17. Therefore my daughter! thou dost act contrary to nature, by withstanding the action which thy nature requires; nor can there be any objection to thy slaughter of animal life under proper bounds. (Because the carnivorous are made to live upon flesh, as the omnivorous man upon all kinds of food).
18. Act therefore within the bounds of justice, and refrain from all acts of injustice in the world; and stick steadfastly to reason, if thou shouldst like to live liberated in this life. (Justice is the source of liberty, but injustice leads to bondage).
19. Saying so far, the god disappeared from below to his heavenly sphere, when Súchí said to him “be it so and I have nothing to oppose to this”. Then thinking in her mind, that she had no cause to be dissatisfied with the decree of the lotus-born Brahmá, found herself immediately in possession of her former body.
20. She came to be of the measure of a span at first, and then of a cubit; and next a full fathom in length; and increasing fastly in her height, she grew up as a tree; till at last she was of the form of a cloud. She had all the members of the body added to her instantly, in the manner of the growth of the arbour of human desire. (Our growing desires and their increase, are compared with the growth and ramifications and fructification of trees).
21. From the fibrous form of Súchí (the needle), which was without form or feature, body, blood, bones, flesh or strength, there grew up all the parts and limbs at once. Just so the fancied garden of our desire, springs up on a sudden with all its verdant foliage and fruits and flowers from their hidden state.
CHAPTER LXXVI.
Refraining from Unlawful Food.
Argument. Advice of the god of winds to Karkatí; and her resort to the Abode of Kiráta—flesh eaters.
Vasishtha continued:—Súchí the needle now became the fiend Karkatí again; and her leanness turned to bulkiness, in the manner of a flimsy cloud; assuming a gigantic form in the rainy season.
2. Now returning to her natal air and element, she felt some joy in herself; but renounced her fiendish nature by the knowledge she had gained; as a snake throws off its old slough. (She was regenerated to a new life in the very same body).
3. There seated in her lotiform posture, she continued to reflect on her future course; and relying on the purity of her new life and faith, she remained fixed as a mountain peak. (Unmoved by the stormy temptations of the world).