Listen, O wise one, to the tale of unseen influences that dwell among men and their homes. There exists a force that, entering the very bones and marrow, consumes the strength of those who lack self-control. This force does not spare even the offspring of hawks, crows, pigeons, vultures, and owls. Once, a bird seized five of these creatures. The gods and demons each took their share: Death claimed the hawk, Time took the crow, Nirṛti seized the owl—bringer of great fear—disease, the lord of affliction, took the vulture, and Yama himself took the pigeon. These beings are spoken of as the causes of sin. Therefore, if hawks or the others perch upon someone’s head, it is a sign of danger. For self-protection, O best of the twice-born, one should perform rites of peace, especially if these birds nest or are born within the house. A man should avoid a house over which a pigeon has settled; if a hawk, pigeon, vulture, crow, or owl enters the home, it is wise to inform the household and abandon such a place, performing rites of peace. Even in dreams, the sight of a pigeon is considered inauspicious. Six offspring are spoken of, as well as those at the edge of the cheek. Now listen further regarding the period of menstruation in women and its duration: the first four days, and then another thirteen days are set apart. Another eleven days are counted for the birth of offspring; then, another day for approaching, and yet another for offering śrāddha. On festival days, another period is set aside. Thus, the wise avoid these times. The son of a destroyer of pregnancy is slain, and a maiden is also deluded. One enters the womb and consumes it; another, after eating, causes delusion. From her delusion are born serpents, frogs, and turtles, as well as other reptiles and creatures, sometimes from excrement. For six months, a pregnant woman who eats meat without restraint—who stays at night beneath a tree’s shade, or at a crossroads, or in a cemetery or place of bones, or without an upper garment, or who weeps at midnight—then a dark spirit enters her. There is also one called Kṣudraka, the destroyer of crops. He always destroys the harvest, finding a breach. If one begins work on an inauspicious day, unsatisfied, the yield is lost. Kṣudraka enters the fields at the end of the season. Therefore, the rite should be performed on an auspicious day, after worshipping the moon. One should begin and complete the work joyfully, satisfied, and with companions. The maiden called Niyojikā is difficult to endure, and her four daughters are known as Pracodikā. Intoxicated, mad, and careless, these women always incite men. They enter to destroy, urging what is harsh: unrighteousness disguised as righteousness, desire disguised as lack of desire, adversity disguised as prosperity, bondage disguised as liberation. Unruly and impure, they mislead men in different ways. Men entered by them fall away from their goals. Their entry into the house occurs when the sky is red at dusk. Where offerings to Dhātā and Vidhātṛ are not given at the proper time, while eating or drinking with companions, with drops of water, among nine women, their transmission occurs, and offspring are quickly born. Among the hostile ones, three sons: the water-taker, the receiver, and the darkness-coverer. When polluted by contact with lamp oil, or when the threshing floor is crossed, where there are pestle and mortar, footwear, garments of women, winnowing baskets and similar items, or where a seat is dragged by the foot, where worship is neglected and people engage in leisure within the house, or where fire is brought facing south and then carried elsewhere—there, the daughters of hostility become active. One dwells on the tongue of men and women, a liar who speaks falsehood. She is called the Instigator, causing slander in the house. Another listens inattentively and is exceedingly wicked. One seizes upon spoken words and acts as the receiver; another overtakes the minds of people, covering them with darkness and evil intent. The one who gives rise to anger is the concealer with darkness. There are also three daughters born of theft: one who takes everything, one who takes half, and one who takes strength. These dwell in houses lacking proper conduct and in homes of bad behavior. When people with unwashed feet enter the kitchen, or when wicked ones gather in the assembly, or in those houses where betrayal occurs, in all those places, these spirits freely move and take pleasure as they wish. But the son of Wandering, known as Kākajaṅgha, is unique. When possessed by him, no one in the city attains enjoyment. He enters those who sing while eating, or who sing and laugh, O friend. The man who engages in intercourse at twilight is entered by him, O twice-born; and she who menstruates gives birth to three daughters. One daughter is called the breast-taker, another the ornament-taker, and the third is known as the birth-taker. If the full marriage rites are not properly performed for her, or if they are delayed, one of them takes away both her breasts. If the proper śrāddha is not offered, or if the mother is not worshipped, the ornament is taken from the married maiden. In a lying-in chamber devoid of fire, water, or incense, without a lamp, weapon, pestle, or mustard seeds, these influences prevail. Thus, O wise one, the world is filled with subtle beings and forces, each affecting the lives of men and women, their homes, their crops, and their happiness. Through proper conduct, timely rites, and reverence, one may guard against their entry and ensure peace and prosperity.