"Then Vasantasena， having unearthed the holy man and compelled him to purify himself， led him to the abode which she had caused to be built for herself in the wood. She explained its luxuries by the nature of her vow， which bound her to indulge in costly apparel， in food with six flavours， and in every kind of indulgence.[FN#30] In course of time the hermit learned to follow her example； he gave up inhaling smoke， and he began to eat and drink as a daily occupation.
[FN#30] In India， there is still a monastic order the pleasant duty of whose members is to enjoy themselves as much as possible. It has been much the same in Europe. "Representez-vous le convent de l'Escurial ou du Mont Cassin， ou les cenobites ont toutes sortes de commodities， necessaires， utiles， delectables. superflues， surabondantes， puisqu'ils ont les cent cinquante mille， les quatre cent mille， les cinq cent mille ecus de rente； et jugez si monsieur l'abbe a de quoi laisser dormir la meridienne a ceux qui voudront."——Saint Augustin， de l'Ouvrage des Moines， by Le Camus， Bishop of Belley， quoted by Voltaire， Dict. Phil.， sub v. "Apocalypse."
"At length Kama began to trouble him. Briefly the saint and saintess were made man and wife， by the simple form of matrimony called the Gandharba-vivaha，[FN#31] and about ten months afterwards a son was born to them. Thus the anchorite came to have a child.
[FN#31] This form of matrimony was recognized by the ancient Hindus， and is frequent in books. It is a kind of Scotch wedding——ultra-Caledonian——taking place by mutual consent， without any form or ceremony. The Gandharbas are heavenly minstrels of Indra's court， who are supposed to be witnesses.
"Remained Vasantasena's last feat. Some months passed： then she said to the devotee her husband， 'Oh saint！ let us now， having finished our devotions， perform a pilgrimage to some sacred place， that all the sins of our bodies may be washed away， after which we will die and depart into everlasting happiness.' Cajoled by these speeches， the hermit mounted his child upon his shoulder and followed her where she went——directly into Raja Gandharba-Sena's palace.
"When the king and the ministers and the officers and the courtiers saw Vasantasena， and her spouse carrying the baby， they recognized her from afar. The Raja exclaimed， 'Lo！ this is the very singing girl who went forth to bring back the devotee. 'And all replied： 'O great monarch！ thou speakest truly； this is the very same woman. And be pleased to observe that whatever things she， having asked leave to undertake， went forth to do， all these she hath done！' Then gathering around her they asked her all manner of questions， as if the whole matter had been the lightest and the most laughable thing in the world.
"But the anchorite， having heard the speeches of the king and his courtiers， thought to himself， 'They have done this for the purpose of taking away the fruits of my penance.' Cursing them all with terrible curses， and taking up his child， he left the hall. Thence he went to the forest， slaughtered the innocent， and began to practice austerities with a view to revenge that hour， and having slain his child， he will attempt thy life. His prayers have been heard. In the first place they deprived thee of thy father. Secondly， they cast enmity between thee and thy brother， thus dooming him to an untimely end. Thirdly， they are now working thy ruin. The anchorite's design is to offer up a king and a king's son to his patroness Durga， and by virtue of such devotional act he will obtain the sovereignty of the whole world！
"But I have promised， O Vikram， to save thee， if such be the will of Fortune， from impending destruction. Therefore hearken well unto my words. Distrust them that dwell amongst the dead， and remember that it is lawful and right to strike off his head that would slay thee. So shalt thou rule the universal earth， and leave behind thee an immortal name！"
