With great determination in his heart, the outcaste declared, “If I do not return again, I shall share the fate of those who have not bathed. Truly, if I do not return, I shall reach that fate. Again, I say, if I do not return, I shall meet that fate. I shall attain their destiny if I do not come back.” His words were resolute, echoing his commitment. The one he addressed spoke to him with gentle kindness, saying, “Go quickly, salutations to you.” He assured, “He will sing again for me, established in devotion.” With reverence, the outcaste turned around, uttering, “Salutations to Nārāyaṇa.” Sweet words were spoken to the steadfast cāṇḍāla, and, knowing him to be a corpse-eater, he said, “You should not die here.” Yet the outcaste replied, “My agreement was made earlier—to be eaten by the rākṣasa.” Then, the lotus-eyed one addressed the outcaste, “Do not go there, cāṇḍāla, where that sinful rākṣasa dwells.” Hearing these words, the outcaste, unwavering in his vow, responded, “I will not act as you advise me. All the world is rooted in truth; the lineage is established in truth. Nor will I ever abandon it and become untruthful.” Thus, the outcaste remained steadfast in his vow of truth. Presenting himself before the rākṣasa, the outcaste announced, “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.” The rākṣasa then spoke sweet words to the outcaste, who, though ignorant of proper conduct, was firm in his resolve. The rākṣasa also addressed the Brahma-rakshasa with gentle words, saying, “Still, truth must always be spoken, O Brahma-rakshasa.” To the outcaste, steadfast in his vow, the rākṣasa said, “Grant me the fruit of my singing, if you desire your own life.” Hearing this, the outcaste replied, “Having said, ‘I will eat,’ what reward of singing do you desire from me?” The rākṣasa answered, “Give me just one supreme merit from the singing.” Upon hearing these words, the outcaste—eager for song—responded, “I do not grant you the fruit of singing that you desire, O Brahma-rakshasa.” Hearing the outcaste’s words, the rākṣasa spoke again, “By this, I have been delivered—by the fruit of your singing.” Filled with wonder, the outcaste replied with sweet words. The rākṣasa then revealed his story: “By the fault of my actions, I attained the state of a rākṣasa. Having fallen from the thread-mantra, yet established in sacrificial rites, once, while the sacrifice was underway, by the influence of fate, then, on the fifth night, while the rite was still incomplete, because of that wicked deed, I attained the state of a rākṣasa. There, lacking the proper thread, I performed the ancestral rites.” Thus, the tale unfolds—a testament to truth, devotion, and the mysterious workings of karma.