The Mahabharata, of, Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, BOOK 3, (Tirtha-yatra Parva),
SECTION CXXXVI

"Lomasa said, 'One day in the month of Chaitra, while fearlessly

wandering at large, Yavakri approached the hermitage of Raivya. And O son

of Bharata, in that beautiful hermitage, adorned with trees bearing

blossoms, he happened to behold the daughter-in-law of Raivya, sauntering

about like a Kinnara woman. And having lost his senses through passion,

Yavakri shamelessly spake unto the bashful maiden, saying, 'Be thou

attached unto me.' Thereupon, knowing his nature, and afraid of a curse,

as well as thinking of Raivya's power, she went unto him saying, 'I

agree.' Then, O son of Bharata, taking him in private, she kept him

chained. O conqueror of foes, returning to his hermitage, Raivya found

his daughter-in-law, Paravasu's wife, in tears. O Yudhishthira, thereat

consoling her with soft words, he enquired of her as to the cause of her

grief. Thereupon, the beautiful damsel told him all that Yavakri had said

unto her, and what she also had cleverly said unto him. Hearing of this

gross misbehaviour of Yavakri, the mind of the sage flamed up, and he

waxed exceedingly wroth. And being thus seized with passion, the great

sage of a highly irascible temper, tore off a matted lock of his hair,

and with holy mantras, offered it as a sacrifice on the sacred fire. At

this, there sprang out of it a female exactly resembling his

daughter-in-law. And then he plucked another matted lock of his hair, and

again offered it as a sacrifice into the fire. Thereupon sprang out of it

a demon, terrible to behold, and having fierce eyes. Then those, two

spake unto Raivya, saying, 'What shall we do?' Thereat, the angry sage

said unto them, 'Go and kill Yavakri.' Then saying, 'We shall do (as thou

biddest)'--they two went away with the intention of slaying Yavakri. And

with her charms, the female whom the large-hearted sage had created,

robbed Yavakri of his sacred water-pot. Then with his uplifted spear the

demon flew at Yavakri, when he had been deprived of his water-pot and

rendered unclean. And seeing the demon approach with uplifted spear for

the purpose of slaying him, Yavakri rose up all on a sudden and fled

towards a tank. But finding it devoid of water, he hurried towards all

the rivers. But they too were all dried up. And being obstructed again

and again by the fierce demon, holding the spear, Yavakri in fright

attempted to enter into the Agnihotra room of his father. But there, O

king, he was repulsed by a blind Sudra warder, and he remained at the

door, grasped by the man. And, finding Yavakri thus grasped by the Sudra,

the demon hurled his spear at him, and thereupon he fell down dead,

pierced in the heart. After slaying Yavakri, the demon went back to

Raivya, and with the permission of that sage, began to live with the

female."

SECTION CXXXVII

"Lomasa said, 'O son of Kunti, Bharadwaja returned to his hermitage after

performing the ritual duties of the day, and having collected the

sacrificial fuel. And because his son had been slain, the sacrificial

fires which used to welcome him everyday, did not on that day come

forward to welcome him. And marking this change in the Agnihotra, the

great sage asked the blind Sudra warder seated there, saying, 'Why is it.

O Sudra, that the fires rejoice not at sight of me? Thou too dost not

rejoice as is thy wont. Is it all well with my hermitage? I hope that my

son of little sense had not gone to the sage Raivya. Answer speedily, O

Sudra, all these questions of mine. My mind misgiveth me.' The Sudra

said, 'Thy son of little sense had gone to the sage Raivya, and therefore

it is that lie lieth prostrate (on the ground), having been slain by a

powerful demon. Being attacked by the Rakshasa, holding a spear, he

attempted to force his way into this room, and I therefore barred his way

with my arms. Then desirous of having water in an unclean state, as he

stood hopeless, he was slain by the vehement Rakshasa, carrying a spear

in his hand.' On hearing from the Sudra of this great calamity,

Bharadwaja, sorely afflicted with grief, began to lament, embracing his

dead son. And he said, 'O my son, it is for the good of the Brahmanas

that thou didst practise penances, with the intention that the Vedas

unstudied by any Brahmana whatever might be manifest unto thee. Thy

behaviour towards the Brahmanas had always been for their good, and thou

hadst also been innocent in regard to all creatures. But, alas! (at last)

thou didst lapse into rudeness. I had prohibited thee, O my son, from

visiting the residence of Raivya; but alas! to that very hermitage,

(destructive to thee) as the god of death himself, Yama, didst thou

repair. Evil-minded is that man, who, (knowing that I am an old man), and

also that (Yavakri) was my only son, had given way to wrath. It is

through the agency of Raivya that I have sustained the loss of my child.

