CUTTING THE KNOT 453
to expiate in a hundred regenerations. I am therefore going on a pilgrimage to Kasi( Benares), and on reaching
the holy city I mean to wash myself in the sacred waters of the Ganges, in order that I may purify myself from the innumerable sins which her wickedness has caused me to commit. I have furthermore made up my mind to live henceforth by alms in a foreign country, and apart from her.'
While they were all four shouting thus at the top of their voices, without being able to understand each other, the rider perceived at a distance some people rapidly approaching them. Fearing lest they might be the owners of the horse which he had taken, he immediately dismounted and took to his heels.
The shepherd, finding suddenly that it was getting late, hastened back to his flock, which had strayed away some
distance, uttering curses as he trudged along against all
arbitrators, and complaining loudly that there was no more justice on the earth. Finally he attributed all the troubles and disappointments he had experienced that day to the fact that a snake had crossed his path * in the morning.
The taliari turned to his load of grass; and finding the
lame sheep there, took it up on his shoulders and carried it away home, to punish the shepherd, as he thought, for
the unjust quarrel he had fastened on him.
As for the aged Brahmin, he continued his way till he reached a neighbouring choultry, where he stopped to spend the night. Quiet rest and sound sleep dispelled the feelings of anger and ill-humour which he had cherished against
his wife, and the next morning several Brahmins, relatives and friends of his, came in search of him, and having found
him, succeeded at last in soothing his temper and persuading him to return home, promising to use their best endeavours to render his wife more obedient and less quarrelsome in future.
The Four Foolish Brahmins.
In a certain district proclamation had been made of a samaradhanam, one of those grand feasts given to Brah-
1
This, as I have already pointed out, is one of the most evil omens. Dubois.