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into SamSdhi. Six months passed away ; and then the body
awoke and asserted its claims for nourishment, as it always will
while life has not departed. Then she wondered ; "I cannot eat
unrighteous food again. It matters not to me whether this
body live or die. Had I not rather let it die away ?" But
Nabhas-van the Wind Sky-i-anger came to her help, seeing
her fixed so firmly in resolve of right, and spoke unseen :

^Wander forth, 0 Karkati!, bestowing knowledge on the
ignorant. There is no truer charity, no more precious gift,
than the gift of Self and of Self-knowledge. He who gives
it, gives the universe. He who gains it, gains the universe.
For he who gains it, gains assurance of his deathlessness ;,
and to the strength of that great confidence, all labours,
losses, pains, are light and easy. Therefore walk the world,
0 Rakshasi!, endeavouring to spread Self-knowledge. And
those that turn away persistently from it, shall be fit food for
thee. Receiving not the Self, but throwing it away, themr
selves do they destroy themselves, and, so no sin shall come
to thee in eating them."

She thanked the Wind, rose straight like a colossal
water-spout from the disturbed surface of the ocean ; descended
slowly from the peak into the valleys ; and entered the
habitation of a tribe of Kiratas(1) dwelling at the foot of
the mountains.

Night reigned there at the time. Clouds hid the moon
and stars. The darkness hung so dense, it could be almost
pushed about by the hands. In that fearful night, Vikrama,
the king of the tribe, was out with his prime minister to see
that none disturbed the sleep of his people. Karkati beheld'
the two and thought : "Here is the food I look for. Let me
see, though, that they have no virtue which prevents my
swallowing them." To test them she let forth a hideous roar

(1) A hill-tribe.