1842.] An abstract Translation from the Pudma Pooran. 1121 



burning sacrifices. Vesoova Mitra being anxious to get rid of such trouble- 

 some neighbours, desired Ramah and Luchmun to kill them. The brothers 

 accordingly sallied forth, and encountering the giants, slew them with the 

 edge of the sword, and cast them into the sea. 



Visoova Mitra then celebrated his burning sacrifice, after which he pro- 

 ceeded with the two brothers towards Mithoola Nuggur. It came to pass 

 as they journeyed along, that Rama observing on the road-side a stone 

 statue of a woman, asked the penitent what it was. Visoova Mitra repli- 

 ed, " Once upon a time there was a very handsome young woman named 

 Ahiliah, who was the wife of the famous penitent Goutema. She com- 

 mitted adultery with Indra, and Goutema discovering her infidelity, trans- 

 formed her into stone." Ramah on hearing this, touched the statue with 

 his foot, and it immediately became an animated and breathing form. 

 From thence they came to the city of Mithoola, the capital of king Janaka, 

 It is necessary to premise, that this king having no children, ordered that 

 a piece of ground should be dug up, and prepared for the burning sacrifice 

 of Pootra-kamesty. The labourers on digging the ground, discovered a very 

 curious golden bow, inlaid with nine sorts of precious stones, which they 

 brought to the king, who opening it, found therein a beautiful virgin, by 

 name Setah, who shone pre-eminently among the maidens, as the moon 

 among the stars. (Velut inter ignes. Luna minor es.) Janaka presented 

 her to his wife, who treated her with great kindness. A few days after, 

 the queen brought forth a daughter by name Oormulla. When the two 

 virgins had arrived at a marriagable age, the king issued a proclamation, 

 saying, that " Whoever is able to string the bow of Roodra Danoosoo, to 

 him will I give my daughters in marriage." 



Now the history of the bow was in this wise : " Visoova Kurmah, the 

 carpenter of the gods, had a son named Miah, who aided the giants in con- 

 structing the three cities called the Trepooras, situated in the three 

 worlds ; viz. heaven, earth, and orcus, or upper, middle, and lower worlds. 

 Then Miah and the giants began to annoy the deotas, kings and penitents, 

 by interrupting their devotions and burning sacrifices, (Yogaus;) at last, 

 all the gods went to Roodra, (Siva,) and solicited his aid. Roodra im- 

 mediately destroyed all the giants excepting Miah, who made a well filled 

 with the waters of immortality, into which he threw the bodies of the giants, 

 who were thereby restored to life, and again waged war with the gods. 

 As it was necessary to prevent the giants from again having recourse 

 to the well, Vishnoo transformed himself into a cow, and ordered Brahma 

 to assume the shape of a calf. Both then went to the spot apparently 

 to graze, but when arrived at the well, the calf fell in, and the cow in 

 apparent anxiety to rescue her offspring, tumbled in after it, and drank 



