poor bird began to bewail (103). Pujanyā said:—"O my child, when I used to come back to my nest emitting my cries you were wont to come to me with your thousand indistinct accents (104). Why do you not come to me to-day with your mouth open, yellow face and black throat (105)? I always cry embracing you with my wings. Why do I not hear to-day your inarticulate sound (106)? I had always this desire that some day or other I shall see my young one begging water with its mouth open and shaking its wings (107). That desire of mine is now frustrated with your death." Having thus bewailed in various ways she said to the king (108). "O king, you are a Kshatriya,⁴⁴ you know the eternal ways of religion. Then why have you got my young one slain by the nurse (109) O wretch of a Kshasriya, why did your son take away my young one and kill it? Methinks, you have not listened to Sruti of Angiras (110). One who seeks shelter, one who is hungry, one who is assailed by his enemies and one who lives for ever in his house should be protected by a man (111). He who neglects this duty goes without any doubt to the hell Kumbhipāka. How can the deities and the manes accept Havi and food consecrated with Swadha mantras offered by him (112)?" Having thus said to the great king, (the bird), stricken with grief and possessed by ten-fold⁴⁵ characteristics, tore off the eyes of the boy (113). Thereupon the eyes of the prince were put out. Having thus blinded him the bird Pujanyā flew away into the sky (114).