ears, living upon air only as her sustenance. Once
again, O monarch, she observed the excellent vow of silence for eight
thousand years, passing the whole time in water. Then that maiden, O best
of kings, went to the river Kausiki. There she began to pass her days in
the observance of another vow, living the while upon only water and air.
After this, O monarch, the blessed maiden proceeded to the Ganges and
thence to the mountains of Meru. Moved by the desire of doing good to all
living creatures, she stood perfectly motionless there like a piece of
wood. Proceeding thence to the summit of Himavat where the deities had
performed their great sacrifice, she stood there for another hundred
billions of years, supporting her weight upon only the toes of her feet
with the object of gratifying the Grandsire with such an act of
austerity. Wending thither, the Creator and Destroyer of the universe
again addressed her saying, "Upon what art thou engaged, O daughter?
Accomplish those words of mine." Addressing the divine Grandsire, the
maiden once more said, "I am unable to cut off living creatures, O god! I
seek to gratify thee (so that I may be excused of this behest)."
Frightened at the prospect of demerit she prayed the Grandsire for being
excused of obedience to his command, the Grandsire silenced her, and once
more addressed her, saying, "No demerit will accrue, O Death! Do thou, O
auspicious maiden, set thyself to the task of destroying living
creatures. That which I have uttered, O amiable girl, cannot certainly be
falsified. Eternal righteousness shall now take refuge in thee. Myself
and all the deities shall always be employed in seeking thy good. This
other wish that is in thy heart I grant thee. Living creatures shall be
afflicted by disease, and (dying) shall cast the blame on thee. Thou
shalt become a male in all male beings, a female in all female beings,
and a eunuch in all those that are of the third sex."[1114] Thus addressed
by Brahman, O king, the maiden at last said, with joined hands unto that
high-souled and undeteriorating lord of all the deities, these words, "I
am unable to obey thy command." The great God, without relenting, again,
said unto her, "O Death, do thou kill men. I shall so ordain that thou
shalt not incur any demerit by doing this, O auspicious lady! Those tear
drops that I see fallen from thy eyes, and that thou still boldest in thy
joined hands, shall take the form of terrible diseases and eve