After the forester was gone, I said to the old man (whose name was Nalijangha):  “That wretch Amittravarma is trying to make it up with his sister-in-law by promoting a good marriage for her daughter; no doubt he thinks to persuade her to recall her son, that he may have him in his power.  Do you therefore leave the boy with me, and go back at once to his mother.  Tell her how you have met with me, and that the child is quite safe under my protection; but give out in public that he has been carried off and devoured by a tiger.  I shall come to the city disguised as a beggar; do you wait for me near the cemetery.”

All this he promised to do, and set off immediately, having first received further directions for the guidance of the queen.

After some days, it was generally understood at Mahishmati that the boy who had escaped into the forest had been killed by a tiger; and the king, secretly rejoicing, went to condole with the mother.  She appeared as if greatly distressed by the news, and said to him:  “I look upon the death of my son as a judgment upon me for not complying with your wishes, and am therefore now ready to become your wife.”

The old wretch was delighted at her compliance, and preparations were made for the marriage.

On the appointed day, in the presence of a numerous assembly, she took a small leafy branch, and dipping it in what appeared to be water, but which really contained a deadly poison, struck him gently with it on the face, saying:  “If you are acting right, this will not injure you; if you are sinning in taking me, your brother’s wife, and I am faithful to my husband, may this be like the blow of a sword to you.”

Such was the strength of the poison that he fell dead almost instantaneously.  Then dipping the same branch into other water containing an antidote, she struck her daughter in a similar manner; and, as no injury followed, the spectators were fully convinced that the death of Amittravarma was a punishment from heaven.

Soon after this (by my directions, and in order to throw him off his guard), she said to Prachandavarma:  “The throne is now vacant; you should occupy it at once, and make my daughter your queen.”

He listened to the suggestion; and, as the young boy, the nephew of the late king, was supposed to be dead, no opposition was made by the people.

Then the Queen Vasundhara (also by my directions) sent for some of the late king’s ministers, and of the elders of the city, whom she knew to be ill-affected towards Prachandavarma, and said to them:  “Last night the goddess Durga appeared to me in a vision, and said:  ’Your child is safe; I myself, in the form of a tigress, carried him away, to save him from his enemies.  In four days from this time Prachandavarma will suddenly die; on the fifth day let all the authorities assemble round my temple on the bank of the river, and close the doors, after having ascertained that no one is concealed inside.  After waiting one hour, the door will open and a young brahman will come forth, holding your son by the hand.  That boy will become King of Vidarba, and that brahman is to marry your daughter.’”