by terrible goblins and observing the vow of celibacy you will enter into the celestial region (44–46). When you will reach the land of gods, the thousand-eyed Indra will confer upon you the dignity of a god by sprinkling you with water according to the rules laid down by me and accept you as his sister. Having been adopted in the family of Kushika you will pass by the name of Koushika (47–48). Afterwards when Vāsava will assign to you the mount Vindhyā for your habitation you will adorn the world with thousand provinces (49). On whomever on earth you will bestow a boon while ranging of your own accord in the three worlds, he will at once attain to the fruit thereof (50). O goddess, there thinking of me in your mind, and starting with the goblins you will kill the two demons Shumbha and Nishumbha living in mountain, with all their attendants (51). O sleep, you are greatly fond of an offering of meat. You will therefore, on a _Navami_,¹⁸⁸ receive, on earth, worship accompanied by the sacrifice of beasts (52). Children or wealth, it will not be difficult to acquire any of these for him, who, amongst men cognizant of my prowess, will bow unto you (53). You will save them all from danger, those who will be tired in a huge forest, those who will be drowned in a mighty deep, those who will be attacked by robbers (54). O auspicious lady, I will not kill him who will propitiate you with devotion nor will he meet with ruin at my hands (55)". ¹⁸⁷ One of the _Nakshatras_ or lunar asterisms. ¹⁸⁸ The ninth day of the dark half of the month. CHAPTER LVIII. ATTRIBUTES OF THE GODDESS. Vaishampayana said:—Having saluted the goddess Nārāyani, the mistress of the three worlds I shall recite the sacred hymn as sung by the ancient Rishis (1).