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(xi) even for a second, your temple-park is left by the peacocks, out of affection, as it were, for the peacock of Kārtikeya near at hand” (299). “You shine with your bosom besmeared between the breasts with red sandal paste, bleeding as it were, by the pricking thorns of the garlands of Bilva leaves" (304). “The inner hall of your temple, darkened by the blue lustre of swords and daggers gifted by warriors, leaves the owls, during the day even, free from fear" (306). "The stone-slabs (of the pavement), with reflections inside of the red banners, are licked by female jackals under the illusion of the flow of blood from the easily available (animal) offerings" (310). “The dim rows of lamps in the interior of the hall, O Goddess, reel and falter, as if blinded by the darkness of the hair of the offered heads" (318). “Your female worshippers (of the Kaula sect ), mounting one over the other in their excitement to see the great beast (man) being slaughtered, raise up, as it were, a house of perfumes in the air” (319). “ With your feet characterised by people bent down (at your feet), looking much reduced in size in their reflections in your jewel-like toe-nails, you look beautiful, O Mother, being bowed, as it were, by the thumb-sized gods (Valakhilya )" (320). " In youț maidenhood, for the propitiation of god Siva, a veritable Bilva sacrifice, as it were, was done by you, with the help of your tiny breasts over your heart inflamed by love" (325). King's Reflections at the Sight of a dead Body:
After such a homage ( namakkāra ) to the Goddess Vindhya-Vāsini with all its gruesome, blood-curdling details, the King steps out and on the precincts of the temple he sees a human corpse reduced to a bony skeleton, observing which he is filled with sad
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