Page:Cradle Tales of Hinduism .djvu/294

27© CRADLE TALES OF HINDUISM unprotected; it is given to the right of the King
 * ilonc to suffer 1 "

At these words, startling all who heard them, the forms of the eagle and the dove were seen to have vanished, and in their place stood Indra, the Chief of the Gods, and Agni, the God of Fire.

And the voice of Indra was hushed with rever- ence as he said, '^ Against greatness like that of Shibi Rana, the gods them&eives shall struggle but in vain. Blessed be thou, O King, Protector of the Unprotected, who burnest with the joy of sacrifice I For to such souls must the very gods do homage, yielding to them a place above themselves."