tor of the worlds, gratified, said unto her, with a
softened and delighted heart, "O Death, why dost thou undergo ascetic
austerities so severe?" Thus addressed, Death said unto the divine
Grandsire, "Creatures, O Lord, are living in health. They do not injure
one another even by words. I shall not be able to slay them. O Lord, I
desire even this boon at thy hands. I fear sin, and it is for this that I
am engaged in ascetic austerities. O blessed one, undertake to remove for
ever my fears. I am a woman, in distress, and without fault. I beg thee,
be thou protector." Unto her the divine Brahman acquainted with the past,
the present and the future, said, "Thou shalt commit no sin, O Death, by
slaying these creatures. My words can never be futile, O amiable one!
Therefore, O auspicious damsel, slay these creatures of four kinds.
Eternal virtue shall always be thine. That Regent of the world, viz.,
Yama, and the diverse disease shall become thy helpmates. I myself and
all the gods will grant thee boons, so that, freed from sin and perfectly
cleansed, thou mayst even acquire glory." Thus addressed, O monarch, that
lady, joining her hands, once more said these words, seeking her grace by
bowing down unto him with her head. "If, O Lord, this is not to be without
me, then thy command I place upon my head. Listen, however, to what I
say. Let covetousness, wrath, malice, jealousy, quarrel, folly and
shamelessness, and other stern passions tear the bodies of all embodied
creatures."

"'"'Brahman said, "It will be, O Death, as thou sayest. Meanwhile, slay
creatures duly. Sin shall not be thine, nor shall I seek to injure thee,
O auspicious one. Those tear-drops of thine that are in my hands, even
they will become diseases, springing from living creatures themselves.
They will kill men; and if men are killed, sin shall not be thine.
Therefore, do not fear. Indeed, sin shall not be thine. Devoted to
righteousness, and observant of thy duty, thou shalt slay (all
creatures). Therefore, take thou always the lives of these living
creatures. Casting off both desire and wrath, take thou the life of all
living creatures. Even thus will eternal virtue be thine. Sin will slay
those that are of wicked behaviour. By doing my bidding cleanse thyself.
It will be thine to sink them in their sins that are wicked. Therefore,
cast off both desire and wrath, and kill these creatures endued with
life."'

"'"Narada continued, 'That damsel, seeing that