31. Invisibly the goddess appeared to them, and spake her words to them separately in their inner apartments; after each and every one of them had performed her daily devotion to <the> goddess.

32. The goddess said:—O Child, that hast been long fading away by thy austerities, like the tender shoot under the scorching sun; now accept this boon to thy heart’s desire, both for thyself as also for thy husband.

33. Hearing this voice of the goddess of heaven, the lady Chirantiká, offered her handfuls of flowers to her, and began to address her prayer to the goddess, to her heart’s satisfaction.

34. The reserved and close tongued damsel, uttered her words in a slow flattering voice flushed with joy; and addressed the heavenly goddess, as the peahen accosts the rising cloud.

35. Chirantiká said:—O goddess, as thou bearest eternal love to Siva—the god of gods, such is the love I bear also to my husband, O make him immortal.

36. The goddess replied:—Know, O goodly minded lady, that it is impossible to gain immortality, from the inflexible decree of destiny, ever since the creation of the world. No devotion, austerity nor charity can buy life, ask therefore some other blessing.

37. Chirantiká said:—O goddess! if it be impossible to attain immortality, then ordain it thus far; that he being dead, his soul may not depart beyond the confines of this house of his.

38. When the body of my husband, falls dead in this house; then confer me this boon, that his parted soul may never depart from this place.

39. Be it so, O daughter, that your husband being gone to <the> other world, you may still continue to be his beloved wife, even after his demise.

40. Saying so, the goddess Gaurí held her silence in the midst of the air; as the sound of the clouds is stopped, after its betokening the welfare of the world.