BENARES. 
87 
that ‘ with the wise man, impatience is the commence- 
ment of folly.’ He therefore continued daily to renew 
his questions, and sorely vexed his master, until at 
last, he enquired what reward would be granted by the 
great Brahma, in the next world, to those who should 
be born, or those who should die, within the new city. 
To this the venerable Viasa could make no reply ; he 
was conscious that he could not with truth make any 
promises in the name of the great Brahma, his design 
having commenced without his divine command ; and 
he did not dare to declare that no reward was allotted 
for such of his people, lest they should desert his 
newly raised walls, and return to the chosen city of 
Siva ; so he held his peace. But the cunning Genesa, 
having thus perplexed the sage, continued during seven 
days to follow him with importunity for an answer, 
in presence of the assembled throng ; and this per- 
tinacious behaviour of the disguised god of wisdom so 
exasperated Viasa, that at last, in a sudden ebullition 
of wrath, he declared that after death their souls would 
transmigrate, and re-appear upon earth in the forms of 
asses. This so terrified all the people and the work- 
men, that they immediately deserted the city, nor 
could any be prevailed upon to complete it. The 
walls and foundations of the palaces and temples 
remain to this day upon the opposite bank, and are 
called the Shahur of Viasa Kasi. Siva, being thus 
relieved from his presumptuous rival, promised to 
restore his city to its pristine magnificence if the in- 
i 2 
