Piśāca-mukti-prāpti — The Ghost's Attainment of Liberation

Verse 1 (skanda.2.168.1)

श्रुतदेव उवाच । यः प्रातः स्नाति वैशाखे मेषसंस्थे दिवाकरे । मधुसूदनमभ्यर्च्य कथां श्रुत्वा हरेरिमाम्

śrutadeva uvāca yaḥ prātaḥ snāti vaiśākhe meṣasaṁsthe divākare madhusūdanamabhyarcya kathāṁ śrutvā harerimām

Shrutadeva said: He who bathes at dawn in the month of Vaishakha, when the sun stands in Aries, worships Madhusudana, and listens to this story of Hari,

Verse 2 (skanda.2.168.2)

स तु पापविनिर्मुक्तो याति विष्णोः परं पदम् । वाच्यमानां कथां हित्वा योऽन्यां सेवेत मूढधीः

sa tu pāpavinirmukto yāti viṣṇoḥ paraṁ padam vācyamānāṁ kathāṁ hitvā yo’nyāṁ seveta mūḍhadhīḥ

is freed from sin and attains the supreme abode of Vishnu. But the foolish-minded person who abandons the story being recited to attend to something else instead,

Verse 3 (skanda.2.168.3)

रौरवं नरकं प्राप्य पैशाचीं योनिमाप्नुयात् । अत्रैवोदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्

rauravaṁ narakaṁ prāpya paiśācīṁ yonimāpnuyāt atraivodāharantīmamitihāsaṁ purātanam

attains the Raurava hell and then is born as a ghost. On this very matter they relate this ancient tale:

Verse 4 (skanda.2.168.4)

पापघ्नं पावनं धर्म्यं सद्यो वंद्यं पुरातनम् । पुरा गोदावरीतीरे क्षेत्रे ब्रह्मेश्वरे शुभे

pāpaghnaṁ pāvanaṁ dharmyaṁ sadyo vaṁdyaṁ purātanam purā godāvarītīre kṣetre brahmeśvare śubhe

a sin-destroying, purifying, righteous, and instantly venerable ancient tale — once, on the bank of the Godavari, in the auspicious field named Brahmeshvara,

Verse 5 (skanda.2.168.5)

दुर्वासशिष्यौ परमहंसौ ब्रह्मैकनिष्ठितौ । सदैवोपनिषद्विद्यानिष्ठितौ निरपेक्षितौ

durvāsaśiṣyau paramahaṁsau brahmaikaniṣṭhitau sadaivopaniṣadvidyāniṣṭhitau nirapekṣitau

there lived two disciples of the sage Durvasa, both supreme ascetics devoted solely to Brahman, ever fixed in the knowledge of the Upanishads and free of worldly want,

Verse 6 (skanda.2.168.6)

भिक्षामात्राशिनौ पुण्यौ तौ गुहावासिनावुभौ । सत्यनिष्ठतपोनिष्ठाविति ख्यातौ जगत्त्रये

bhikṣāmātrāśinau puṇyau tau guhāvāsināvubhau satyaniṣṭhataponiṣṭhāviti khyātau jagattraye

living on alms alone, both meritorious, both dwelling together in one cave — known throughout the three worlds by the names 'Satyanishtha' and 'Taponishtha'.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.168.7)

तयोर्मध्ये सत्यनिष्ठः सदा विष्णुकथापरः । श्रोतॄणामप्यभावे च व्याख्यातॄणां तथा नृप

tayormadhye satyaniṣṭhaḥ sadā viṣṇukathāparaḥ śrotṝṇāmapyabhāve ca vyākhyātṝṇāṁ tathā nṛpa

Of the two, Satyanishtha was ever devoted to the story of Vishnu. O king, even in the absence of listeners and of narrators alike—

Verse 8 (skanda.2.168.8)

तदा कर्मकला नित्याः करोत्यद्धा मुनीश्वरः । श्रोता चेदस्ति यः कश्चित्तस्मै व्याख्या त्यहर्निशम्

tadā karmakalā nityāḥ karotyaddhā munīśvaraḥ śrotā cedasti yaḥ kaścittasmai vyākhyā tyaharniśam

that great sage would carry out his regular ritual duties; but if there was any listener at all, he would expound the story to him day and night.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.168.9)

