On the appointed day, in the presence of a numerous assembly, she took a small leafy branch, and dipping it in what appeared to be water, but which really contained a deadly poison, struck him gently with it on the face, saying: "If you are acting right, this will not injure you; if you are sinning in taking me, your brother's wife, and I am faithful to my husband, may this be like the blow of a sword to you." Such was the strength of the poison that he fell dead almost instantaneously. Then dipping the same branch into other water containing an antidote, she struck her daughter in a similar manner; and, as no injury followed, the spectators were fully convinced that the death of Amittravarma was a punishment from heaven. Soon after this (by my directions, and in order to throw him off his guard), she said to Prachandavarma: "The throne is now vacant; you should occupy it at once, and make my daughter your queen." He listened to the suggestion; and, as the young boy, the nephew of the late king, was supposed to be dead, no opposition was made by the people. Then the Queen Vasundhara (also by my directions) sent for some of the late king's ministers, and of the elders of the city, whom she knew to be ill-affected towards Prachandavarma, and said to them: "Last night the goddess Durgâ appeared to me in a vision, and said: 'Your child is safe; I myself, in the form of a tigress, carried him away, to save him from his enemies. In four days from this time Prachandavarma will suddenly die; on the fifth day let all the authorities assemble round my temple on the bank of the river, and close the doors, after having ascertained that no one is concealed inside. After waiting one hour, the door will open and a young brahman will come forth, holding your son by the hand. That boy will become King of Vidarba, and that brahman is to marry your daughter.'" After the divine manifestation in favour of the queen when Amittravarma was struck dead, this account of the vision was readily believed by her hearers, who promised to keep the secret and to be guided by her directions. When the fourth day arrived I entered the city, disguised as a beggar, and brought the boy to his delighted mother, who introduced me to her daughter, whom I greatly admired, and she, though agitated, was evidently pleased with me, even under such a disguise. I did not venture to stay long, and after receiving an alms and assuring the queen that the imagined dream would prove true, I went away, taking the boy with me, and at parting, in order to deceive her attendants, she said aloud: "Your application shall not have been in vain; I will take care to protect your boy."