Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | страница 755

BLESSINGS PROMISED BY
BRAHMA
715
some fragments should fall to the ground, the very gods
themselves would strive for them, even if the dogs had
already devoured a portion. In short, if a Pariah were to
take some rice destined for Krishna from the mouth of
a dog and put it into that of a Brahmin, this rice would be
so pure, and would possess so many virtues, that it would
immediately purify that Brahmin. The goddess Lakshmi
cooks and prepares the food destined for Krishna, and the
goddess Annapurni waits upon him. A portion of the tree
Jcalpa will come down from Swarga and take root in the
Thou knowest that this tree is
centre of thy new city.
immortal, and that thou hast only to ask it for what thou
The mere sight of the
desirest to be sure of obtaining it.
temple that thou art about to erect will be sufficient to
procure inestimable blessings. Even to be beaten with
sticks there by the priests who serve the temple will be
reckoned of peculiar merit. Indra, and the gods who
follow in his train, will come and live in thy new city, and
will be company for the god Krishna.
The side of the city
which faces the sea will be much more sacred than the
other parts. Those who live on this side of it will daily
increase in virtue.
The sand which the sea deposits there
thou shalt call kanaka, or gold dust. Any one who shall
This,
die on this sand will assuredly go to Vaikuntha.
prince, is my answer to thy requests.
Go at once and
execute all my commands. In the meantime Vishnu, under
the guise of the tree which is to form the trunk of which
I have spoken, will grow and become fitted for the purpose
for
which
it is
destined.'
Indra-mena, having offered thanks to Brahma, set about
to obey him.
The temple and the new city were built
with the utmost celerity. Yet when the work was com-
pleted the god did not appear. This delay began to cause
the prince some uneasiness, when one day, having risen
very early, he perceived on the sea-shore the trunk of
the tree for which he was watching so impatiently. He
prostrated himself several times before it with his face
to the ground, and in the fullness of his joy cried
O
happiest day of my life
I now have certain proofs that
I was born under a lucky star, and that my sacrifices have
been pleasing to the gods. Nothing can equal the happi-
'
:
!