1116 An abstract Translation from the Pudma Pooran. [No. 131. 



and prayed 10,000 years to Siva. The god pleased with his devotion, 

 promised to grant him whatever he wished. The giant replied, " Let 

 me not be subject to death by the hands of deotas or asoors, of men or 

 angels, (gundarva,) cows, etsha, (musicians,) animals, birds, siddas (peni- 

 tents,) saddeas, vedevudarus, kinnarus, kimpoorooshus, by the sword, by 

 disease, by the cursing of resheess, Siva answered—" Be it so." The giant 

 immediately stalked to Swerga-locum, conquered Indra and all the deotas, 

 turned them out of heaven, and became master of paradise and the earth. 

 He then took unto himself a wife Siva, named Kalleyane, (the daughter of 

 Ootanapada,) who bore him a son, named Plumahalada. When arrived 

 at the proper age, the child was sent by his father to the learned Shookra- 

 chary, to be educated in the sciences. When his education was completed, 

 he was brought back to his father, and stood in his presence with be- 

 coming respect. The father pleased at his appearance and manners, 

 received him very kindly, and having kissed him, and enquired what 

 he had learnt. The young man replied, "By the glory of Vishnoo, 

 who is the creator of all worlds, from whom I derive my being, and 

 whose perfection is the object of my meditation, I will endeavour" — 

 " Stop," vociferated the giant, inflamed with anger, "What means this? 

 Bring me Shookra-chary !" On the appearance of the sage, he exclaimed, 

 " Am I not master of the three worlds by the auspices of Siva, and have 

 you not dared to teach my son to worship Vishnoo who slew my brother ? 

 Bind him hand and foot." Here Plumhalada interceded, saying, " Father t 

 you do him wrong. He did not teach me to pray to the almighty 

 Vishnoo, but to Siva, or you. The fault is mine, not his." Heranea-aksha 

 admiring his answer, pardoned Shookra-chary; but said, " In future you 

 must pray either to me or Siva." Shookra-chary also told him to obey 

 his father. Plumhalada answered, and said, "Vishnoo is greater than 

 Brahma, Sunkara, and all the other deotas, why therefore should 1 pay 

 reverence to those who are only his servants ? I who have obtained 

 favor in sight of him, who is the Lord of Lords." Upon hearing these 

 words, the enraged Heranea-aksha commanded his attendants to flay his 

 son, cut him in pieces with their swords, and cast him into the fire. But 

 neither the whip, the sword, or the fire had any effect ; he stood unhurt, 

 being supported by the glory of Vishnoo. Then Heranea-aksha asked his 

 son, saying, " Where is Vishnoo ? what is he? shew him to me, and I will 

 overpower him, as I did all the other deotas." Plumhalada answered and 

 said, " He is Narayanah, the spirit moving on the waters. He is Vau- 

 soodeva, the spirit animating all created beings. He is Vishnoo, (the 

 anima mundi,) the soul which pervades the material universe." " If that 

 is the case," replied the enraged Heranea-aksha, striking a pillar, " Shew me 



