakshasas that had come to his palace from diverse lands, addressed those Brahmanas and said, ’This one day, ye regenerate ones, ye need have no fear from the Rakshasas here.  Sport ye as ye wish, and then go away with speed.’  The Brahmanas then, leaving that spot, went away in all directions with great speed.  Gautama also, having taken up a heavy quantity of gold without any loss of time, went away.  Carrying the burthen with difficulty, he reached that same banian (under which he had met the crane).  He sat himself down, fatigued, toil worn, and hungry.  While Gautama was resting there, that best of birds viz., Rajadharman, O king, came there.  Devoted to friends, he gladdened Gautama by bidding him welcome.  By flapping his wings he began to fan his guest and dispel his fatigue.  Possessed of great intelligence, he worshipped Gautama, and made arrangements for his food.  Having eaten and refreshed himself, Gautama began to think, ’Heavy is this load that I have taken of bright gold, moved by covetousness and folly.  I have a long way to travel.  I have no food by which to support life on my way.  What should I do for supporting life?’ Even these were his thoughts then.  It so happened that even upon much thinking he failed to see any food which he could eat on the way.  Ungrateful as he was, O tiger among men, even this was the thought that he then conceived, ’This prince of cranes, so large and containing a heap of flesh, stayeth by my side.  Staying and bagging him, I shall leave this spot and go along with great speed.’”

SECTION CLXXII

“Bhishma said, ’There, under that banian, for the protection of his guest, the prince of birds had kindled and kept up a fire with high and blazing flames.[496] On one side of the fire, the bird slept trustfully.  The ungrateful and wicked-souled wretch prepared to slay his sleeping host.  With the aid of that blazing fire he killed the trustful bird, and having despatched him, became filled with delight, never thinking there was sin in what he did.  Peeling off the feathers and the down, he roasted the flesh on that fire.  Then taking it up with the gold he had brought, the Brahmana Red quickly from that spot.  The next day, the Rakshasa king, Virupaksha, addressing his son, said, ’Alas, O son, I do not behold Rajadharman, that best of birds, today.  Every morning he repairs to the regions of Brahman for adoring the Grandsire.  While returning, he never goes home without paying me a visit.  These two mornings and two nights have passed away without his having come to my abode.  My mind, therefore, is not in peace.  Let my friend be