39. It was then at mid-day, when the sun had run his eighth hour, and the plants had dried up the dews of their morning baths.
40. That I beheld a damsel carrying some food and a goblet of water, on the way as Hari bore the poisonous liquor to the demons in his disguise in the shape of Mádhaví.
41. She was of a swarthy complexion, and dressed in sable black attire; and looked askance at me; when I advanced towards her as the bright moon appears towards the dark and sable night.
42. I asked her to give me some of her food in my great distress, because, I told her, one is enriched by relieving the distress of the needy.
43. O good maid; said I, increasing hunger is consuming my bowels and I would take any food, even as the female serpent devours her own brood and young, in the excess of her hunger. (Hunger beats down the stony wall, and impure food is pure to the hungry).
44. I begged of thee and yet thou gavest me nothing, but dost remain as inexorable as the goddess of fortune, who declines to favour the wretched, however they implore her aid. (Fortune turns a deaf ear to the supplications of the poor).
45. Then I kept a long time, following her closely from one wood to another, and clinging to her as her shadow, moving behind her in the afternoon.
46. She then turned to me and said:—Know me, to be a Chandála girl and bearing the name of Harakeyuri; we are as cruel as Rákshasas, and feeders on human flesh as on those of horses and elephants.
47. You cannot, O King! get your food by merely your craving it of me; as it is hard to have the favour of men, without first meeting with their desires.
48. Saying so, she went on trippingly at every step, and then entered into an arbour on the wayside and spoke merrily unto me saying:—