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welcomed him in person, and at night he entered the apartment of the king's daughter, looking like the sun entering the fire. And he beheld that princess who seemed by her appearance to be attached to him, for she looked at him with tearful eye, and a sad look expressive of the grief produced by utter despair. And he remained awake there all night gazing intently, holding in his hand the sword of the Fire-god that came to him with a thought. And suddenly he beheld at the entrance a very terrible Rákshasa, extending his left hand because his right had been cut off. And when he saw him, he said to himself; " Here is that very Rákshasa, whose arm I cut off in the city of Paundravardhana. So I will not strike at his arm again, lest he should escape me and depart as before, and for this reason it is better for me to kill him." Thus reflecting, Vidúshaka ran forward and seized his hair, and was preparing to cut off his head, when suddenly the Rákshasa in extreme terror said to him ; " Do not slay me, you are brave, therefore shew mercy." Vidúshaka let him go and said, " Who are you, and what are you about here?" Then the Rákshasa, being thus questioned by the hero, continued " My name is Yamadanshtra, and I had two daughters, this is one, and she who lives in Paundravardhana is another. And Śiva favoured me by laying on me this command; ' Thou must save the two princesses from marrying any one who is not a hero.' While thus engaged I first had an arm cut off at Paundravardhana, and now I have been conquered by you here, so this duty of mine is accomplished." When Vidúshaka heard this, he laughed, and said to him in reply; " It was I that cut off your arm there in Paundravardhana." The Rákshasa answered " Then you must be a portion of some divinity, not a mere man, I think it was for your sake that Śiva did me the honour of laying that command upon me. So henceforth I consider you my friend, and when you call me to mind I will appear to you to ensure your success even in difficulties." In these words the Rákshasa Yamadanshtra out of friendship chose him as a sworn, brother, and when Vidúshaka accepted his proposal, disappeared. Vidúshaka, for his part, was commended for his valour by the princess, and spent the night there in high spirits; and in the morning the king hearing of the incident and highly pleased, gave him his daughter as the conspicuous banner of his valour together with much wealth. Vidúshaka lived there some nights with her, as if with the goddess of prosperity, bound so firmly by his virtue*[1] that she could not move a step. But one night he went off of his own accord from that place, longing for his beloved Bhadrá, for who that has tasted heavenly joys, can take pleasure in any other? And after he had left the town, he called to mind that Rákshasa, and said to him, who appeared the moment he called him to mind, and made him a bow,— " My friend, I must go to the land of the Siddhas on the Eastern mountain
- ↑ * Here there is a pun. The word guna also means rope.