Without thee, O my son, I shall give up my life, the most precious thing

in the world. In grief for the death of my son, I renounce my life; but

this I say that Raivya's eldest son shall in a short time kill him

although he be innocent. Blessed are those to whom children have never

been born, for they lead a happy life, without having to experience the

grief (incident to the death of a child). Who in this world can be more

wicked than those who from affliction, and deprived of their sense by

sorrow consequent upon the death of a child, curse even their dearest

friend! I found my son dead, and, therefore, have cursed my dearest

friend. Ah! what second man can there be in this world, destined to

suffer so grievous a misfortune!' Having lamented long Bharadwaja

cremated his son and then himself entered into a full-blazing fire.'"

SECTION CXXXVIII

"Lomasa said, 'At that very time, the mighty king, Vrihadyumna, of high

fortune, who was the Yajamana of Raivya, commenced a sacrifice. And the

two sons of Raivya, Arvavasu and Paravasu, were engaged by that

intelligent monarch, to assist him in the performance of the ceremony.

And, O son of Kunti, taking the permission of their father, they two went

to the sacrifice, while Raivya with Paravasu's wife remained in the

hermitage. And it came to pass that one day, desirous of seeing his wife.

Paravasu returned home alone. And he met his father in the wood, wrapped

in the skin of a black antelope. And the night was far advanced and dark;

and Paravasu, blinded by drowsiness in that deep wood, mistook his father

for a straggling deer. And mistaking him for a deer, Paravasu, for the

sake of personal safety, unintentionally killed his father. Then, O son

of Bharata, after performing the funeral rites (of his father), he

returned to the sacrifice and there addressed his brother saying, 'Thou

wilt never be able to perform this task unassisted. I again, have killed

our father, mistaking him for a deer. O brother, for me do thou observe a

vow, prescribed in the case of killing a Brahmana. O Muni, I shall be

able to perform this work (sacrifice), without any assistant.' Arvavasu

said, 'Do thou then thyself officiate at this sacrifice of the gifted

Vrihadyumna; and for thee will I, bringing my senses under perfect

control, observe the vow prescribed in the case of slaying a Brahmana.'

"Lomasa said, 'Having observed the vow relative to the killing of a

Brahmana, the sage Arvavasu came back to the sacrifice. Seeing his

brother arrive, Paravasu, in accents choked with malice, addressed

Vrihadyumna, saying, 'O king, see that this slayer of a Brahmana enter

not into thy sacrifice, nor look at it. Even by a glance, the killer of a

Brahmana can, without doubt, do thee harm.' O lord of men, immediately on

hearing this, the king ordered his attendants (to turn out Arvavasu). O

king, on being driven out by the king's attendants, and repeatedly

addressed by them--'O slayer of  a Brahmana--Arvavasu more than once

cried, 'It is not I that have killed a Brahmana. Not did he own that he

had observed the vow for his own sake. He said that his brother had

committed the sin, and that he had freed him therefrom.' Having said this

in anger, and being reprimanded by the attendants, the Brahmana sage of

austere penances, retired in silence into the woods. There betaking

himself to the severest penances, the great Brahmana sought the

protection of the Sun. Thereupon, the revelation teaching the mantra

relative to the worship of the Sun, became manifest unto him and that

eternal deity who obtaineth his share (of the sacrificial butter) first,

appeared before him in an embodied form.'

"Lomasa said, 'The celestials, O king, were well pleased with Arvavasu

for his acts. And they made him engaged as the chief priest in the

sacrifice (of Vrihadyumna), and Paravasu to be dismissed from it. Then

Agni and the other celestials (of their own accord) bestowed boons on

Arvavasu. And they also prayed that his father might be restored to life.

