SACRED ISLES IM THE WEST. lOS 



** and the Valac'hilyas also: LAgsHMf, with her damsels, are making 

 " pyjd to this place of the most excellent feet The Sa}tddica-T6gis are 

 " meditating on it; consider attentively this most pure resplendence. 

 "* Thus I have shewn to you, Brah?7i-Jfirdcdra, or the Supreme Being 

 ** without a body, is Sdcdra or embodied : for Brahm is Sdcdra m his 

 ** manifestations. Worldy men cannot see him : it is given only to those, 

 *' who have obtained internal knowledge." These words of Sambhj 

 were heard by those, who accompanied Ra'ma ; who immediately vci2.de 

 piijd to AcHYUTA, cr the incorruptible god, with Giri-carmi, Tulsi, ^Sal- 

 laca, Mamta, Nila-camala or the blue lotos. Then Narada came from 

 ^7i^?72 heaven, with his hair tied up into one lock, his guitar and a small 

 crooked staff' 'Sambhu told him that Ra'ma-chandra wished to see 

 this place, and begged that he would go and announce him, Na'rada 

 went in, and announced Ram a-chandr a and Maha'-deva. Vishnu and 

 Lacshmi, with myriads of yogis, came out to meet their guests, and 

 having worshipped them, carried them to JVdrdyan'a-j)iira. Vishnu 

 asked, "How came you to this place inaccessible to mortals.'* Who 

 " is this king ?" 'Sambhu answered, " he is a portion of your essence : 

 " we saw a path, and we followed it, and he wishes very much to see 

 ** your consort.^' " She is in the inner apartments, go and see her," an- 

 swered Vishnu. Ra'ma went in, and having worshipped her, said, " I have 

 " seen you : it is enough. I have obtained at last the objedl of my most ar- 

 *■* dent wishes." Shi-De'vi said, " you are remarkably handsome ; but Sita, 

 <* your consort, is a perfect beauty !" Ra'ma, alarmed, retired; but Cama- 

 DEVA having deeply wounded Lacshmi, she ran after him. Ra'ma being 

 (ca-patm-rvratta, or faithful to his only wife, began to tremble, and Vishnu 

 and Maha'-deVa were astonished. Ra'ma disengaged himself ; and, with 

 his retinue, h:iving ri ascended their vimdna^ left the Ldcdldca moimtains, 