यदि व्याख्याति कश्चिद्वा पुण्यां विष्णुकथां शुभाम् । तदा संकुच्य कर्माणि शृणोति श्रवणे रतः

yadi vyākhyāti kaścidvā puṇyāṁ viṣṇukathāṁ śubhām tadā saṁkucya karmāṇi śṛṇoti śravaṇe rataḥ

And if anyone recited the sacred, auspicious story of Vishnu, he would curtail his rites and, delighting in listening, hear it.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.168.10)

अतिदूरस्थतीर्थानि देवतायतनानि च । हित्वा कथाविरोधीनि तथा कर्माणि भूरिशः

atidūrasthatīrthāni devatāyatanāni ca hitvā kathāvirodhīni tathā karmāṇi bhūriśaḥ

He would forsake distant holy places and temples, and likewise the many rites that would conflict with hearing the story,

Verse 11 (skanda.2.168.11)

शृणोति च कथां दिव्यां श्रोतृभ्यो वक्ति वै स्वयम् । विना कथां न जानाति सेव्यमन्यन्नरेश्वर

śṛṇoti ca kathāṁ divyāṁ śrotṛbhyo vakti vai svayam vinā kathāṁ na jānāti sevyamanyannareśvara

and he would listen to that divine story, and himself recite it to listeners. O lord of men, apart from the story he knew nothing else worth attending to.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.168.12)

व्याख्याति च गृहे स्वस्य वक्ता रोगाद्युपद्रुतः । कूपस्नानपरो भूत्वा शृणोत्येव कथां मुनिः

vyākhyāti ca gṛhe svasya vaktā rogādyupadrutaḥ kūpasnānaparo bhūtvā śṛṇotyeva kathāṁ muniḥ

If the narrator, afflicted by illness or the like, expounded it in his own house, the sage would still listen to the story, content with merely bathing at a well.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.168.13)

कथायाश्च विरामे तु स्वकृत्यं साधयत्यलम् । कथां वै शृण्वतः पुंसो जन्ममबन्धो न विद्यते

kathāyāśca virāme tu svakṛtyaṁ sādhayatyalam kathāṁ vai śṛṇvataḥ puṁso janmamabandho na vidyate

Only when the story paused would he attend fully to his own duties. For a man who listens to the story, the bondage of birth ceases to exist.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.168.14)

सत्त्वशुद्धिस्ततो विष्णावरतिश्चैव गच्छति । रतिश्च जायते विष्णौ सौहृदं चैव साधुषु

sattvaśuddhistato viṣṇāvaratiścaiva gacchati ratiśca jāyate viṣṇau sauhṛdaṁ caiva sādhuṣu

From that comes purity of being; then dispassion arises; love for Vishnu is born, and friendship with the virtuous as well.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.168.15)

नीरजं निर्गुणं ब्रह्म सद्यो हृद्यवरुध्यते । ज्ञानहीनस्य वै पुंसः कर्म वै निष्फलं भवेत्

nīrajaṁ nirguṇaṁ brahma sadyo hṛdyavarudhyate jñānahīnasya vai puṁsaḥ karma vai niṣphalaṁ bhavet

The stainless, attribute-less Brahman becomes at once lodged in the heart. But for a man devoid of knowledge, ritual action becomes wholly fruitless.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.168.16)

बहुधा चरितं चाऽपि यथैवांधकदर्पणम् । कर्माणि क्रियमाणानि बहुधा शोचितात्मभिः

bahudhā caritaṁ cā’pi yathaivāṁdhakadarpaṇam karmāṇi kriyamāṇāni bahudhā śocitātmabhiḥ

Conduct performed in many forms is, without knowledge, like a mirror held before a blind man; the many rites performed by souls afflicted with grief—

Verse 17 (skanda.2.168.17)

सत्त्वशुद्ध्यै भवंत्येव सत्त्वशुद्ध्या श्रुतिं व्रजेत् । श्रुतेस्तु ज्ञानमासाद्य ज्ञात्वा ध्यानाय कल्पते

sattvaśuddhyai bhavaṁtyeva sattvaśuddhyā śrutiṁ vrajet śrutestu jñānamāsādya jñātvā dhyānāya kalpate

serve only for the purification of one's being; through that purity one attains scriptural hearing. Having gained knowledge through hearing, and having known, one becomes fit for meditation.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.168.18)

