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KESAVA
him not to go but to give up the fast and live bappily. Hansa was a weak personality. He submitted and sat down to dine.
After leaving his home, Kesava covered a long distance un foot He did not stop even when it was evening. At last, he reached a yaksa temple where pepole were assembled to offer worship The ritual was over and they were about to partake out of the offerings when Kesava stepped in. Everybody was happy to get an opportunity to entertain a guest after the worship They welcomed him and offered him some fruits and sweets and begged him to accept them. Kesava was in a fix. If he accepted the offer, he would break the vow, if he declined, he would deprive the worshippers of a chance of entertaining a guest. But he gathered courage and said,
"Friends. I am under a vow not to take anything at night, and whatever the difficulty of a situation, I cannot transgress- it. It is on this very issue that I have left my home. How can I give up my vow here ?"
People were irritated at these words.
“But, sir, you are our guest and to entertain a guest is a part of worship You should not deprive us of it Is it the object of your vow to disoblige us ? All our worship will be in vain if you do not accept our offer Besides, unless you take food, none else can take it, which means that you compel all of us to go without food Religion does not permit you to give pain to others. In the interest of religion and greater good, therefore, you take food with
us's
But Kesava did not waver. When arguments and counterarguments had reached a high pitch, and they could not agree, just then a giant emerged out of the idol who advanced towards Kesava with blood-shot eyes and said,
"Kesava! How haughty you must be. My devotees are all on fast and you make pretext of your vow. Come and take food Otherwise, I shall wipe you out of existence with my mace.”
