75. It is by your long habit, that you have contracted the knowledge of their materiality; as it has become habitual with us to think ourselves as waking in our dreaming state. 76. It is in the same manner that all living bodies, are accustomed to think of their corporeality; and to live content with their frail and base earthly forms, as the Pisáchas are habituated to pass gladly in their ugly forms. 77. Some men look upon others and know them, as the village people know and deal with their fellow villagers as with themselves; but they resemble the people abiding together as seen in a dream. 78. Again some meet with many men, as in a city constructed in dream (or imagination); but are quite unacquainted with one another, owing to their distant abodes and different nationalities. (So are we unacquainted with the Pisácha race, in this crowded city of the world). 79. In this manner, there are many races of object beings of whom we are utterly ignorant; and such are the Pisáchas, Kumbhandas, Pretas, Yakshas and others. 80. As the waters upon earth, are collected in lowlands only; so do the Pisáchas and goblins dwell in dark places alone. 81. Should a dark Pisácha dwell at bright midday light, upon a sunny shore or open space; it darkens that spot with the gloominess of its appearance. 82. The sun even is not able, to dispel that darkness, nor can any one find out the place, where the dark demon makes his abode; on account of its delusiveness to evade human sight. 83. As the orbs of the sun and moon, and the furnace of burning fire, appear bright before our eyes; so on the contrary the abode of the Pisáchas, is ever obscured by impenetrable darkness, which no light can pierce. 84. The Pisáchas are naturally of a wonderful nature, that vanish like sparks of fire in daylight; and become enkindled in the dark. (The Pisáchas bear analogy to the sons of darkness or fallen angels in the black Tartarian regions). 85. Now Ráma, I have fully related to you about the origin and nature of the Pisácha race in the course of this dis-course; and then as I had become as one of them, in the regions of the regents of the celestials. CHAPTER LXXXXV. DESCRIPTION OF THE PERSON OF VASISHTHA. Argument:—The conduct of men that are firm _in the resolution_ and the behaviour of Vasishtha in the etherial regions. Vasishtha continued:—I then having my inane intellectual body, which was quite free from the composition of the five elements; roved about in the air in the manner of a pisácha ghost (seeing all and seen by none). 2. I was not perceived by the sun and moon, nor by the gods Hari, Hara, Indra and others; and was quite invisible to the siddhas, gandharvas, Kinnaras and Apsaras of heaven. 3. I was astonished to think as any honest person, who is a stranger at the house of another; why the residents of the place did not perceive me, though I advanced towards them and called them to me.