thou never act contrary to (the wishes of) those that seek our hospitality.  Thou shouldst make no scruple about the means by which guests are to be welcomed, even if thou have to offer thy own person.  O beautiful one, this vow is always present in the mind, since for householders, there is no higher virtue than hospitality accorded to guests.  Do thou always bear this in mind without ever doubting it, if my words be any authority with thee.  O sinless and blessed one, if thou hast any faith in me, do thou never disregard a guest whether I be at thy side or at a distance from thee!  Unto him, with hands clasped and placed on her head, Oghavati replied, saying,—­’I shall leave nothing undone of what thou commandest me.—­Then Mrityu, O king, desiring to over-reach Sudarsana, began to watch him for finding out his lathes.  On a certain occasion, when the son of Agni went out to fetch firewood from the forest, a graceful Brahmana sought the hospitality of Oghavati with these words:—­O beautiful lady, if thou hast any faith in the virtue of hospitality as prescribed for householders, then I would request thee to extend the rites of hospitality to me to-day.—­The princess of great fame, thus addressed by that Brahmana, O king, welcomed him according to the rites prescribed in the Vedas.  Having offered him a seat, and water to wash his feet, she enquired, saying,—­What is thy business?  What can I offer thee?  The Brahmana said unto her,—­My business is with thy person, O blessed one.  Do thou act accordingly without any hesitation in thy mind.  If the duties prescribed for householders be acceptable to thee, do thou, O princess, gratify me by offering up thy person to me.—­Though tempted by the princess with offers of diverse other things, the Brahmana, however, did not ask for any other gift than the offer of her own person.  Seeing him resolved, that lady, remembering the directions which had before been given to her by her husband, but overcome with shame, said, to that excellent Brahmana,—­Be it so.—­Remembering the words of her husband who was desirous of acquiring the virtue of householders, she cheerfully approached the regenerate Rishi.  Meanwhile, the son of Agni, having collected his firewood, returned to his home.  Mrityu, with his fierce and inexorable nature, was constantly by his side, even, as one attends upon one’s devoted friend.  When the son of Pavaka returned to his own hermitage, he called Oghavati by name, and (receiving no answer) repeatedly, exclaimed,—­Whether art thou gone?—­But the chaste lady, devoted to her husband, being then locked in the arms of that Brahmana, gave no reply to her husband.  Indeed, that chaste woman, considering herself contaminated became speechless, overcome with shame.  Sudarsana, addressing her again, exclaimed,—­Where can my chaste wife be?  Whither has she gone?  Nothing can be of greater moment to me than this (her disappearance).  Why does not that simple and truthful lady, devoted to her husband, alas, answer to my call today as she