He further prayed that his brother might be absolved from his sin; that

his father might have no recollection of his having been slain; that

Bharadwaja and Yavakri might both be restored to life; and that the solar

revelation might attain celebrity (on earth). Then the god said, 'So be

it,' and conferred on him other boons also. Thereat, O Yudhishthira, all

of these persons regained their life. Yavakri now addressed Agni and the

other deities, saying, 'I had obtained a knowledge of all the Vedas, and

also practised penances. How came it then, O chiefs of the immortals,

that Raivya succeeded in killing me in that way?' Thereupon the gods

said, 'O Yavakri, never act again as those have done. What thou askest

about is quite possible, for thou hast learnt the Vedas without exertion,

and without the help of a preceptor. But this man (Raivya) bearing

various troubles, had satisfied his preceptor by his conduct, and

obtained (from the latter) the excellent Vedas through great exertions

and in a long time.'

"Lomasa said, 'Having said this to Yavakri, and restored all those to

life, the celestials with Indra at their head, ascended to heaven. Here,

O Yudhishthira, is the sacred hermitage of that sage embellished with

trees bearing blossoms and fruits at all seasons. O tiger among kings,

dwelling at this spot, thou wilt be delivered from all thy sins.'"

SECTION CXXXIX

"Lomasa said, 'O descendant of Bharata, O king, now hast thou left behind

the mountains Usiravija, Mainaka and Sweta, as well as the Kala hills, O

son of Kunti, O bull among the descendants of Bharata, here flow before

thee the seven Gangas. This spot is pure and holy. Here Agni blazeth

forth without intermission. No son of Manu is able to obtain a sight of

this wonder. Therefore, O son of Pandu, concentrate your mind in order

that he may intently behold these tirthas. Now wilt thou see the

play-ground of the gods, marked with their footprints, as we have passed

the mountain Kala. We shall now ascend that white rock--the mountain

Mandara, inhabited by the Yakshas, Manibhadra and Kuvera, king of the

Yakshas. O king, at this place eighty thousand fleet Gandharvas, and four

times as many Kimpurushas and Yakshas of various shapes and forms,

holding various weapons, attend upon Manibhadra, king of the Yakshas. In

these regions their power is very great. And in speed they are even as

the wind. They can, without doubt, displace even the lord of the

celestials from his seat. Protected by them, and also watched over by the

Rakshasas, these mountains have been rendered inaccessible. Therefore, O

son of Pritha, do thou concentrate thy thoughts. Besides these, O son of

Kunti, here are fierce ministers of Kuvera and his Rakshasa kindred. We

shall have to meet them, and, therefore, O Kunti's son, gather up thy

energies. O king the mountain Kailasa is six yojanas in height. It

contains a gigantic jujube tree. And, O son of Kunti, numberless gods and

Yakshas and Rakshasas and Kinnaras and Nagas and Suparnas and Gandharvas

pass this way, in going towards Kuvera's palace. O king, protected by me,

as well as by the might of Bhimasena, and also in virtue of thy own

asceticism and self-command, do thou to-day mix with them. May king

Varuna and Yama, conqueror of battles, and Ganga, and Yamuna, and this

mountain, and the Maruts and the twin Aswins, and all rivers and lakes,

vouchsafe thy safety. And, O effulgent one, mayst thou have safety from

all the celestials and the Asuras, and the Vasus. O Goddess Ganga, I hear

thy roar from this golden mountain, sacred to Indra. O Goddess of high

fortune, in these mountainous regions, protect the king, worshipped by

all of the Ajamidha race. O daughter of the mountain (Himalaya), this

king is about to enter into these mountainous regions. Do thou,

therefore, confer protection upon him.'

"Having thus addressed the river, Lomasa bade Yudhishthira, saying, 'Be

thou careful.'"

"Yudhishthira said, This confusion of Lomasa is unprecedented. Therefore,

protect ye Krishna, and be not careless. Lomasa knows this place to be

certainly difficult of access. Therefore, do ye practise here the utmost

cleanliness."

