Why should I not win her favour by sacrificing myself?" And he
fetched a sword from a deserted inner room, cut off his own head,
and let it fall on the floor.

Presently his brother-in-law entered the temple to see why he
delayed so long. And when he saw his brother-in-law with his head
cut off, he went mad with grief, and cut off his own head in the
same way with the same sword.

Then when he failed to come out, Lovely was alarmed and entered
the temple. And when she saw her husband and her brother in that
condition, she cried: "Alas! This is the end of me!" and fell
weeping to the floor. But presently she rose, lamenting for the pair
so unexpectantly dead, and thought: "What is my life good for
now?"

Before killing herself, she prayed to the goddess: "O Goddess! One
only deity of happiness and character! Partaker of the life of Shiva!
Refuge of all women-folk! Destroyer of grief! Why have you killed
my husband and my brother at one fell swoop? It was not right, for
I was always devoted to you. Then be my refuge when I pray to
you, and hear my one pitiful prayer. I shall leave this wretched
body of mine on this spot, but in every future life of mine, O
Goddess, may I have the same husband and brother." Thus she
prayed, praised, and worshipped the goddess, then tied a rope to an
ashoka tree which grew there.

But while she was arranging the rope about her neck, a voice from
heaven cried: "Do nothing rash, my daughter. Leave the rope
alone. Though you are young, I am pleased with your unusual