1875.] Earn Narayan — Translation of the Ayodliya-Malmtmya, 135 



her blessings on them, took Eamachandra in her lap, conferred on him a neck- 

 lace of pearls, and addressed the Maharaja thus — • This child is dear to the 

 whole world, and always lives in my bosom. The learned know this from 

 their penetrating sight.' She then added — ' Whoever shall read your 

 prayers or mine at the time of bathing, shall be endowed with the benefits 

 that flow from bathing in all sacred places.' Having said this, she took 

 all the children, Eamachandra included, to her bosom. Thereupon the 

 Maharaja was greatly astonished, and making a bow, asked her origin. 

 "Because "Vas'ishtha," said he, "brought thee, thou hast received the 

 name of Vas'ishthi ; but how didst thou come to take my children, tell me 

 with thy own lips." Sarayu said, — " Hear, Maharaja. In the beginning of 

 the creation, a lotus sprung from the navel of Narayana, which gave birth to 

 Brahma, who began to worship Vishnu by his order. When he had done 

 so for a thousand years, Vishnu, more handsome than ten millions of cupids 

 and mounted on his vehicle Garuda, came, and seeing Brahma deeply engaged 

 in worship, was pleased with him, and shed tears of joy from his eyes. 

 Brahma, who was devoted to adoration, opened his eyes, saw Narayana, 

 made a prostration, gathered in the palm of his hand the tears that 

 flowed from the eyes of Bhagavan, kept them in a wooden vessel, and, 

 knowing the flow to be righteous, deposited them in the reservoir of his 

 heart, by bathing in which Loka Pitamaha was born. After a long time, 

 the first of the Solar race became king of Ayodhya ; his son Ikshaku, thy 

 ancestor, offered up prayers to the great sage Vas'ishtha, who praised Brah- 

 ma. On this Brahma became pleased with him, and told him to ask for a 

 boon. He solicited Brahma to give him a holy river, and his request was 

 complied with ; for he gave him the same water that had flowed from Nara- 

 yana' s eyes. Sarayu said, ' I will flow in the form of a river, and accord- 

 ingly the sage walked ahead and I followed him. I always keep Bania- 

 chandra near my bosom, and those who think of me, with him, obtain salva- 

 tion and piety. This is undoubtedly true. Eamachandra is all truth and 

 joy, born through your devotion to protect the virtuous and kill the wicked.' 

 After having related the above story, Sarayu disappeared. The 

 inhabitants of Ayodhya were greatly surprised, and said — " Das'a- 

 ratha and Sarayu, you are both very fortunate." Then the Maharaja, 

 having taken leave of his spiritual guide, went home, rejoicing in his 

 luck. Because the great sage Vas'ishtha brought her, she is called 

 Vas'ishthi, and as she came for the sake of Eamachandra, she is styled Eama- 

 Ganga. Whatever good results from remaining at Kas'i for a thousand 

 ages ; at Prayag for twelve years in the Makara season ; at Mathura, for a 

 kalpa ; at Avantika for a krora of kalpas, and bathing in the fullmoon night 

 in the month of Kartika at the junction of Kirtika, and for 60,000 years in 

 the Ganges, is obtained by the mere sight of the Sarayu. Ayodhya confers 

 more blessings on men than a Sraddha at Gaya and a pilgrimage to Jagan- 



