462 Analysis of the Raghu Vans' a. [No. 6. 



assumes others in different localities, so thou, unchanged in different 

 qualities, takest different states. Immeasurable yet measuring the 

 world, free from desire yet imparting it, unconquered yet conqueror, 

 unmanifested yet the source of all external manifestation. Of one 

 form yet vested with various, like the variation of crystal owing to 

 superadded colour : dwelling in the heart yet not near, old yet not 

 growing old : omniscient, yet not known, the home of all things yet 

 self-existent : ruler of all, subject to no ruler : one, yet of multiplied 

 forms : praised in seven hymns, sleeping on the waters of the seven 

 oceans, whose mouths of fire shining with seven fires are the refuge of 

 the seven worlds. The ways that lead to bliss though in books diverse 

 yet in thee converge as Ganges' streams in the ocean's waves. As gems 

 are more valuable than the ocean, as its effulgence is brighter than the 

 sun, so are thy deeds far superior to praise." 



The gods declared the danger impending from a Rakhasa as from 

 ocean threatening in a deluge to inundate its shores. To this Vishnu, 

 whose voice drowns the roar of ocean proceeding from the caves of the 

 mountains adjacent to the shore, replied — I know the three worlds are 

 oppressed by this Rakhasa, but through the favour conferred on him 

 by his Creator his violence is tolerated by me as is that of the sandal- 

 wood by the snake, but I shall become incarnate as the son of Das'a- 

 ratha, and shall cut off his head like lotus tops in the field of battle 

 — wherefore let the holy souls who in the fields of air beholding his 

 chariot, wished to hide themselves in clouds, now cease their fear. On 

 these nectarious words, the fruits of the gods, withered by the dryness 

 of Ravana, became moist ; the gods followed Vishnu as the trees the 

 wind along the flowers. 



For the attainment of his wishes Das'aratha the ruler of men per- 

 formed once a sacrifice ; from its fire proceeded an awful form which 

 spoke these words : — 



" At the due time a son, dispersing darkness as the herbs the gloom 

 of night and the mountain darkness, will be born." The father seeing 

 his fair body gave him the name of Rama, a sign, that by the light of 

 his fame he will illuminate Raghu's family, by his splendour the lights 

 in the lying-in chamber were paled. 



His mother became thin, as the Ganges stream is feeble in autumn 

 after its swelling torrents. 



