exceeding size, creamy white, and with 

 so sweet and delicate an odour that it 

 seemed to fill the air. 



" Behold,"said Vishnu, " the fairest 

 flower in any paradise." 



As he spoke the rose bent toward 

 him, the petals gently unfolded, and 

 forth stepped Lakshmi. She knelt at 

 Vishnu's feet, murmuring : — 



"1 am sent, dear god, to be thy 

 wife. From the heart of the rose I 

 come to reward thy faithfulness and 

 loyalty." 



Vishnu raised her and turned to 

 Brahma, who bowed and said : — 



" Henceforth Vishnu shall be chief 

 god, for it is true that in his paradise 

 grows the loveliest flower eye has 

 ever seen." 



When the lotus heard what Brahma 



had said, for a bird carried the news 



from Vaikuntha, she grew quite green 



with envy. To this day her petals are 



127 