बहुधा श्रवणं ध्यानं मननं श्रुतिचोदितम् । यत्र विष्णुकथा नास्ति यत्र साधुजना नहि

bahudhā śravaṇaṁ dhyānaṁ mananaṁ śruticoditam yatra viṣṇukathā nāsti yatra sādhujanā nahi

Hearing, meditation, and reflection enjoined by scripture take many forms — but where there is no story of Vishnu, where there are no righteous people,

Verse 19 (skanda.2.168.19)

साक्षाद्गंगातटं वाऽपि त्याज्यमेव न संशयः । यद्देशे तुलसी नास्ति वैष्णवं धाम वा शुभम्

sākṣādgaṁgātaṭaṁ vā’pi tyājyameva na saṁśayaḥ yaddeśe tulasī nāsti vaiṣṇavaṁ dhāma vā śubham

even the very bank of the Ganga should be forsaken — of this there is no doubt. And a land where there is no tulasi, nor any auspicious Vaishnava shrine—

Verse 20 (skanda.2.168.20)

यत्र विष्णुकथा नास्ति मृतस्तत्र तमो व्रजेत् । यद्ग्रामे वैष्णवं धाम नास्ति कृष्णमृगोऽपि वा

yatra viṣṇukathā nāsti mṛtastatra tamo vrajet yadgrāme vaiṣṇavaṁ dhāma nāsti kṛṣṇamṛgo’pi vā

where there is no story of Vishnu, one who dies there goes into darkness. And a village where there is no Vaishnava shrine, nor even a black antelope [sign of dharmic life],

Verse 21 (skanda.2.168.21)

यत्र विष्णुकथा नास्ति साधवो वा तदाश्रयाः । मृतस्तत्र पुमान्क्षिप्रं श्वानयोनिशतं व्रजेत्

yatra viṣṇukathā nāsti sādhavo vā tadāśrayāḥ mṛtastatra pumānkṣipraṁ śvānayoniśataṁ vrajet

where there is no story of Vishnu, nor the saints who dwell there — a man who dies there quickly passes through a hundred births as a dog.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.168.22)

विचार्योपनिषद्विद्यामिति निश्चित्य वै मुनिः । सदा विष्णुकथाऽऽसक्तो विष्णुस्मृतिपरायणः

vicāryopaniṣadvidyāmiti niścitya vai muniḥ sadā viṣṇukathā’’sakto viṣṇusmṛtiparāyaṇaḥ

Having reflected on the knowledge of the Upanishads and thus ascertained this truth, the sage remained ever attached to the story of Vishnu, devoted to the remembrance of Vishnu,

Verse 23 (skanda.2.168.23)

न किंचिदधिकं जातु मन्यते श्रवणात्परम् । इतरस्तु तपोनिष्ठः कर्मनिष्ठो दुराग्रही

na kiṁcidadhikaṁ jātu manyate śravaṇātparam itarastu taponiṣṭhaḥ karmaniṣṭho durāgrahī

and never considered anything superior to such hearing. But the other brother, devoted to austerity, fixed on ritual action, and stubborn in his views,

Verse 24 (skanda.2.168.24)

न व्याख्याति स्वयं वाऽपि न शृणोति च सत्कथाम् । वाच्यमानां कथां हित्वा तीर्थस्नानाय गच्छति

na vyākhyāti svayaṁ vā’pi na śṛṇoti ca satkathām vācyamānāṁ kathāṁ hitvā tīrthasnānāya gacchati

would neither expound the story himself nor listen to the sacred tale; leaving the story being recited, he would go off to bathe at a holy place.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.168.25)

तीर्थेऽपि च प्रवृत्तायां कथायां भूमिपालक । कर्मलोपभयाद्दूरं याति चांचल्यशक्तितः

tīrthe’pi ca pravṛttāyāṁ kathāyāṁ bhūmipālaka karmalopabhayāddūraṁ yāti cāṁcalyaśaktitaḥ

