BUDHISRI. 115 



the first one. They are both of them spiritual beings, 

 have intellectual pleasures, are self — resplendent, traverse 

 the atmosphere, and are for a long time in the enjoyment of 

 happiness. Then the following thoughts arose in him who 

 was the first existent in that Brahma Loka : I am Brahma, 

 the Great Brahma, the Supreme, the Invincible, the Omni- 

 scient, the Governor of all things, the Lord of all. I am 

 the Maker, the Creator of all things. I am the Chief, the 

 Disposer and controller of all; the Universal Father. 

 This being was made by me. How does this appear ? 

 Formerly I thought, Would that another being were in 

 this place, and upon my volition this being came here. 

 Those Beings also, who afterwards obtained an existence 

 there, thought, this illustrious Brahma is the Great Brah- 

 ma, the Supreme, the Invincible, the Omniscient, the Ruler, 

 the Lord, the Creator of all. He is the Chief, the Dis- 

 poser of all things, the Controller of all, the Universal 

 Father. "We were created by him, for we see that he was 

 first here, and that we have since then obtained existence. 

 Furthermore, he who first obtained existence there, lives 

 during a very long period, exceeds in beauty, and is of im- 

 mense power ; but those who followed him are short lived ? 

 of inferior beauty, and of little power. It then happens, 

 that one of those Beings, ceasing to exist there, is born in 

 this world, and afterwards retires from society and becomes 

 a recluse. He subjects his passions, is persevering in the 

 practice of virtue, and by profound meditation he recollects 

 his immediately previous state of existence, but none prior 

 to that : he therefore says, that illustrious Brahma is the 

 Great Brahma : the Supreme, the Invincible, the Omni- 

 scient, the Eider, the Lord, the Maker, the Creator of all* 



