Abandon this vice of hunting, this sport of Death. For slayer and
slain are equally deceived. Why spend your time in such an evil
pursuit?"

The sensible king was pleased and said: "Holy sir, I am instructed.
And great is my gratitude for this instruction. From now on I hunt
no more. Let the wild animals live without fear."

Then the hermit said: "I am pleased with your protection of the
animals. Choose any boon you will."

Then the quick-witted king said: "Holy sir, if you are kindly
disposed, give me your daughter Lotus-bloom."

So the hermit gave him his daughter, the child of the nymph, who
then came up after her bath. So they were married, and the king
wore cheerful garments, and Lotus-bloom was adorned by the
hermits' wives. And the weeping hermits accompanied them in
procession to the edge of the hermitage. Then the king took his
wife Lotus-bloom, mounted his horse, and started for his city.

At last the sun, seeing the king tired with his long journeying, sank
wearily behind the western mountain. And fawn-eyed
night appeared, clad in the garment of darkness, like a woman
going to meet her lover. And the king saw an ashvattha tree on the
shore of a pond in a spot covered with grass and twigs, and he
decided to spend the night there.

So he dismounted, fed and watered his horse, brought water from
the pond, and rested with his beloved. And they passed the night