30. Of all embodied beings, that move about on the surface of the earth, it is the man of profound understanding only, who sheds his benign influence like cooling moon-beams all around him. (The light of knowledge is compared with the gentle moonbeams). 31. To be despised by the wise is death, and to be honoured by the learned is true life; because it is the society of the sapient only, that makes the life bring forth its fruits of heavenly bliss and final beatitude. 32. I will now put a few questions for their examination, and know whether they are men of parts, or gilded on the surface with sapient looks, like copper by a chemical process. 33. Upon examination and ascertainment of the qualifications if they prove to be wiser than the examiner; in that case one should avail of their instruction, or otherwise there is no harm to make an end of them as they best deserve. CHAPTER LXXVIII. Argument. The undaunted valour of the Prince, the Rákshasi’s Questions and the Minister’s solution of them. Vasishtha continued:—Afterwards the Rákshasi, who was an offshoot of the great garden of Rákshasa race, made a loud and tremendous yell like the deep roarings of a cloud. 2. After her deep roar she muttered in a clattering voice, like the rattling of a thunder clap following the rumbling of clouds. 3. She said:—Ho, ho? what are ye, that venture abroad in this dread and dreary desert, dark as the great delusion of Máyá, and which without the light of the sun and moon, is as gloomy as the gloom of ignorance. What are ye crawling here for like insects bred in stones? 4. What men of great minds are ye, to have come here as the weak minded aberrants that have lost their way? You have become an easy prey to me, and must meet your fate in my hands in a moment. 5. The Prince replied:—O thou demon, what art thou and where is thy stand: If thou beest an embodied being, show thyself unto us, or who is to be terrified by thy bodiless form buzzing like a bee? 6. It is the business of the brave to pounce at once like a lion upon his prey (and not to bark as a dog at a distance). Therefore leave off thy bragging and show us thy prowess at once. 7. Tell me what thou dost want of us, and whether thou dost terrify us by thy vain vauntings, or utterest these words from thy own fear of us. 8. Now measure thy body according to thy speech, (_i.e._ let them conform with one another), and confront thyself to us without delay; because the dilatory gain no good, save the loss of their time. 9. On hearing the prince’s speech she thought it was well said, and immediately showed herself to them, uttering her loud shout with a grinning laughter. 10. The prince heard her voice to fill the air, and resound in the woods, and saw her huge and hideous person, by the light of her open mouth and ivory teeth, in the act of her loud laughter.