Note 12 — Chapter XXXIX

When the couple had gone a long distance, the Rákshasa Agniśikha found it out, and in wrath pursued after them through the air. And hearing afar off the noise produced by the speed of his flight, Rúpaśikhá said to Śṛingabhuja on the road, “My husband, my father has come to make us turn back, so remain here without fear: see how I will deceive him. For he shall neither see you nor the horse, since I shall conceal both by my deluding power.” After saying this, she got down from the horse and assumed by her deluding power the form of a man.12 And she said to a woodcutter, who had come to the forest to cut wood—“A great Rákshasa is coming here, so remain quiet for a moment.” Then she continued to cut wood with his axe. And Śṛingabhuja looked on with a smile on his face. In the meanwhile that foolish Rákshasa arrived there, and lighted down from the air, on beholding his daughter in the shape of a woodcutter, and asked her whether she had seen a man and woman pass that way.13 Then his daughter, who had assumed the form of a man, said with great effort as if tired, “We two have not seen any couple, as our eyes are fatigued with toil, for we two woodcutters have been occupied here in cutting a great quantity of wood to burn Agniśikha the king of the Rákshasas, who is dead.” When that silly Rákshasa heard that, he thought, “What! am I dead? What then does that daughter matter to me? I will go and ask my own attendants at home whether I am dead or not.”14 Thus reflecting, Agniśikha went quickly home, and his daughter set out with her husband as before, laughing as she went.