O protector of the earth, even at the holy place, when the story was in progress, out of fear of neglecting his rites and driven by his restless nature, he would go far away.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.168.26)

व्रजंति गृहकृत्यार्थं संगमात्परतो जनाः । न श्रोतारो न वक्तारस्तस्य पार्श्वे तु कर्मिणः

vrajaṁti gṛhakṛtyārthaṁ saṁgamātparato janāḥ na śrotāro na vaktārastasya pārśve tu karmiṇaḥ

After the sacred confluence, people leave for their household duties; beside that ritualist there was neither a listener nor a narrator.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.168.27)

दुरात्मनस्तु दुर्बुद्धेः काल एवं क्षयं गते । जिह्वां श्रुतिं च न क्वापि संप्राप्ता हि कथा विभोः

durātmanastu durbuddheḥ kāla evaṁ kṣayaṁ gate jihvāṁ śrutiṁ ca na kvāpi saṁprāptā hi kathā vibhoḥ

Thus, for that evil-minded man, time passed away, and the story of the Lord never once reached his tongue or his ear.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.168.28)

अश्रोतृत्वादवक्तृत्वाद्दुर्बुद्धित्वाद्दुराग्रहात् । पश्चात्पंचत्वमासाद्य सद्यो धर्मेण वै मुनिः

aśrotṛtvādavaktṛtvāddurbuddhitvāddurāgrahāt paścātpaṁcatvamāsādya sadyo dharmeṇa vai muniḥ

Because he was never a listener nor a speaker, and because of his ill-mindedness and stubbornness, having afterward met death, that sage — instantly, by the working of his own deeds—

Verse 29 (skanda.2.168.29)

पिशाचोऽभूच्छमीवृक्षे च्छिन्नकर्णाह्वयोऽबलः । निराश्रयो निराहारः शुष्ककण्ठोष्ठतालुकः

piśāco’bhūcchamīvṛkṣe cchinnakarṇāhvayo’balaḥ nirāśrayo nirāhāraḥ śuṣkakaṇṭhoṣṭhatālukaḥ

became a powerless ghost named 'Chhinnakarna' (Cut-Ear) on a shami tree — without shelter, without food, his throat, lips and palate all parched.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.168.30)

एवं वै खिद्यमानस्य समा दिव्यायुता गताः । नापश्यत्स्वस्य त्रातारं निराहारोऽतिदुःखितः

evaṁ vai khidyamānasya samā divyāyutā gatāḥ nāpaśyatsvasya trātāraṁ nirāhāro’tiduḥkhitaḥ

Thus grieving, ten thousand celestial years passed for him; famished and in extreme misery, he saw no protector for himself.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.168.31)

स्वकृतं चिंतयानश्च मत्तोन्मत्त इवाभ्रमत् । क्षुधया पर्यटन्वाऽपि निर्वृतिं नाप मूढधीः

svakṛtaṁ ciṁtayānaśca mattonmatta ivābhramat kṣudhayā paryaṭanvā’pi nirvṛtiṁ nāpa mūḍhadhīḥ

Brooding on his own deeds, he wandered about like one crazed; though he roamed here and there from hunger, the foolish-minded one found no relief.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.168.32)

कृशानुसदृशो वायुरंगं स्पृष्ट्वा कृतात्मनः । कालाग्नितुल्या आपश्च फलपुष्पादिकं विषम्

kṛśānusadṛśo vāyuraṁgaṁ spṛṣṭvā kṛtātmanaḥ kālāgnitulyā āpaśca phalapuṣpādikaṁ viṣam

The wind that touched his body felt like fire; water felt like the fire of doom, and fruits, flowers and the like tasted like poison.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.168.33)

न क्वापि सुखमापेदे कर्मठो दीनधीरयम् । एवं व्यवसिते तस्मिन्नरण्ये जनवर्जिते

na kvāpi sukhamāpede karmaṭho dīnadhīrayam evaṁ vyavasite tasminnaraṇye janavarjite

That wretched-minded ritualist found happiness nowhere. While he remained thus in that forest devoid of people,

Verse 34 (skanda.2.168.34)

