1842.] An abstract Translation from the Pudma Pooran. 1117 



Vishnoo in this pillar, or I will stab you to the heart with my dagger." 

 Immediately a terrible noise, like that of the loudest thunder issued from 

 the pillar, the giants were struck senseless and the stars of heaven fell 

 down like flowers from the tree, and the deotas all trembled. The pillar 

 was rent in twain from top to bottom, and from the midst thereof issued 

 Nara-singha, a beast having the head and neck of a lion, and the body of 

 a man. He had three eyes which sparkled like flames, very long teeth, and 

 1000 hands, each armed with a different kind of weapon. The eyebrows 

 and eye-lids of Herunea-aksha were immediately consumed by the flames 

 that issued from the eyes of the almighty Vishnoo. Though daunted and 

 trembling, the giant defended himself with his dagger, but Vishnoo seized 

 him by the head and feet, and laying him across his lap, tore open his belly 

 with his claws, and made his entrails into a necklace. Then all the deotas 

 poured flowers of the Parejatum on the head of the victorious Vishnoo. 

 The Gundarvas, Kennaras, and Ethas played on various musical instru- 

 ments, while the Apsaras danced. Luchmee brought the fruits of the earth 

 to appease his hunger, and sat down upon his knee. Then Vishnoo sent 

 for Plumhalada, and made him king over all the giants. He restored the 

 deotas to Swerga-locum, from whence they had been expelled by Herunea- 

 aksha, and disappearing, went to the milky sea. 



5th Incarnation, or Vaman Avatar. 



Verochanah, the son of Plumhalada, had a son named Boli, who was king 

 of the three worlds ; during his reign all was peace and prosperity ; the corn 

 grew spontaneously ; the cows yielded their milk without pressing the udder; 

 the trees produced fruit in all seasons, and Indra and the Asta-dik-palakas* 

 (or lords of eight corners of the world,) attended at the gate of his palace. 

 Caseapah and his wife being desirous to see their son Indra restored to the 

 sovereignty of the three worlds, paid adoration to Vishnoo for 10,000 years. 

 The deity pleased with their piety, told them to ask for whatever they 

 wished. Caseapah replied, " I wish you to be born to me as a son by the 

 name of Oopa-Indra, when you must conquer Boli, and deliver the three 

 worlds to Indra." Vishnoo accordingly became incarnate as the son of 

 Caseapah, and day by day increased in wisdom and in stature. It came 

 to pass, that Boli held a yoga, or burning sacrifice ; upon the celebration of 

 this ceremony, the son of Caseapah transformed himself into a dwarf, called 

 Vamana, and walked before the king, who beiug pleased with him, told 

 him to ask a favor. Vamana replied, " Be pleased to give me three steps 



* Vide separate account of these. 



