ENTERING ANOTHER'S BODY. 43 



O thou great ocean of propriety and virtue ! Me that has strayed 

 from my own house and body, the tricker of friend, sovereign, and 

 teacher, it does not, O Protector, befit thee to see and to touch ! 

 There is no noble wife Hke unto Kamala, no great man like unto 

 thee, and no base-souled creature like unto myself. Do thou then 

 rule thy kingdom a long time ; as for me, seize me by the left foot 

 and cast me somewhere that I may devote myself to a better life.^-^ 

 All this shall serve thee as a lesson in the wickedness of men ! " 



The king heard him, his heart was softened by pity, he forgot 

 the evil deed, and said: "See here, ours is the same Science; how 

 then can I seize you by the foot? Go whither you desire, enjoy 

 wealth somewhere while doing good to others in deep devotion to the 

 law ! " After he had thus dismissed him, Vikrama ruled his kingdom 

 in Kamala's society, happy in heart, devoted to the performance of 

 the law. Thus the Science obtained by him through tactful conduct 

 led to a happy issue, but the very same Science imposed great miser>' 

 upon the Brahman who was wanting in that same virtue. 



i^'^Karma seve. 



