138 Earn Narayan — Translation of the Ayodhya-HfaMtmya. [No. 2, 



arrow of fire on his bow, to dry up the waters of the Sarayu. The Sarayu, 

 being terrified, fell to his feet, called out for mercy and said — ' It is not 

 my fault ; Kamudati, the sister of Sokun has carried off the ornament.' 

 Hearing this, he postponed the use of the arrow, and reading over it the 

 charm called Garuda Mantra, flung it against the serpent. When this was 

 done, the serpent came with his sister, who fell to his feet, gave back the 

 ornament, and begged to be pardoned for her fault." Mahadeva further said, 

 " goddess, the serpent was my devotee, and seeing his misfortune, I 

 appeared. Kusha touched my feet, and, folding his hands, asked the cause of 

 my appearance. I then replied, ' The serpent is my devotee, and for the 

 sake of his protection I have come forward ; so forgive his fault, marry his 

 sister, let the serpent go, and ask for a boon, Maharaj.' Kusha answered, 

 * Please remain at Svargadvar, which is known by the name of Xages'var.' 



Parvati, having said this, the Maharaja worshipped me, and, taking excel- 

 lent things, read my six-letter-mantra, and said, ' Whoever shall bathe at 

 Svargadvar, and visit and worship Nages'var in the prescribed manner, shall 

 be blessed, and his pilgrimage shall be fruitful : otherwise he shall reap 

 only half the benefit of it.' " Mahadeva said, " Having thus declared and 

 worshipped me, Kusha went home, and the serpent also repaired to his 

 abode. Goddess, since then I have remained at Svargadvar." 



" I am now about to relate the story of Dharma Hari. Its locality is 

 south-east of Chandra Hari, as described above. A visit to it destroys all 

 the sins of the Kaliyuga. Its origin is as follows : Once Dharma came 

 here on a pilgrimage, performed it with great strictness, and, fully knowing 

 the great and incomparable benefits of Ayodhya, said with much pleasure, 



1 Hari resides here, who can sufficiently, praise its advantages ? There is 

 no other sacred place equal to Ayodhya ; for it does not touch the earth, 

 but remains separate from it, supported on the Sudarsana Chakra. How 

 excellent are the holy spots of this place ! All of them bestow the regions of 

 Vishnu. All things here are worthy of praise.' Having said this, and 

 being filled with joy, he began to dance. Seeing Dharma dancing 

 in this manner at the wonderful benefits of Ayodhya, Yishnu appeared 

 dressed in yellow silk vestment. Dharma, observing Hari, paid his re- 

 spects, and praised him thus — ' inhabitant of the ocean of milk, and 

 sleeper on the head of S'eshanaga, whose feet Mahadeva touches, and which 

 remove the sorrows of his devotees, who lovest devout austerity, whose 

 body is full of joy, and whose eyes are most beautiful, who art omniscient, 

 and the husband of S'ri Lakshmi, whose feet are like the lotus, who hast 

 the lotus in the navel from which Brahma sprung, whose feet are touched by 

 the waves of the milky ocean, and whose Saranga [horny bow] is the destroyer 

 of enemies, whose sleep is replete with devotion, whose vehicle is Garuda, 

 on whom Yogis meditate, who art ever happy and invisible, who art the 



