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The Monk came close to him and stood staring at him.  His facial expression scared him. The snake hanging upside down by the tail in his hand was even more hideous and terrifying.

   It was a five-foot-long cobra.  But, it was dead! Its body was bleeding. 
Paranjothi got up and said, "Swami! What is this? Why are you holding a dead snake in your hand? Throw it away!"

"Boy!  Why do you sleep alone in the forest like this?  By now this snake would have attacked you. Thank goodness I came and killed this, you have survived?", Buddhist Monk threw the dead snake away.

 Paranjothi hid the smile on his face and said, "Really, Swami? I am the only child of my mother. My mother will be very grateful to you for saving me." 

Then he took the bundle and the spear and stood up and said, "What is your name, Swami? If I ever happen to tell my mother about yourself?..."  the Bhikshu interrupted and said, "Naganandhi;  "Where are you going, Boy?" he asked. 

"I am going to Kanchi," Paranjothi said,

 "I going there too! I have got a travel companion, come on, let's go!" said Naganandhi.

 Paranjothi, who was lying on a mat in the prison thought 'Naganandhi (Nagam means cobra in Tamil) is such a fitting name for that Buddha Bhikshu!  Just looking at his face reminds me of a cobra!’

Naganandhi might have predicted the future with wisdom, or he had said it blindly. The first part of his prophecy had been fulfilled. It is true that I am now in trouble. He said ‘it will go away!’ Will that happen?  Yes, it should.

 Actually, Paranjodi was not much worried about his situation.  He firmly believed that he had been imprisoned due to some mistake and that when the truth was known, he would be set free. 
So, I better sleep well tonight.  But why I couldn't sleep?  Oh!  This is because of hunger.  I didn’t eat anything tonight, did I?  Hunger pinches the stomach!  That's why I can't sleep.  Good city Kanchi!  What can be said about this city that kills guests by letting them starve who have made a long pilgrimage!  Wasn't that Digambara Jain sage opposed when I approached the city of Kanchi?  It seems that tonight I am starving because I faced that starved man...!

To be continued....