380 A DISSERTATION ON SEMIRAMIS, 



Ana'ya'sa', offered praises to her, and requested she 

 would protect them against the Tavanas, and dwell 

 among them. Maha'-bha'ga' assented, and the spot 

 which she chose for her abode, is called Maha-bhagd- 

 st'han, or the place of Maha'-bha'ga 7 . 



I n the mean timeM a h a '-d e ' v a was at Mocsha-si 'ban, 

 or Mocshesa, bestowing Mocsha on all who came to 

 worship there. It is a most holy place ; and there 

 Maha'-de'v a laid aside the countenance and shape of 

 C a p o t e ' s w a r a, and assu med that of M c s h e'w a r a . 

 Among the first votaties of M aha'-d e'va, who re- 

 paired to M6csha-s. r hdn t was Vi'rase'na, the son of 

 Guhyaca. He had been making Tapasya for a long 

 time, in honour of Maha'-de'v a, who at last appear- 

 ed to him, and made him king over St K havaras y or 

 the immoveable part of the creation. Hence he was 

 called St'ha'vara-pati j and the hills, trees, plants, 

 and grasses of every kind were ordered to obey him. 

 His native country was near the sea ; and he began his 

 reign with repressing the wicked, and insisting on all 

 his subjects walking in the paths of justice and recti- 

 tude. In order to make his sovereign acknowledged 

 throughout the world, he put himself at the head of a 

 numerous army ; and directing his courfe towards the 

 north, he arrived at Morsba-st'bdn, where he perform- 

 ed the Puju in honour of Mo'cshe'swar a, according 

 to the rites prescribed in the sacred books. From Moc- 

 shesa he advanced towards the Agni-pdrvalas y or firc- 

 mountains, in Vahnist'hdn\ but they refused to meet 

 him with presents, and to pay tribute to him. Incens- 

 ed at their insolence, St'h a'var-pati resolved to de- 

 stroy 