"Vaisampayana said, "He next addressed his brother Bhima of vast prowess,

saying, 'O Bhimasena, do thou protect Krishna carefully. Whether Arjuna

be near or away, Krishna in times of danger ever seeketh protection from

thee alone.'"

"Then the high-souled monarch approached the twins, Nakula and Sahadeva,

and after smelling their heads, and rubbing their persons, with tears

said unto them, 'Do not fear. Proceed, however, with caution."'

SECTION CXL

"Yudhishthira said, 'O Vrikodara, there are mighty and powerful invisible

spirits at this place. We shall, however, pass it, through the merit of

our asceticism and Agnihotra sacrifices. O son of Kunti, do thou

therefore, restrain thy hunger and thirst by collecting thy energies, and

also, O Vrikodara have recourse to thy strength and cleverness. O Kunti's

son, thou hast heard what the sage (Lomasa) had said regarding mount

Kailasa. Ascertain, therefore, after deliberation, how Krishna will pass

the spot. Or, O mighty Bhima of large eyes, do return from hence, taking

with thee Sahadeva, and all our charioteers, cooks, servants, cars,

horses, and Brahmanas worn out with travel, while I together with Nakula

and the sage Lomasa of severe austerities proceed, subsisting on the

lightest fare and observing vows. Do thou in expectation of my return,

cautiously wait at the source of the Ganga, protecting Draupadi till I

come back.'

"Bhima replied, 'O descendant of Bharata, although this blessed princess

hath been sore afflicted by toil and distress, yet she easily proceedeth,

in the hope of beholding him of the white steeds (Arjuna). Thy dejection

also is already very great at not seeing the high-souled Arjuna, who

never retreateth from fight. O Bharata, it is superfluous then to say

that if thou seest neither myself nor Sahadeva nor Krishna, thy dejection

will certainly increase. The Brahmanas had better return with our

servants, charioteers cooks and whomsoever else thou mayst command. I

never shall leave thee in these rugged and inaccessible mountainous

regions, infested by Rakshasas. And, O tiger among men, also this

princess of high fortune, ever devoted to her lords, desireth not to

return without thee. Sahadeva is always devoted to thee; he too will

never retrace his steps. His disposition is known to me. O king, O mighty

monarch, we are all eager to behold Savyasachin, and therefore, will we

all go together. If we are unable to go over this mountain in our cars,

abounding as it doth in defiles, well, we would go on foot. Trouble

thyself not, O king, I shall carry Panchala's daughter wherever she will

be incapable of walking. O king, I have decided upon this. Therefore let

not thy mind be distracted. I shall also carry over inaccessible tracts

those tender-bodied heroes, the twins, the delight of their mother,

wherever they will be incapable of proceeding.'

"Yudhishthira said, 'May thy strength increase, O Bhima, as thou speakest

thus, and as thou boldly undertakest to carry the illustrious Panchali

and these twins. Blessed be thou! Such courage dwelleth not in any other

individual. May thy strength, fame, merit, and reputation increase! O

long-armed one, as thou offerest to carry Krishna and our brothers the

twins, exhaustion and defeat never be thine!"

Vaisampayana said, "Then the charming Krishna said with a smile, 'O

descendant of Bharata, I shall be able to go, and, therefore, be thou not

anxious on my account.'

"Lomasa said, 'Access to the mountain, Gandhamadana, is only to be

obtained by dint of asceticism. Therefore, O son of Kunti, shall we all

practise austerities, O king, Nakula, Sahadeva, Bhimasena, thou and

myself shall then see him of the white steeds, O Kunti's son.'"

Vaisampayana said, "O king, thus conversing together, they saw with

delight the extensive domains of Suvahu, situated on the Himalayas

abounding in horses and elephants, densely inhabited by the Kiratas and

the Tanganas, crowded by hundreds of Pulindas, frequented by the

celestials, and rife with wonders. King Suvahu, the lord of the Pulindas,

cheerfully received them at the frontiers of his dominions, paying them

proper respect. Having been thus received with honour, and having dwelt

comfortably at this place, they started for the mountain Himalaya, when

the sun shone brightly in the firmament. And, O king, having entrusted to

the care of the lord of the Pulindas, all their servants--Indrasena and

the others,--and the cooks and the stewards, and Draupadi's

accoutrements, and every thing else, those mighty charioteers, the son of

the Kurus, endued with great prowess, set out from that country, and

began to proceed cautiously with Krishna,--all of them cheerful in the

expectation of beholding Arjuna."

