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cannot say what the drug was, but Chandra Shekhar came to administer it after self-ablution and rigid observance of such other rites as lead to the purification of the soul. He was naturally a master of his passions and propensities and had greater control over hunger and thirst than ordinary men. But to meet the demands of the present occasion, he had rigorously abstained from any food, and during the last few days had kept himself absolutely engaged in the contemplation of God—he had not allowed any other thought to creep into his mind.

At the appointed hour, Chandra Shekhar began to arrange the preliminaries to the administration of the sacred drug. He asked the maid-servant, whom Sundari had engaged for Shaibalini, to get ready a bed, which she did. Chandra Shekhar then asked Sundari to make Shaibalini lie down on it. Sundari had to apply force; for, Shaibalini could not be made to do anything easily.