For many years, a Chandala—a person considered an outcaste—sang songs in devotion. One twelfth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Kaumuda, while he remained awake, he was suddenly seized by a Brahma-rakshasa, a fearsome spirit. The Chandala was tormented by pain and sorrow, unable to move under the grip of this being. In distress, he cried out, “What have you done to me, that you run about in this way?” The flesh-eating rakshasa, greedy for human food, replied, “By the Creator’s ordinance, you are my food at the time of breaking the fast. I shall attain supreme satisfaction, allotted to me by the Creator.” Despite his predicament, the Chandala sought to please the rakshasa and stood firm in his devotion to Vishnu. He accepted his fate, saying, “This must certainly be done, as it has been given to you by the Creator.” At dawn, he went to worship Hari, performing the prescribed rites, and undertook a vow for the sake of pleasing Vishnu. Hearing the words of the outcaste, the Brahma-rakshasa, afflicted by hunger, asked with his mouth agape, “Do you wish to return again?” The Chandala, acknowledging his own status and past deeds, declared, “Hear my pledge, O Rakshasa, by which I have come back. By truth I shall return again; if you believe, then release me.” He spoke further, “By truth, the sages devoted to Brahman have attained success. By truth, kings and women prevail; these have not spoken falsehood. By truth the sun shines; by truth the moon delights. If I do not return again, I shall attain the fate of those who have not bathed. I shall reach that fate, if I do not return again. I shall reach that fate, if I do not return again. I shall attain their fate, if I do not return again.” Moved by his words, the rakshasa spoke sweetly, “Go quickly, salutations to you.” He trusted that the Chandala would return and sing again in devotion. The outcaste turned around, saying, “Salutations to Narayana,” and the rakshasa spoke kindly to him, recognizing his determination. Knowing the rakshasa was a corpse-eater, the Chandala was advised, “You should not die here.” But he reminded, “My agreement was made earlier, to be eaten by the rakshasa.” Then, the lotus-eyed Lord spoke to the outcaste, “Do not go there, Chandala, where that sinful rakshasa is.” Yet, hearing these words, the Chandala, firm in his vow, replied, “I will not act as you speak to me. All the world is rooted in truth; the lineage is established in truth. Nor will I ever abandon it and become untruthful.” Thus, he remained steadfast in his vow of truth. He returned to the rakshasa and said, “I have arrived, O illustrious one; do not delay, eat. Eat these limbs of mine as you wish. Satisfy yourself; do what is truly beneficial for me.