362 The Mahimnastava, or a Hymn to Shiva. [May, 



When Hari (Vishnu), who was daily in the habit of worshipping 

 thy feet with a thousand lotuses, found on a certain occasion that the 

 number was short by one, he plucked one of his lotus-eyes to fill up 

 the want. Then did the fulness of his faith, thus tried and approv- 

 ed, become, by means of his wheeled body, the watchful principle of the 

 world's conservation. 



The sacrifice being ended, thou alone remainest as the cause of re- 

 ward to its performers. How can a work that is finished and has 

 ceased, be efficacious afterwards, except because of thy worship ? It is 

 accordingly only by looking up to thee as the pledge of reward in sa- 

 crifices, and by reposing faith in the Vedas, that a person can be said 

 to commence a great work. 



^iftt!TT*rTf?3' ^r vkuj!^ ^*^t: ^wn i 



Although Daksha* so perfect in works, and lord of all creatures, 

 was the offerer — although Rishis were the priests, and gods the assem- 

 bled partakers of the sacrifice, yet was it interrupted and rejected, 

 and Daksha himself destroyed by thee; for such oblations as are made 

 without faith in him, who is the giver of rewards in them, are produc- 

 tive only of evil. 



* Daksha was the father-in-law of Shiva. 



