27. I tried to lay hold on some of them, but noone could be grasped by my hands; and they evaded my touch, as the ideal images of the human mind.
28. Thus Ráma, I remained as a demoniac pisácha, in the abode of the holy Gods; and thought myself to be transformed to a pisácha spirit in the open air.
29. Ráma said:—Tell me sir, what kind of beings are pisáchas in this world, and what are their natures and forms, and what are their states and occupations also.
30. Vasishtha replied:—I will tell you, Ráma, what sort of beings the pisáchas are in this world; because it is unmannerly on the part of a preacher, not to answer to the interlocutory queries of the audience (though it be a digress from subject).
31. The Pisáchas are a sort of aerial beings, with subtile bodies of theirs (as we see the empty forms of persons in our dreams); they have their hands and feet and other members of the body as thine, and see all things as thou dost.
32. They sometimes assume the form of a shadow to terrify people, and at others enter into their minds in an aerial form, in order to mislead them to error and wicked purposes. (They like devils waylay unwary men, and tempt them to evil).
33. They kill persons, eat their marrow, and suck up the blood of weak bodied people; they lay a siege about the mind, and destroy the vitals and viscera and the strength and lives of men.
34. Some of them are of aerial forms, and some of the form of frost, others as visionary men, as seen in our dreams with airy forms of their bodies. (And they are at liberty to take upon themselves whatever forms they please).
35. Some of them are of the forms of clouds, and others of the nature of winds, some bear illusory bodies, but all of them are possessed of the mind and understanding.
36. They are not of tangible forms to be laid hold by us, or to lay hold on any one else; they are mere empty airy bodies, yet conscious of their own existence.