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60 sake of which you make your descent into hell, I will send to you daily to this place."

How well were the snakes defended by their king! Amidst his thousand double tongues was there not one with which he could say, "Myself is given by me this day to save the life of a snake."

This, then, was agreed to by the king of birds. So, these conditions being thus settled by the king of the Nágas, these are the heaps, white as the snow peaks, from the bones of the snakes, which the king of birds devours, and which have been increasing, do increase, and will increase as days go by.

Wonderful! Fools commit sin even for the sake of a worthless body, which soon perishes, is ungrateful, and is a store-house of all uncleanness. Well, this destruction of the Nágas will assuredly bring some judgment. (To himself.) Would that, by giving up my own body, I might save the life of a single Nága!

I have ascended the mountain peak and will now seek Mitrávasu. (Walking about.) Here stands Mitrávasu with the bridegroom. (Going up.) May the princes be victorious!