Chapter 225

“Bhishma said, ‘After this, he of hundred sacrifices beheld the goddessof Prosperity, in her own embodied form that blazed splendour, issue outof the form of the high-souled Vali. The illustrious chastiser of Paka,beholding the goddess blazing with radiance, addressed Vali in thesewords, with eyes expanded in wonder.’

“Sakra said, ‘O Vali, who is this one, thus shining with splendour, thusdecked with head plumes, thus adorned with golden bracelets on her upperarms, and thus emitting a halo of glory on all sides in consequence ofher energy that is issuing out of thy body.’

“Vali said, ‘I do not know whether she is an Asura damsel or a celestialone or a human one. Thou mayst not ask her thyself. Do what pleases thee.’

“Sakra said, ‘O thou of sweet smiles, who art thou that art possessed ofsuch radiance and adorned with plumes that thus issuest from the body ofVali. I do not know thee. Kindly tell me thy name. Who, indeed, art thouthat thus standest here as Maya herself, blazing with thy own splendour,after having deserted the lord of the Daityas? O, tell me this as Iquestion thee.’

“Sree said, ‘Virochana did not know me. This Vali also that is the son ofVirochana knows me not. The learned called me by the name ofDuhshaha.[844] Some knew me by the name of Vidhitsa.[845] I have othernames also, O Vasava! They are Bhuti, Lakshmi, and Sree.[846] Thouknowest me not, O Sakra, nor doth any one among the deities know me.’

“Sakra said, ‘O lady that is difficult of being borne, why do you desertVali now after having lived in him for a long time? Is it due to any actof mine or is it due to any act that Vali has done?’

“Sree said, ‘Neither the Creator nor the Ordainer rules me. It is Timethat moves me from one place to another. Do not, O Sakra, disregard Vali.’

“Sakra said, ‘For what reason, O goddess adorned with plumes, do youdesert Vali? Why also do you approach me (for living in me)? Tell methis, O thou of sweet smiles!’

‘Sree said, ‘I live in truth, in gifts, in good vows, in penances, inprowess, and in virtue. Vali hath fallen off from all these. Formerly, hewas devoted to the Brahmanas. He was truthful and had controlled hispassions. Latterly, however, he began to cherish feelings of animositytowards the Brahmanas and touched clarified butter with soiledhands.[847] Formerly, he was always engaged in the performance ofsacrifices. At last, blinded by ignorance and afflicted by Time he beganto boast before all persons, saying that his adorations towards me wereceaseless. Deserting him (for these faults) I shall henceforth, O Sakra,dwell in thee. Thou shouldst bear me without heedlessness, and withpenances and prowess.’

“Sakra said, ‘O thou that dwellest amid lotuses, there is not a singleperson among gods, men, and all creatures, that can bear thee for ever.’

“Sree said, ‘Truly, O Purandara, there is none among gods, Gandharvas,Asuras, or Rakshasas, that can bear me for ever.’

“Sakra said, ‘O auspicious lady, tell me how I should conduct myself sothat thou mayst dwell in me always. I shall certainly obey thy behests.It behoveth thee to answer me truly.’

“Sree said, ‘O chief of the deities, I shall tell thee as to how I may beenabled to dwell in thee always. Divide me into four parts according tothe ordinance laid down in the Vedas.’

“Sakra said, ‘I shall assign the habitations according to their strengthand power in bearing thee. As regards myself, I shall always take care, OLakshmi, that I may not offend thee in any way. Amongst men, the earth,that progenitrix of all things, bear them all. She shall bear a fourthpart of thyself. I think she hath the strength to do it.’

“Sree said, ‘Here, I yield up a quarter of myself. Let it be establishedon the earth. Do thou, after this, make a proper disposition, O Sakra,for my second quarter.’

“Sakra said, ‘The waters, among men, in their liquid form, do variousservices to human beings. Let the waters bear a fourth part of thyperson. They have the strength to bear a portion of thine.’

“Sree said, ‘I yield up another quarter of mine that is to be establishedin the waters. Do thou, after this, O Sakra, assign a proper place for mythird quarter.’

“Sakra said, ‘The Vedas, the sacrifices, and the deities are allestablished in Fire. Fire will bear thy third quarter, when it is placedtherein.’

“Sree said, ‘Here I yield up my third quarter which is to be placed inFire. Do thou, O Sakra, after this, assign a proper place for my lastquarter.’

“Sakra said, ‘They that are good among men, devoted to Brahmanas, andtruthful in speech, may bear thy fourth quarter. The good have the powerto bear it.’

“Sree said, ‘Here I yield up my fourth quarter that is to be placed amongthe good. My portions thus assigned to different creatures, do thoucontinue to protect me, O Sakra.’

“Sakra said, ‘Listen to these words of mine. I have thus distributed theeamong different creatures. Those among creatures that will offend againstthee shall be chastised by me. The chief of the Daityas, viz., Vali, thusdeserted by Sree, then said these words.’

“Vali said, ‘At present the Sun shines as much in the east as in thewest, and as much in the north as in the south. When, however, the Sun,withdrawing himself from all sides, will shine only upon the region ofBrahman situated in the middle of Sumeru, then will again occur a greatbattle between the gods and the Asuras, and in that fight I shallcertainly vanquish all of you. When the Sun, withdrawing himself from allsides, will shine fixedly upon only the region of Brahman, then willagain occur a great battle between the gods and the Asuras, and in thatfight I shall surely conquer all of you.'[848]

“Sakra said, ‘Brahman hath commanded me saying that I should never killthee. It is for this reason, O Vali, that I do not hurl my thunderboltupon thy head. Go whithersoever thou wishest, O chief of the Daityas! Ogreat Asura, peace to thee! No time will come when the Sun will shinefrom only the meridian. The Self-born (Brahman) hath before this ordainedthe laws that regulate the Sun’s motions. Giving light and heat to allcreatures, he goes on ceaselessly. For six months he travels in anorthward course and then for the other six in a southward course. Thesun travels by these courses (one after another), creating winter andsummer for all creatures.’

“Bhishma continued, ‘Thus addressed by Indra, O Bharata, Vali, the chiefof the Daityas, proceeded towards the south. Purandara proceeded towardsthe north. The thousand-eyed Indra, after having listened to this speechof Vali which was characterised by an entire absence of pride, thenascended the skies.’