of fate, the female cannibal united the fragments for facility of carrying them away.  And, O bull among men, as soon as the fragments were united they formed a sturdy child of one body (endued with life).  Then, O king, the female cannibal, with eyes expanded in wonder, found herself unable to carry away that child having a body as hard and strong as the thunder-bolt.  That infant then closing his fists red as copper and inserting them into its mouth, began to roar terribly as rain-charged clouds.  Alarmed at the sound, the inmates of the palace, O tiger among men, suddenly came out with the king, O slayer of all foes.  The helpless and disappointed and sad queens also, with breasts full of milk, also came out suddenly to recover their child.  The female cannibal beholding the queens in that condition and the king too so desirous of an offspring, and the child was possessed of such strength thought within herself—­I live within dominions of the king who is so desirous of an offspring.  It behoveth not me, therefore, to kill the infant child of such an illustrious and virtuous monarch.  The Rakshasa woman then, holding the child in her arms like the clouds enveloping the sun, and assuming a human form, told the king these words,—­O Vrihadratha, this is thy child.  Given to thee by me, O, take it.  It hath been born of both thy wives by virtue of the command of the great Brahmana.  Cast away by the midwives, it hath been protected by me!

“Krishna continued,—­O thou foremost of the Bharata race, the handsome daughters of the king of Kasi, having obtained the child, soon drenched it with their lacteal streams.  The king ascertaining everything, was filled with joy, and addressing that female cannibal disguised as a human being possessing the complexion of gold, asked,—­O thou of the complexion of the filament of the lotus, who art thou that givest me this child?  O auspicious one, thou seemest to me as a goddess roaming at thy pleasure!”

SECTION XVIII

“Krishna continued,—­’hearing these words of the king, the Rakshasa woman answered—­Blessed be thou, O king of kings.  Capable of assuming any form at will.  I am a Rakshasa woman called Jara.  I am living, O king, happily in thy house, worshipped by all.  Every day I wander from house to house of men.  Indeed, I was created of old by the Self-create and was named Grihadevi (the household goddess)’.  Of celestial beauty I was placed (in the world) for the destruction of the Danavas.  He that with devotion painteth on the walls (of his house) a likeness of myself endued with youth and in the midst of children, must have prosperity in his abode; otherwise a household must sustain decay and destruction.  O lord, painted on the walls of thy house is a likeness of myself surrounded by numerous children.  Stationed there I am daily worshipped with scents and flowers, with incense and edibles and various objects of enjoyment.  Thus worshipped