lady, to see thy excellent lord. This
is my high object. This is the one object of my desire. It is for this
reason that I have come today to the residence of the Naga, thy husband.'

"'"The wife of the Naga said, 'Reverend sir, my husband has gone to drag
the car of Surya for a month. O learned Brahmana, he will be back in
fifteen days, and will, without doubt show himself unto thee. I have thus
told thee the reason of my husband's absence from home. Be that as it
may, what else is there that I can do for thee? Tell me this!'

"'"The Brahmana said, 'O chaste lady, I have come hither with the object of
seeing thy husband. O reverend dame, I shall dwell in the adjacent
forest, waiting for his return. When thy husband comes back, do kindly
tell him that I have arrived at this place impelled by the desire of
seeing him. Thou shouldst also inform me of his return when that event
occurs. O blessed lady, I shall, till then, reside on the banks of the
Gomati, waiting for his return and living all the while upon frugal fare.'
Having said this repeatedly unto the wife of the Naga, that foremost of
Brahmanas proceeded to the banks of the Gomati for residing there till
the time of the Naga's return."'"

SECTION CCCLVIII

"'Bhishma continued, "The Nagas of that city became exceedingly distressed
when they saw that that Brahmana, devoted to the practice of penances,
continued to reside in the forest, entirely abstaining all the while from
food, in expectation of the arrival of the Naga chief. All the kinsmen
and relatives of the great Naga, including his brother and children and
wife, assembling together, repaired to the spot where the Brahmana was
staying. Arrived on the banks of the Gomati, they beheld that regenerate
person seated in a secluded spot, abstaining from food of every kind,
observant the while of excellent vows, and engaged in silently reciting
certain Mantras. Approaching the presence of the Brahmana and offering
him due worship, the kinsmen and relatives of the great Naga said unto
him these words fraught with candour:--'O Brahmana, endued with wealth of
asceticism, this is the sixth day of thy arrival here, but thou sayest no
word about thy food. O regenerate one, thou art devoted to righteousness.
Thou hast come to us. We two are here in attendance upon thee. It is
absolutely necessary that we should do the duties of hospitality to thee.
We are all relations of the Naga chief with whom thou hast business.
R