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way we are able to discover any offence in her by means of your eyes, the king will be disgusted with her, and will accomplish that object of ours." "When the minister said this to him, the Bráhman- Rákshasa answered, " Why should I not by some artifice cause her to fall or slay her?" When the great minister Yaugandharáyana heard that, he said to him " This must not be done, for it would be a very wicked deed. And whoever goes his own way without offending against the god of justice, finds that that god comes to his assistance to enable him to attain his objects. So you must discover in her, my friend, a fault self-caused, in order that through your friendship the king's objects may be accomplished by me." Having received this order from the excellent minister, the Bráhman-Rákshasa departed, and disguised by magic entered the house of Kalingasená.
In the meanwhile Somaprabhá, her friend, the daughter of the Asura Maya, went again into the presence of Kalingasená. And the daughter of Maya, after asking her friend what had happened in the night, said to her who had abandoned her relations, 'in the hearing of that Rákshasa— " I came here in the forenoon after searching for you, but I remained concealed at your side, seeing Yaugaudharáyana. However I heard your conversation, and I understood the whole state of affairs. So why did you make this attempt yesterday though you were forbidden to do so by me? For any business which is undertaken, my friend, without first counteracting the evil omen, will end in calamity ; as a proof of this, hear the following tale:"
Story of the Bráhman's son Vishnudatta and his seven foolish companions.:— Long ago there lived in Antarvedi a Bráhman named Vasudatta and he had a son born to him named Vishnudatta. That Vishnudatta, after he reached the age of sixteen years, set out for the city of Vallabhí in order to acquire learning. And there joined him seven other young Bráhmans his fellows, but those seven were fools, while he was wise and sprung from a good family. After they had taken an oath not to desert one another, Vishnudatta set out with them at night without the knowledge of his parents. And after he had set forth, he saw an evil omen preseating itself in front of him, and he said to those friends of his who were travelling with him,— " Ha ! Here is a bad omen ! it is advisable to turn back now; we will set out again with good hope of success, when we have auspicious omens with us." When those seven foolish companions heard that, they said, " Do not entertain groundless fear, for we are not afraid of the omen. If you are afraid, do not go, but we will start this moment; to-morrow morning our relations will abandon us, when they hear of our proceedings." When those ignorant creatures said that, Vishnudatta set out with them, urged on by his oath, but he first called to mind Hari, the
