detection; so that Rajahansa was exceedingly delighted at seeing his son surrounded by a band of such brave, active, clever companions and faithful followers.  One day about this time Vamadeva came to visit the king, by whom he was received with great respect and reverence.  Seeing the prince perfect in beauty, strength, and accomplishments, and surrounded by such companions, he said to Rajahansa:  “Your wish for a son has indeed been fully gratified, since you have one who is all that you could desire.  It is now time for him to go out into the world and prepare himself for the career of conquest to which he is destined.”.

The king listened respectfully to the advice of the muni, and determined to be guided by it; having therefore given his son good advice, he sent him forth at a propitious hour, to travel about in search of adventure, accompanied by his nine friends.

After travelling for some days, they entered the forest of Vindhya, and when halting there for the night they saw a rough-looking man, having all the appearance of a Bheel, but wearing the sacred cord which is the characteristic of a brahman.

The prince, surprised at such an incongruity, asked him who he was, how he came to be living in such a wild place, and how, with all the appearance of a forester, he was wearing the brahminical cord.

The man, seeming to be aware that his questioner was a person of importance, answered respectfully, “O prince, there are in this forest certain nominal brahmans, who, having abandoned the study of the vedas, religious obligations, and family duties, are devoted to all sorts of sinful practices, and act as leaders of robber bands, associating with their followers and living as they live.

“I, Matanga by name, am the son of one of these, and was brought up to be a robber like them.  Since I have been grown up I have often assisted in plundering expeditions, when they would fall suddenly on some defenceless village, and carry away not only all the property on which they could lay their hands, but several of the richest of the inhabitants, whom they would keep prisoners till a ransom had been paid, or till, compelled by torture, they confessed where their money was concealed.

“On one of these occasions, when my companions were ill-treating a brahman, I was seized by a sudden feeling of compassion and remonstrated with them.  Finding words of no avail, I stood before him, and was killed by my own men while fighting on his behalf.

“After death I went down to the regions below, and was taken before Yama, the judge of the dead, sitting on a great throne inlaid with jewels.

“When the god saw me prostrate before him he called one of his attendants and said:  ’The time for this man’s death is not arrived, and moreover, he was killed in defending a brahman; therefore, after showing him the tortures of the wicked, let him return to his former body, in which he will in future lead a holy life.’