कथया रहिते क्षेत्रे स्वाश्रये साधुवर्जिते । दैवादायात्सत्यनिष्ठस्तदा पैठिनसीं पुरीम्

kathayā rahite kṣetre svāśraye sādhuvarjite daivādāyātsatyaniṣṭhastadā paiṭhinasīṁ purīm

in that same region — now bereft of the story and of saints — then, by providence, Satyanishtha happened to pass that way, journeying toward the city of Paithinasi.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.168.35)

गच्छन्मार्गे ददर्शाऽसौ छिन्नकर्णं वहुव्यथम् । दृष्ट्वाऽऽत्मानं द्रावयन्तं रुदंतं क्षुधयाऽऽतुरम्

gacchanmārge dadarśā’sau chinnakarṇaṁ vahuvyatham dṛṣṭvā’’tmānaṁ drāvayantaṁ rudaṁtaṁ kṣudhayā’’turam

Going along the road, he saw that greatly tormented Chhinnakarna — weeping, afflicted by hunger, tormenting himself,

Verse 36 (skanda.2.168.36)

मा भैषीरिति चाभाष्य कोऽसीत्याह मुनीश्वरः । दशेदृशी च कस्मात्ते न ते दुःखमतः परम्

mā bhaiṣīriti cābhāṣya ko’sītyāha munīśvaraḥ daśedṛśī ca kasmātte na te duḥkhamataḥ param

and said, 'Do not fear.' Then the great sage asked, 'Who are you? Why is your condition such as this? There is surely no greater suffering than yours.'

Verse 37 (skanda.2.168.37)

इत्याश्वस्तोऽमुना च्छिन्नकर्णः प्राहातिविह्वलः । तपोनिष्ठो यतिरहं शिष्यो दुर्वाससः परम्

ityāśvasto’munā cchinnakarṇaḥ prāhātivihvalaḥ taponiṣṭho yatirahaṁ śiṣyo durvāsasaḥ param

Thus reassured by him, Chhinnakarna, utterly overwhelmed, said: 'I am the ascetic named Taponishtha, none other than a disciple of the sage Durvasa,

Verse 38 (skanda.2.168.38)

ब्रह्मेश्वरक्षेत्रवासी कर्मनिष्ठो दुराग्रही । कर्मलोपभयान्मौढ्यान्मया दुर्बुद्धिना मुने

brahmeśvarakṣetravāsī karmaniṣṭho durāgrahī karmalopabhayānmauḍhyānmayā durbuddhinā mune

a dweller in the Brahmeshvara field, devoted to ritual, obstinate. O sage, out of foolish fear of neglecting my rites, I, ill-minded—

Verse 39 (skanda.2.168.39)

साधुभिर्वाच्यमानाऽपि नादृता विष्णुसत्कथा । न व्याख्याता च श्रोतृभ्यः कथा कर्मनिकृतंनी

sādhubhirvācyamānā’pi nādṛtā viṣṇusatkathā na vyākhyātā ca śrotṛbhyaḥ kathā karmanikṛtaṁnī

did not honor the sacred story of Vishnu even as the virtuous recited it, nor did I expound it to any listener — thereby cheating myself of my own true duty.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.168.40)

तेन कर्मविपाकेन महताऽहं मृतिं गतः । छिन्नकर्णोऽभवं नाम्ना पिशाचो दुःखविह्वलः

tena karmavipākena mahatā’haṁ mṛtiṁ gataḥ chinnakarṇo’bhavaṁ nāmnā piśāco duḥkhavihvalaḥ

By that great fruit of my deeds I met death, and became a suffering ghost named Chhinnakarna.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.168.41)

न पश्यामि च त्रातारं दुःखादस्मात्कथंचन । तव दृष्टिपथं यातो दिष्टयाऽहं गतकल्मषः

na paśyāmi ca trātāraṁ duḥkhādasmātkathaṁcana tava dṛṣṭipathaṁ yāto diṣṭayā’haṁ gatakalmaṣaḥ

I see no protector from this suffering by any means. Now that I have come within the range of your sight, by good fortune my sins are destroyed.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.168.42)

अद्य मे देवतास्तुष्टा गुरवः साधवश्च ये । हरिश्च मे प्रसन्नोऽभूद्यतस्ते दर्शनं मम

adya me devatāstuṣṭā guravaḥ sādhavaśca ye hariśca me prasanno’bhūdyataste darśanaṁ mama

Today my gods are pleased, and my elders and the saints as well; Hari too has become gracious to me, since I have had the sight of you.'

