Chapter 257
“Sthanu said, ‘Know, O lord, that my solicitations to thee are on behalfof the created beings of the universe. These beings have been created bythee. Do not be angry with them, O grandsire! By the fire born of thyenergy, O illustrious one, all the created beings are being consumed.Beholding them placed in such a plight, I am penetrated with compassion.Do not be angry with them, O lord of the universe.’
“The lord of all created beings said, ‘I am not angry, nor it is my wishthat all the created beings should cease to exist. It is only forlightening the burthen of the earth that destruction is desirable. Thegoddess Earth, afflicted with the weight of creatures, solicited me, OMahadeva, for destroying them, especially as She seemed to sink undertheir burthen into the water. When after exercising my intelligence foreven a long while I could not hit upon the means by which to accomplishthe destruction of this overgrown population, it was then that wrath tookpossession of my breast.’
“Sthanu said, ‘Do not give way to wrath, O lord of the deities, withrespect to this matter about the destruction of living creatures. Begratified. Let not these mobile and immobile beings be destroyed. Alltanks, all kinds of grass and herbs, all immobile beings, and all mobilecreatures also of the four varieties, are being consumed. The wholeuniverse is about to be denuded of beings. Be gratified, O divine lord! Othou of righteous heart, even this is the boon that I solicit at thyhands. If destroyed, these creatures would not come back. Therefore, letthis energy of thine be neutralised by thy own energy. Actuated bycompassion for all created beings find some means so that, O Grandsire,these living creatures may not burn. Oh, let not these living creaturesperish with even their descendants thus destroyed. Thou hast appointed meas the presider over the consciousness of all living creatures, O lord ofall the lords of the universe. All this mobile and immobile universe oflife, O lord of the universe, hath sprung from thee. Pacifying thee, Ogod of gods, I beg of thee that living creatures may repeatedly come backinto the world, undergoing repeated deaths.’
“Narada continued, ‘Hearing these words of Sthanu, the divine Brahman ofrestrained speech and mind himself suppressed that energy of his withinhis own heart. Suppressing that fire that had been devastating theuniverse, the illustrious Brahman, adored of all, and possessed ofillimitable puissance, then arranged for both birth and death in respectof all living creatures. After the Selfborn had withdrawn and suppressedthat fire, there came out, from all the outlets of his body, a ladyattired in robes of black and red, with black eyes, black palms, wearinga pair of excellent ear-rings, and adorned with celestial ornaments.Having sprung from Brahman’s body, the lady took her station on hisright. The two foremost of deities thereupon looked at her. Then, O king,the puissant Selfborn, the original cause of all the worlds, saluted herand said, ‘O Death, slay these creatures of the universe. Filled withanger and resolved to bring about the destruction of created beings, Ihave called thee.[1110] Do thou, therefore, commence to destroy allcreatures foolish or learned. O lady, slay all created beings withoutmaking exception in anybody’s favour. At my command thou wilt win greatprosperity.’ Thus addressed, the goddess, Death, adorned with a garlandof lotuses, began to reflect sorrowfully and shed copious tears. Withoutallowing her tears, however, to fall down, she held them, O king, in herjoined palms. She then besought the Self-born, impelled by the desire ofdoing good to mankind.'”
