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701
APPENDIX
The Eka-dasi,
The
or Eleventh
moon
eleventh day of the
II
Day
of the
Moon.
religiously observed, not
only by Brahmins, but by all those castes which have the
They keep a strict fast on
right to wear the triple cord.
this day, abstain entirely from rice, do no servile work, and
give themselves up wholly to devotional exercises. The
is
is what the Vishnu- par ana says on the subject
The Eka-dasi is a day specially set apart for the worship
those who offer him puja on this day ensure for
of Vishnu
themselves immortality. Even before the creation of the
world the Man of Sin was created by Vishnu to punish
mankind \ He is of enormous stature, with a terrific coun-
tenance and a body absolutely black his eyes are wild and
he is the executioner of mankind
glaring with rage
Krishna, having seen this Man of Sin,' became thoughtful
and pensive. Touched by the woes with which mankind
was overwhelmed, Krishna resolved to remedy the evil.
With this end in view he mounted the bird Garuda, son of
Binota, and went in search of Yama, the King of Hell. The
following
:
;
'
'
;
l
.
;
'
Child of the Sun, delighted at this visit of Narayana, who
was master and guru of the world, hastened to offer him
puja, and placed him on a massive throne of gold. No sooner
had Krishna seated himself thereon than he heard the most
piteous and plaintive cries.
Moved with compassion, he
asked the King of Naraka whence these lamentations pro-
ceeded, and what caused them.
The lamentations that you hear,
Lord of the World,'
replied Yama, are the tears and groans of the unfortunate
beings who, having spent their whole lives in sin, are now
suffering the tortures of Hell, where they are treated
according to their deserts.'
Then/ said Krishna, let us go to this place of torment,
that I may see for myself what these sinners are enduring.'
And he did see, and his heart was softened.
What
is it possible
cried he, overcome with grief,
that men, who are creatures and children of mine, are en-
during such cruel agony
Shall I be a witness of their
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
!
!
1
.See
the description in the chapter on the Sandhya.