The rakshasa, a fearsome night-wanderer, had already devoured the flesh and drunk the blood of the travelers. Gazing upon the sick man before him, he wondered aloud, “Where will this sick man go, who is before me?” Resolving to consume him as well, the rakshasa decided, “I will eat him, and afterwards I will drink water.” With this grim determination, he made his way to the riverbank, carrying his water-pot. As the foremost among night-wanderers, he threw the water into his mouth. The moment he swallowed it, something extraordinary happened: the memory of his former birth suddenly arose within him. Born from the act of killing, he now turned away from harming the deer. The sin he had committed in his previous life also resurfaced in his mind. He remembered the deed by which, although born a brāhmaṇa, he had become a rakshasa. Recalling this sin, he quickly approached the deer, and with his knowledge restored, the rakshasa spoke to my father. He said, “O tiger among men, who are you, and who are these people whom I, a vile rakshasa of terrible form, have devoured? Of which sacred ford is this water, by whose power even I, a sinner, have regained the memory of my former birth?” The Vaiśya replied, “I am a Vaiśya, O best of rakshasas; my home is in Kānyakubja. Traveling among holy places, I have now arrived at Indraprastha. There, I became afflicted by fever, due to fate. Then the thought arose in me to return home by an improper path. There, a certain traveler arrived, tormented by the rains. I requested him, ‘Bring a palanquin and take me home.’ That traveler quickly brought a palanquin. He, steadfast, set me upon it and set out toward my house; that traveler and the palanquin-bearers have now been devoured by you.” He continued, “Listen, I will tell you of which sacred ford this water is. In Indra’s Khāṇḍava forest, there is the excellent river Yamunā. On its bank is Hariprastha, the most excellent of holy places; there is the sacred ford of the teacher of the gods, which accomplishes all aims. By drinking that water, your memory arose, awakening the Vedas. All this I have told you, as you asked me here. Now I ask you something—tell me quickly, O night-wanderer: do you now remember the deeds done in your former birth? Tell me, what sin did you commit that you were born as a rakshasa?” The rakshasa replied, “Formerly I was a brāhmaṇa, born in a virtuous family of Veda-knowers; but I was of evil conduct and unrighteous—listen, I will tell you everything. I always played at dice with those skilled in it; much wealth of my own and even my father’s was lost by me. My father reported my deeds to the king through those people; I was expelled from the city, penniless, and went to the outskirts of the village. There I had a friend named Devaka, an excellent brāhmaṇa; he protected me in his house, showing me great kindness for a long time. Living there happily, I, overcome by desire, violated his beautiful wife by force when my friend was away. That virtuous woman died instantly after consuming deadly poison; seeing her in the darkness at midnight, I fled. As I was fleeing in haste, I was seized by the king’s servants; thinking me a thief, they struck off my head with a sword. When I died, the servants of Yama placed me in a body of torment; by Yama’s command, they cast me into the dreadful hell called Raurava. There, for six thousand years, I endured intense suffering; because of that very sin, I was born as a rakshasa. A hundred years have now passed in this rakshasa state, O lord of men; I will tell you the means by which I might obtain liberation from this.” “O virtuous one, I will tell you with respect the meritorious act by which the water of this supreme pilgrimage has entered my mouth. In that very birth, on a day sacred to Hari, I performed a vow; through association, though unwillingly, I kept vigil at night with a merchant. Then, on the twelfth day, after bathing, I was preparing to eat; at my house, a certain Vaishnava arrived, bearing the form of Vishnu. Angered upon seeing him, I spoke harsh words before him: ‘Where are you going, you wicked, hypocritical man, among the women?’ Thus addressed by me, that steadfast one, equal in honor and dishonor, silently left my house and departed. Then my devoted wife, approaching him, fell at his feet and brought that holy man into our home. Though I had insulted him, that great soul felt no anger; because of her reverence, he was as joyful as if among friends. She worshipped him properly, seated him on a seat, and said: ‘O lord of life, who conquers the three worlds, partake of this food.’ Thus addressed by that virtuous woman, I humbly spoke to that great soul, my face downcast, while hers was bright: ‘Arise, relieve your hunger.’ Having said this, that slender-waisted woman herself washed his feet, seated him again on the best seat. I gave him a vessel filled with food, to that wise one; and, urged repeatedly by her, I offered him water. Having eaten, that righteous soul, undisturbed and at ease, departed, chanting ‘Hare Rama, Hare Krishna.’” “This merit was accomplished by me, O merchant, not by my own doing but by that woman; by which, in this birth, I have obtained the water of the holy place.” Śivaśarman said: After Viṣṇuśarman spoke these words, he stood before the demon; and those travelers, your former bearers, spoke to you from the sky, now in divine bodies. They said, “O lord of men, O noble one, though we had met with untimely death, by your grace, after drinking this water, we have attained divinity.