“She answered, apparently with great respect and bashfulness, ’O reverend sir, I have heard of your great wisdom, and your kindness to those who are willing to give up the pleasures of this world for the sake of the next.  I am tired of the disgraceful life I am leading, and wish to renounce it.’  Upon this, her mother, with her loose grey hairs touching the ground, interrupted her, and said, ’Worthy sir, this daughter of mine would make it appear that I am to blame, but indeed I have done my duty, and have carefully prepared her for that profession for which, by birth, she was intended.  From earliest childhood I have bestowed the greatest care upon her, doing everything in my power to promote her health and beauty.  As soon as she was old enough, I had her carefully instructed in the arts of dancing, acting, playing on musical instruments, singing, painting, preparing perfumes and flowers, in writing and conversation, and even to some extent in grammar, logic, and philosophy.  She was taught to play various games with skill and dexterity, and how to dress well, and show herself off to the greatest advantage in public; I hired persons to go about praising her skill and beauty, and to applaud her when she performed in public, and I did many other things to promote her success, and to secure for her liberal remuneration; yet, after all the time, trouble, and money which I have spent upon her, just when I was beginning to reap the fruit of my labours, the ungrateful girl has fallen in love with a stranger, a young brahman, without property, and wishes to marry him and give up her profession, notwithstanding all my entreaties, and representations of the poverty and distress to which all her family will be reduced if she persists in her purpose; and because I oppose this marriage, she declares that she will renounce the world, and become a devotee.’

“The muni compassionately said to the girl:  ’You will never be able to endure the hardships of such a life as you propose to lead—­a life so different from that to which you have been accustomed.  Heaven may be attained by all who duly perform the duties of their station; take my advice then, give up all thoughts of an undertaking which you will never accomplish, comply with your mother’s wishes, return with her, and be content with that way of life in which you have been brought up.’

“With many tears, she replied:  ’If you will not receive me I will put an end to my wretched life.’

“Finding her so determined, the muni, after some reflection, said to the mother and her companions:  ’Go away for the present; come back after a few days; I will give her good advice, and you will no doubt find her tired of living here, and quite ready to return.’

“Thereupon they all went away, and she was left alone with the muni.  At first she kept at a distance from him, taking care not to interrupt him in his meditations, but waiting on him unobtrusively, rendering him many little services, watering his favourite trees, and gathering sacred grass, and flowers for offerings to the gods.  Then, as he became more accustomed to her, she would amuse him with songs and dances, and at last began to sit near him and talk of the pleasures of love.