t ] 



was ordered to go forward, that the horses might get on by means 

 of its light. When Arjoon beheld that light, which is the light of 

 God, he could not turn his face towards it ; but, covering his eyes, 

 to preserve them from the dazzling glare, remained in deep and 

 awful reflection. When the resplendent brightness of that light 

 overcame them, they entered an expanse of water, where a cold 

 wind reigned. Within that, they observed a splendid palace and 

 throne, whereon sate Seshanaga, the snake, w*ho had a thousand 

 heads, and who seemed in magnitude to resemble Kylass, while 

 his thousand eyes shot terrific flames. There they beheld the Be- 

 ing undescribable, who is pure and all-sufficient. His countenance 

 was like the flower of the lotos, and he wore a yellow robe on his 

 body, and golden earings, and a profusion of jewels ; a string of 

 the finest pearls adorned his neck, and the Kowsteke-Men blazed 

 on the middle of his breast, a figure beautiful in its proportions, 

 and resplendent with Shanka, and Chakra, and Geda, and Padma. 

 Creeshna and Arjoon, perceiving him to be the true object of wor- 

 ship, stood with their hands joined before them in adoration. That 

 sublime Being, which was purity itself, spoke these words : " It 

 was I, who, taking on myself the form of Yama, bore away the 



and SESHANAGA is thus described : ' He had a gorgeous appearance, with a thousand heads, 

 and on each of them a crown set with resplendent gems, one of which was larger and brighter 

 than the rest ; his eyes gleamed like flaming torches ; but his neck, his tongues, and his body, 

 were black ; the skirts of his habiliment were yellow, and a sparkling jewel hung in every one 

 of his ears ; his arms were extended, and adorned with rich bracelets, and his hands bore the 

 holy shell, the radiated weapon, the mace for war, and the lotos/ Thus Pluto was often exhi- 

 bited in painting and sculpture with a diadem and sceptre ; but himself and his equipage were 

 of the blackest shade." Asiatic Researches, vol. i. p. 43. Thus far Sir William Jones, whose 

 translation of the above passage seems to be more general and laboured than Mr. Halhed's, 

 which, though rapid, appears to be minutely correct, from his particularly mentioning the 

 " flower of the lotos" and the " Kowsteke-Men," which latter I ought before to havejacquainted 

 the reader from a note of the translator on a passage not printed, is a most resplendent jewel, 

 worn on the breast as a talisman, and like the carbuncle, dissipating midnight darkness. 



