Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/501

shasa that eateth human beings!' And although they all had been plunged in woe, yet hearing what the child lisped so sweetly, joy appeared on their faces. Then Kunti, thinking that to be the proper opportunity, approached the group and said these words. Indeed, her words revived them as nectar reviveth a person that is dead."

Thus ends the hundred and sixty-first Section in the Vaka-badha of the Adi Parva.

"And Kunti said, 'I desire to learn from ye what is the cause of this grief for I will remove it if it is capable of being removed.'

"The Brahmana replied, 'O thou of ascetic wealth, thy speech is, indeed, worthy of thee! But this grief is incapable of being removed by any human being. There liveth a Rakshasa of name Vaka not far off from this town. That cannibal is the lord of this country and town. Thriving on human flesh, that wretched Rakshasa endued with great strength ruleth this country. He is the chief of the Asuras. This town and the country in which it is situate are protected by the might of that Rakshasa. We have no fear from the machinations of any enemy, or, indeed, from any living soul. The fee, however, fixed for that Rakshasa is his food which consists of a cart-load of rice, two buffaloes, and a human being who conveyeth them unto him. One after another, the householders have to send him this food. Difficult of being kept, the turn, however, cometh to a particular family at intervals of many long years. If there are any that seek to avoid it, the Rakshasa slayeth them with their children and wives and devoureth them all. There is, in this country a city called Vetrakiya where liveth the king of these territories. He is ignorant of the science of government. Possessed of little intelligence he adopts not with care any measure by which these territories may be rendered safe for all time to come. But we certainly deserve it all inasmuch as we