Page:Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Purānic.djvu/514

 A merchant named Chanda not only refused to worship Manasā, but professed the profoundest contempt for her. In process of time six of his sons died from snake bites. To avoid a similar fate, his eldest son Lakindara dwelt in an iron house ; but Manasā caused a snake to enter through a crevice, which bit him on his wedding-day and caused his death too. His

widow, however, escaped, and went weeping to her mother-in-law, who, with the neighbours, vainly tried to induce Chānda to propitiate the goddess through whose influence so much evil had come to the family; Manasā herself urged his friends to prevail upon him not to remain so hostile to her. At last he so far