of illusion. Possessed of great energy, he is
difficult of being resisted. Indra cannot be
kept out by enclosing this retreat of ours or fencing
this yard, since he is capable of assuming innumerable
forms. Assuming the form of the wind, the chief
of the celestials may assault the spouse of my preceptor.
The best course, therefore, for me, would be to enter
(by Yoga-power) the body of this lady and remain there.
By putting forth my prowess I shall not be able to
protect the lady, for the puissant chastiser of Paka,
it has been heard by me, is capable of assuming any
form he likes. I shall, therefore, protect this
one from Indra by my Yoga-power. For carrying
out my object I shall with my body enter the body
of this lady. If my preceptor, coming back, beholds
his spouse defiled, he will, without doubt, curse
me through wrath, for endued with great ascetic merit,
he is possessed of spiritual vision. This lady
is incapable of being protected in the way in which
other women are protected by men, since the chief
of the celestials is endued with large powers of illusion.
Alas, the situation in which I find myself is very
critical. The behest of my preceptor should certainly
be obeyed by me. If, therefore, I protect her
by my Yoga-power, the feat will be regarded by all
as a wonderful one. By my Yoga-power, therefore,
I shall enter the body of my preceptor’s lady.
I shall stay within her and yet not touch her person,
like a drop of water on a lotus-leaf which lies on
it and yet does not drench it at all. If I be
free from the taint of passion, I cannot incur any
fault by doing what I wish to do. As a traveller,
in course of his sojourn, takes up his residence (for
a while) in any empty mansion he finds, I shall, after
the same manner, reside this day within the body of
my preceptor’s lady Verily, with mind rapt up
in Yoga, I shall dwell today in this lady’s body!
Giving his best consideration to these points of righteousness,
thinking of all the Vedas and their branches, and
with eye directed to the large measure of penances
which his preceptor had and which he himself also was
possessed of, and having settled in his mind, with
a view only to protect the lady, to enter her person
by Yoga-power. Vipula of Bhrigu’s race took
great care (for accomplishing his purpose). Listen
now to me, O monarch, as I recite to thee what he
did. Endued with great penances, Vipula sat himself
down by the side of his preceptor’s spouse as
she of faultless features was sitting in her cottage,
Vipula then began to discourse to her bringing her
over to the cause of righteousness and truth.
Directing his eyes then to hers and uniting the rays
of light that emanated from her organs of vision with
those that issued from his, Vipula (in his subtile
form) entered the lady’s body even as the element
of wind enters that of ether of space. Penetrating
her eyes with his eyes and her face with his face,
Vipula stayed, without moving, within her invisibly,
like her shadow. Restraining every part of the
lady’s body, Vipula continued to dwell within
her, intent on protecting her from Indra. The
lady herself knew nothing of this. It was in
this way, O monarch, that Vipula continued to protect
the lady till the time of his high-souled preceptor’s
coming back after accomplishing the sacrifice which
he had gone out to perform.’”