Summary
The next section begins with Dasarchya feeling deliriously hungry, as he waits for a decision to be rendered. He tells his friend, Manjayya, he is embarrassed by the fighting between Garuda and Lakshmana over gold. He questions whether or not they are really Brahmins for any specific reason, or if they are merely being given valuable class status that is ultimately meaningless. He is then convinced to eat some food, much to the delight of his host, who is thrilled by his selfish behavior.
The people of the village notice vultures and take this as a bad omen. They order everyone to start banging gongs in order to scare the vultures away. Chandri hears the gongs in the distance and then feels guilty, thinking that she has caused all of this unrest. They continue to make as much noise as possible to ward off the vultures. The vultures finally leave at nightfall. Praneshacharya continues to wait for a sign from the gods about what decision to make.
Praneshacharya wanders into the grove where Chandri is eating plantains. Seeing his exhaustion and dismay, she pulls him close to her. Feeling Chandri's body pressed against his, Praneshacharya becomes drawn to her. He is overwhelmed by his feelings of desire. She takes off her clothes and draws him even closer, hugging him while he cries. While not depicted in the narration, it is made clear that they sleep together.
Praneshacharya wakes up at midnight, wracked with guilt over his actions. He tells Chandri that they both must confess what has happened right away. She is relieved as she was worried about him scolding her. Still, she feels sad, as she thinks she continually causes problems for others with her actions. They cross a stream together and head back to the village. Chandri is unsure of where she is supposed to go now, thinking about all the strife in the village and all of the potential criticism she faces. She goes to see Naranappa's body and is horrified by its stench and decay.
She then speaks with a worker from the village and tries to compel him to burn the body. He does not agree to do so. Finally, with no other options, she goes to the part of town where Muslims live and pays a local fish merchant to cremate Naranappa. He takes the body to the cremation ground and burns it. She collects her belongings from the house and leaves, crying as she walks along the road.
Meanwhile, Shripati and several other boys sit around after rehearsing for a play. They talk about how their Brahmin elders are all hypocrites who scold a kind and beautiful woman like Chandri. They also speak highly of Naranappa, and talk about cremating him themselves, not knowing it has already been done. Praneshacharya returns to the village and cares for his wife who appears to be in dire condition. He thinks about whether or not his obligation to her truly makes him holy, or if he has been performing virtue to better his own image in the village.
He steps outside briefly. The other Brahmins succeed in scaring off the vultures. They become antsy about the indecision and ask if they might ask a swami at another temple for an answer to this problem. Praneshacharya agrees, feeling relief that the weight is now off his shoulder to render a verdict. People feel momentarily at ease, as this seems to remove some pressure and make it easier for them to return to the rhythm of their daily lives.
Analysis
Class is a key theme in this middle section of the book as Dasacharya’s comments about Garuda and Lakshmana indicate his lack of faith in their culture. He expresses his belief that their Brahminism seems to be little more than a label applied each year, as no one seems to uphold the actual value of the faith itself. As if to illustrate his own point, he then disobeys the rules and eats food. His comments, made with seeming forethought, point to major structural issues in Brahmanism. As depicted in the book, it benefits a small minority exclusively, without any basis in merit.
Desire also plays an important role in this part of the book. Praneshacharya's decision to sleep with Chandri ultimately alters the course of his journey, as he feels as though he has lapsed in his beliefs and values. At the same time, this moment is described with sympathy, as Chandri provides him with a kind of human comfort that none of the Brahmins or sacred texts have thus far been able to. He is overcome with guilt, but the book seems to suggest that this encounter is far from a solely negative one. His instinct to confess having committed a wrong seems more rooted in shame and social norms than actual wrongdoing. Unlike Naranappa, he is not using or objectifying her, but is experiencing a moment of emotional connection. In all likelihood, the feeling he has for Chandri is more akin to love than lust.
Community is also a theme in these chapters. Chandri visits Naranappa’s body in the temple where it has been left. She notes, with horror, its stench and its attraction of a horde of vermin. In this way, his body functions as a kind of symbol for the unsubtle decline of the village itself, as its morals and sense of community seem entirely dead. His body effectively reflects this, as it is a gross, physical reminder of a communal obligation remaining unmet. Their inability to handle the matter suggests that there isn’t much hope.
Faith is another major theme in these pages, as various characters question how moral rightness aligns with traditional values. Chandri seeks out a pragmatic solution to the problem of Naranappa's body, eventually finding someone who will burn the body, even if the ritual is not carried out by another Brahmin. She ultimately disregards the rules in order to get his remains taken care of properly. Likewise, Shripati expresses his distaste for the older Brahmins, as their faith seems to mostly translate into cruelty towards kind people like Chandri. Finally, even Praneshacharya worries that his caring for his wife has all been a hollow act, one which he undertook to demonstrate his devotion to Brahminism but that has proven to be empty, as he did not serve his community and slept with Chandri.
This part of the book paints an increasingly dark portrait of its social world. Brahmins like Dasarchaya express little optimism about the future of their caste, as they see only hypocrisy and selfishness running rampant. As multiple characters see, the traditional structure of the village mostly serves to keep a small group of people wealthy and powerful with a spiritual justification. Almost no one acts out of kindness or charity. The one meaningful connection between Chandri and Praneshacharya does not result in a meaningful relationship but only more shame and turmoil.
