But at last the secret was known, and the King whose daughter was sought in marriage was very angry. “I have”, he said, “been insulted;” and he prepared to make war on the Panchalas.
And Shikhandi’s father felt that he had done wrong, and had been deceitful: and he was afraid.
But Shikhandi’s mother said, “We only relied on the word of the gods. Be unafraid as I am unafraid: and prepare to defend the kingdom. She shall be a son.”
And Shikhandi, sad at heart that she was the cause of all this trouble, wandered forth to lose herself. “If I am not here any longer, the King and my father will make peace,” was what she said in her heart.
And, wandering, she came to a great forest, and to a great house the doors of which were open. And the house smelt of smoke and incense, and yet no one was there: and it seemed to have a host, and yet was hostless.
And Shikhandi sat down in the house, and brooded, heeding not time nor self, in her great desire to save her people.
And to her presently came the kind Yakshas, whose the palace was, and he asked her what she wished.
“Make me a man,” said she, “a perfect man. My father is about to be destroyed: and if I were a man this would not happen. Make me, oh, Yakshas! a man: and let me keep that manhood till my father is saved.”
She came to a great house