"Yudhishthira said, 'O Bhimasena, O Panchali, and ye twins, hearken unto

my words. The acts done (by a person) in a former birth do not perish,

(without producing their effects). Behold! Even we have become rangers of

the wilderness. Even to see Dhananjaya, exhausted and distressed as we

are, we have to bear each other, and pass through impassable places. This

burneth me even as fire doth a heap of cotton. O hero, I do not see

Dhananjaya at my side. I reside in the wood with my younger brothers,

anxious for beholding him. This thought, as also the memory of that grave

insult offered to Yajanaseni, consumes me. O Vrikodara, I do not see the

invincible Partha of strong bow and incomparable energy, and who is the

immediate elder to Nakula. For this, O Vrikodara, I am miserable. In

order to see that hero, Dhananjaya, firm in promise, for these five years

have I been wandering in various tirthas, and beautiful forests and lakes

and yet I do meet with him. For this, O Vrikodara, I am miserable. I do

not see the long-armed Gudakesa, of dark blue hue, and leonine gait. For

this, O Vrikodara, I am miserable. I do not see that foremost of Kurus,

accomplished in arms, skilful in fight, and matchless among bowmen. For

this, O Vrikodara, I am miserable. Distressed for I am I do not see that

son of Pritha, Dhananjaya, born under the influence of the star Phalguni;

ranging amidst foes even like Yama at the time of the universal

dissolution; possessed of the prowess of an elephant with the temporal

juice trickling down; endued with leonine shoulders; not inferior to

Sakra himself in prowess and energy; elder in years to the twins; of

white steeds; unrivalled in heroism; invincible; and wielding a strong

bow. For this, O Vrikodara, I am miserable. And he is always of a

forgiving temper,--even when insulted by the meanest individual. And he

conferreth benefit and protection to the righteous; but to that tortuous

person who by craft attempts to do him mischief, Dhananjaya is like unto

virulent poison, albeit that one were Sakra himself. And the mighty

Vibhatsu of immeasurable soul and possessing great strength, showeth

mercy and extendeth protection even to a foe when fallen. And he is the

refuge of us all and he crusheth his foes in fight. And he hath the power

to collect any treasure whatever, and he ministereth unto our happiness.

It was through his prowess that I had owned formerly measureless precious

jewels of various kinds which at present Syodhana hath usurped. It was by

his might, O hero, that I had possessed before that palatial amphitheatre

embellished with all manner of jewels, and celebrated throughout the

three worlds. O Pandu's son, in prowess, Phalguni is like unto Vasudeva,

and in fight he is invincible and unrivalled, even like unto Kartavirya.

Alas! I see him not, O Bhima. In might, that conqueror of foes goeth in

the wake of the invincible and most powerful Sankarshana (Valarama) and

Vasudeva. In strength of arms, and spirit, he is like unto Purandara

himself. And in swiftness, he is even as the wind, and in grace, as the

moon, and in ire, he is the eternal Death himself. O mighty-armed one,

with the object of beholding that war-like tiger among men, shall we

repair to the Gandhamadana mountain, where lies the hermitage of Nara and

Narayana at the site of the celebrated jujube tree, and which is

inhabited by the Yakshas. We shall see that best of mountains. And,

practising severe austerities only on foot we shall go to Kuvera's

beautiful lake guarded by Rakshasas. That place cannot be reached by

vehicles, O Vrikodara. Neither can cruel or avaricious, or irascible

people attain to that spot, O Bharata's son. O Bhima, in order to see

Arjuna, thither shall we repair, in company, with Brahmanas of strict

vows, girding on our swords, and wielding our bows. Those only that are

impure, meet with flies gad-flies, mosquitoes, tigers, lions, and

reptiles, but the pure never come across them. Therefore, regulating our

fare, and restraining our senses, we shall go to the Gandhamadana,

desirous of seeing Dhananjaya.'"

