44. Take them to the top of the snowy mountain and devour them at thy pleasure; as great men always like to take their meals in privacy. 45. After your recreation by that food and a short nap, you can join your meditation; and when you are tired with your devotion, you can come back to this place. 46. You can then take the other offenders for your slaughter; because the killing of culprits is not only justifiable by law, but it amounts to an act of mercy, to rid them (of their punishment in the next world). 47. You must return to me when you are tired of your devotion; because the friendship which is formed even with the wicked, is not easily done away. 48. The Rákshasí replied:—You have well said prince! and we will do as you say; for who is there that will slight the words of the wise that are spoken to him in the way of friendship? 49. Vasishtha said:—Saying so, the Rákshasí assumed a graceful form, and wore on her person necklaces and bracelets, and silken robes and laces. 50. She said, “Well raja, let us go together” and then followed the footsteps of the prince and his counsellor, who walked before her and led the way. 51. Then having arrived at the royal abode, they passed that night in their agreeable repast and discourse together. 52. As it became morning, the Rákshasí went inside the house, and there remained with the women; while the prince and the minister attended to their business. 53. Then in the course of six days, the prince collected together all the offenders whom he had seized in his territory, and brought from other parts. 54. These amounted to three thousand heads which he gave up to her; when she resumed her fiercely dark form of the black fiend of night. 55. She laid hold of thousands of men in her extended grasp, in the manner of a fragment of cloud retaining the drops of rain water in its wide spread bosom. 56. She took leave of the prince and went to the top of the mountain with her prey, as a poor man takes the gold, that he happens to get in some hidden place. 57. There she refreshed herself with her food and rest for three days and nights; and then regaining the firmness of her under-standing, she was employed in her devotion. 58. She used to rise from her devotion once after the lapse of four or five and sometimes seven years, when she repaired to the habitation of men and to the court of the prince. 59. There passing sometime in their confidential conversation, she returned to her retired seat in the mountain, with her prey of the offenders. 60. Thus freed from cares even in her lifetime, she continued to remain as a liberated being in that mountain &c. &c. CHAPTER LXXXIII. WORSHIP OF KANDARÁ ALIAS MANGALA. Argument. Deification and Adoration of the Rákshasí for her good Services to Mankind.