Verse 43 (skanda.2.168.43)

पपात पादयोर्भूमौ त्राहित्राहीति वै रुदन् । ततस्तु कृपयाऽऽविष्टः सत्यनिष्ठो महायशाः

papāta pādayorbhūmau trāhitrāhīti vai rudan tatastu kṛpayā’’viṣṭaḥ satyaniṣṭho mahāyaśāḥ

He fell at his feet upon the ground, weeping and crying, 'Save me, save me!' Then, moved by compassion, the greatly renowned Satyanishtha,

Verse 44 (skanda.2.168.44)

दोर्भ्यामुत्थापयामास शंतमाभ्यां मुनीश्वरः । ततस्त्वप उपस्पृश्य ददौ पुण्यमनुत्तमम्

dorbhyāmutthāpayāmāsa śaṁtamābhyāṁ munīśvaraḥ tatastvapa upaspṛśya dadau puṇyamanuttamam

the lord of sages, raised him up with his own gentle arms; then, having touched water, he bestowed upon him that supreme, unsurpassed merit—

Verse 45 (skanda.2.168.45)

वैशाखमासमाहात्म्यश्रवणस्य मुहूर्तजम् । तेन पुण्यप्रभावेन सद्यो ध्वस्ताखिलाशुभः

vaiśākhamāsamāhātmyaśravaṇasya muhūrtajam tena puṇyaprabhāvena sadyo dhvastākhilāśubhaḥ

the merit born of even a moment's hearing of the Mahatmya of the month of Vaishakha. By the power of that merit, all his inauspiciousness was instantly destroyed,

Verse 46 (skanda.2.168.46)

पिशाचदेहनिर्मुक्तो दिव्यदेहधरोऽभवत् । दिव्यं विमानमारुह्य तं प्रणम्य महामुनिम्

piśācadehanirmukto divyadehadharo’bhavat divyaṁ vimānamāruhya taṁ praṇamya mahāmunim

and he was freed from his ghostly body and took on a divine form. Mounting a celestial chariot, and bowing to that great sage,

Verse 47 (skanda.2.168.47)

आमंत्र्य च परिक्रम्य ययौ विष्णोः परं पदम् । सत्यनिष्ठस्ततो धीमान्ययौ पैठिनसीं पुरीम्

āmaṁtrya ca parikramya yayau viṣṇoḥ paraṁ padam satyaniṣṭhastato dhīmānyayau paiṭhinasīṁ purīm

having taken leave and circumambulated him, he departed to the supreme abode of Vishnu. Then the wise Satyanishtha too went on toward the city of Paithinasi.

Verse 48 (skanda.2.168.48)

माहात्म्यश्रवणस्यैवं चिंतयानः पुनःपुनः । श्रुतदेव उवाच । यत्र विष्णुकथा पुण्या शुभा लोकमलाऽपहा

māhātmyaśravaṇasyaivaṁ ciṁtayānaḥ punaḥpunaḥ śrutadeva uvāca yatra viṣṇukathā puṇyā śubhā lokamalā’pahā

Reflecting again and again on this hearing of the Mahatmya — Shrutadeva said: where the sacred, auspicious story of Vishnu, remover of the world's impurity, is present—

Verse 49 (skanda.2.168.49)

तत्र सर्वाणि तीर्थानि क्षेत्राणि विविधानि च । यत्र प्रवहते पुण्या शुभा विष्णुकथाऽऽपगा

tatra sarvāṇi tīrthāni kṣetrāṇi vividhāni ca yatra pravahate puṇyā śubhā viṣṇukathā’’pagā

there all the sacred fords and manifold holy fields are present. Where that sacred, auspicious river of the story of Vishnu flows—

Verse 50 (skanda.2.168.50)

तद्देशवासिनां मुक्तिः करसंस्था न संशयः

taddeśavāsināṁ muktiḥ karasaṁsthā na saṁśayaḥ

for the inhabitants of that land, liberation rests ready in the very palm of their hand — of this there is no doubt.