SECTION CXLI

"Lomasa said, O sons of Pandu, ye have seen many a mountain, and river

and town and forest and beautiful tirtha; and have touched with your

hands the sacred waters. Now this way leads to the celestial mountain

Mandara; therefore be ye attentive and composed. Ye will now repair to

the residence of the celestials and the divine sages of meritorious

deeds. Here, O king, flows the mighty and beautiful river (Alakananda) of

holy water adored by hosts of celestials and sages, and tracing its

source to (the site of) the jujube tree. It is frequented and worshipped

by high-souled Vaihayasas, Valakhilyas and Gandharvas of mighty souls.

Accustomed to sing the Sama hymns, the sages, Marichi, Pulaha, Bhrigu and

Angiras, chanted them at this spot. Here the lord of celestials

performeth with the Maruts his daily prayers. And the Sadhyas and the

Aswins attend on him. The sun, the moon and all the luminaries with the

planets resort to this river, alternately by day and by night. O highly

fortunate monarch, that protector of the world; Mahadeva, having a bull

for his mark, received on his head the fall of the waters of this river,

at the source of the Ganga. O children, approach this goddess of the six

attributes and bow down before her with concentrated minds.'

"Hearing the words of the high-souled Lomasa, the son of Pandu

reverentially worshipped the river (Ganga), flowing through the

firmament. And after having adored her the pious sons of Pandu resumed

their journey accompanied by the sages. And it came to pass that those

best of men beheld at a distance some white object of vast proportions,

even like Meru and stretching on all sides. And knowing that Pandu's sons

were intent upon asking (him), Lomasa versed in speech said, 'Hear, O

sons of Pandu! O best of men, what ye see before you, of vast proportions

like unto a mountain and beautiful as the Kailasa cliff, is a collection

of the bones of the mighty Daitya Naraka, Being placed on a mountain, it

looketh like one. The Daitya was slain by that Supreme Soul, the eternal

God Vishnu, for the good of the lord of celestials. Aiming at the

possession of Indra's place, by the force of austere and Vedic lore, that

mighty-minded (demon) had practised austere penances for ten thousand

years. And on account of his asceticism, as also of the force and might

of his arms he had grown invincible and always harassed (Indra). And O

sinless one, knowing his strength and austerities and observance of

religious vows, Indra became agitated and was overwhelmed with fear. And

mentally he thought of the eternal deity, Vishnu. And thereat the

graceful lord of the universe, who is present everywhere, appeared and

stood before him manifest. And the sages and celestials began to

propitiate Vishnu with prayers. And in his presence even Agni of the six

attributes and of blazing beauty being overpowered by his effulgence,

became shorn of radiance and seeing before him the God Vishnu, the chief

of the celestials who wields the thunder-bolt, bowing with head down

readily apprised Vishnu of the source of his fear. Thereupon Vishnu said,

'I know, O Sakra, that thy fear proceedeth from Naraka, that lord of the

Daityas. By the merit of his successful ascetic acts he aimeth at Indra's

position. Therefore, for pleasing thee, I shall certainly sever his soul

from his body, although he hath achieved success in asceticism. Do thou,

lord of celestials, wait for a moment.' Then the exceedingly powerful

Vishnu deprived (Naraka) of his senses (by striking him) with his hand.

And he fell down on the earth even like the monarch of mountains struck

by (thunder). He was thus slain by a miracle and his bones lie gathered

at this spot. Here also is manifest another deed of Vishnu's. Once the

whole earth having been lost and sunk into the nether regions she was

lifted up by him in the shape of a boar having a single tusk.'

"Yudhishthira said, 'O worshipful one, relate in particular how Vishnu,

the lord of the celestials, raised up the earth sunk a hundred yojanas?

In what manner also was that support of all created things--the goddess

Earth of high fortune--who dispenseth blessings and bringeth forth all

sorts of corn rendered stable? Through whose power had she sunk an

hundred yojanas below, and under what circumstances was exhibited this

greatest exploit of the Supreme Being? O chief of the twice-born race, I

wish to hear all about it in detail as it happened. Certainly, it is

known to thee.'

"Lomasa said, 'O Yudhishthira, listen to all at length as I relate the

story, which thou hast asked me (to narrate). O child, in days of yore,

there was (once) a terrible time in the Krita Yuga when the eternal and

primeval Deity assumed the duties of Yama. And, O thou that never fallest

off, when the God of gods began to perform the functions of Yama, there

died not a creature while the births were as usual. Then there began to

multiply birds and beasts and kine, and sheep, and deer and all kinds of

carnivorous animals. O tiger among men and vanquisher of foes, then the

human race also increased by thousands even like unto a current of water.

And, O my son, when the increase of population had been so frightful, the

Earth oppressed with the excessive burden, sank down for a hundred

yojanas. And suffering pain in all her limbs, and being deprived of her

senses by excessive pressure, the earth in distress sought the protection

of Narayana, the foremost of the gods. The earth spake saying, 'It is by

thy favour, O possessor of the six attributes, that I had been able to

remain so long in my position. But I have been overcome with burden and

now I cannot hold myself any longer. It behoveth thee, O adorable one, to

relieve this load of mine. I have sought thy protection. O lord; and do

thou, therefore, extend unto me thy favour.' Hearing these words of hers,

the eternal lord, possessor of the six attributes, complaisantly said, in

words uttered in distinct letters. Vishnu said, 'Thou need not fear, O

afflicted Earth, the bearer of all treasures. I shall act so that thou

mayst be made light.'

"Lomasa said, 'Having thus dismissed the Earth, who hath the mountains

for her ear-rings, he suddenly became turned into a boar with one tusk,

and of exceeding effulgence. Causing terror with his glowing red eyes and

emitting fumes from his blazing lustre, he began to swell in magnitude in

that region. O hero, then holding the earth with his single radiant tusk

that being who pervadeth the Vedas, raised her up a hundred yojanas. And

while she was being thus raised, there ensued a mighty agitation and all

the celestials, together with the sages of ascetic wealth became

agitated. And heaven, and the firmament, and also the Earth were filled

with exclamations of Oh! and Alas! and neither the celestials nor men

could rest in peace. Then countless celestials together with the sages

went to Brahma, who was seated burning as it were in his (own) lustre.

Then approaching Brahma, the lord of celestials, and the witness of the

acts of all beings, they with folded hands spake the following words, 'O

lord of the celestials, all created beings have become agitated and the

mobile and immobile creatures are restless. O lord of the celestials,

even the oceans are found to be agitated and this whole earth hath gone

down a hundred yojanas. What is the matter? And by whose influence is it

that the whole universe is in ferment? May it please thee to explain it

unto us without delay, for we are all bewildered.' Thereupon Brahma

replied, 'Ye immortals! do ye not entertain fear for the Asuras, in any

matter or place. Hearken, ye celestials, to the reason to which all this

commotion is owing! This agitation in the heavens hath been produced by

the influence of the illustrious Being who is omnipresent, eternal and

the never-perishing Soul. That Supreme soul, Vishnu hath lifted up the

Earth, who had entirely sunk down hundred yojanas. This commotion hath

taken place in consequence of the earth being raised up. Know ye this and

dispel your doubts.' The celestials said, 'Where is that Being who with

pleasure raiseth up the Earth? O possessor of the six attributes, mention

unto us the place. Thither shall we repair.' Brahma said 'Go ye. May good

happen to you! Ye will find him resting in the Nandana (gardens). Yonder

is visible the glorious worshipful Suparna (Garuda). After having raised

the Earth, the Supreme Being from whom the world become manifest, flameth

even in the shape of a boar, like unto the all-consuming fire at the

universal dissolution. And on his beast is really to be seen the gem

Srivatsa. (Go) and behold that Being knowing no deterioration.'

"Lomasa said, 'Then the celestials, placing the grandsire at their head,

came to that infinite Soul, and having listened to his praise, bade him

adieu and went back to whence they had come.'"

Vaisampayana said, "O Janamejaya, having heard this story, all the

Pandavas without delay and with alacrity, began to proceed by the way

pointed out by Lomasa."