18 - Garga’s speech.

Arjuna the son of Krita-vírya, on succeeding to his kingdom, resolves to rule worthily-His minister Garga advises him to propitiate the Muni Dattatreya-And narrates how, when the Daityas and Dánavas had conquered the gods, the gods by Vrihaspati’s counsel propitiated Dattatreya, who, being an incarnation of Vishnu, was enjoying himself with Lakshmi; and how, when the demons penetrated to Dattátreya’s hermitage and seized Lakshmi, they were destroyed by Dattatreya. 

The son spoke.

1 Once upon a time Arjuna, the son of Kritavírya, when Kritavírya had departed to heaven, being invited by the

2 ministers and family priest and by the citizens to be inaugurated as king, spoke thus-

“It is not I will wield regal sway, which surpasses hell, O

3 ministers, if I leave that foolishly unaccomplished, for the sake of which taxes are levied. Merchants, giving the twelfth part

4 of their wares to the king, travel on the road protected from robbers by the watchmen. And the herdsmen and husbandmen giving the sixth part of the ghee, buttermilk and other produce,

5 enjoy the rest. If the merchants gave a larger portion than that out of all their wares and other property, then

6 that would tend to the destruction of tho sacrifices and pious works of the extortionate king who took it. If people who follow that and other livelihoods are protected by othors,

7 hell is surely the lot of a king who takes the sixth part as his revonue. This has been decreed by men of old as the permanent

8 income of a king. When a king fails to afford protection from thieves, that is the same as theft; and it would be sin in a king. Therefore, if, by performing austerities, he has gained 

9 the coveted position of a yogí, he is the only king who possesses power to protect the earth. Therefore I indeed will be a weapon-bearer in the earth, worthy of honour, endowed with prosperity; I will not make myself a participator in sin.”

The son spoke.

10 Understanding that his resolve, standing among the ministers spoke the leading Muni, Garga by name, mighty in intellect, advanced in age.

11 “If thus thou desirest to act, rightly to govern the kingdom, then hearken to my speech and act, O royal scion!

12 Propitiate, O king, Dattátreya, the illustrious, who made his abode onco in a bucket, who protects the three worlds.

 13 who is busied in religious devotion, who is illustrious, who looks impartially everywhere, who is a portion of Vishņu, the

14 upholder of the world, incarnate on earth. By propitiating him the thousand-eyed Indra gained his abode, which had been seized by the evil-minded Daityas, and slew the sons of Diti.”

Arjuna spoke.

 15 “How did the gods propitiate majestic Dattátreya? And how did Indra rogain his godhead, of which he had been deprived by the Daityas?”

Garga spoke.

16 “There was a very fierce contest between the gods and Dánavas. The lord of tho Daityas was Jambha, and the leader

17 of the gods was Shachi’s spouse. And while they fought heavenly year clapsed. Then the gods were worsted, the

 18 Daityas were victorious. The gods led by Vipra-c’itti were vanquished by tho Dánavas: they strove to flee, being dis

19 pirited at the victory of their enemies. Desirous of compassing the slaughter of the army of Daityas, accompanied by the Bálikhilyas* and Rishis, they approached Vrihaspati and

*Read ‘Bala-khilyas’? These are divine personages of the size of the thumb.

20 took counsel. Vrihaspati said, “Deign to gratify with you: faith Dattátreya, Atri’s high-souled son, the ascetic, who is

 21 occupied in improper practices. He the boon-giver will grant yon a boon for the destruction of the Daityas; then, O gods, shall yo and your friends slay the Daityas and Dánavas.’

22     “Thus exhorted the gods then went to Dattátreya’s hermitage, and they beheld the high-souled Muni, attended by

23 Lakshmi, hymned by Gandharvas, and engrossed in quaffing spirituous liquor. Approaching they expressed in words their salutations to him, which were the means of accomplishing

24 their objects. And the heaven-dwellers lauded him; they offered him food, viands, garlands and other presents; when ho stood, they stood near; when he moved, they moved; when

25 he reposed on his seat, they worshipped him with heads 

down-bent. Dattatreya addressed the prostrate gods, ‘What desire yo of me, that ye do me this obeisance?’

“The gods spoke.”

26 ‘The Dánavas, headed by Jambha, have attacked and seized upon the earth the atmosphere and the third world, O tiger.

 27. like Muni, and our shares of the sacrifices entirely. Employ thou thy wit to their destruction and our deliverance, O sinless ono! Through thy favour do we dosire to regain the three worlds which they now possess.’ 

“Dattátreya spoke.

28    ‘I am drinking strong drink, I have remnants of food in my mouth, nor have I subdued my sonses. How is it, o goda, ye seek for victory over your enemies even from me?’ 

“The gods spoke.

29     ‘Thou art sinless, O lord of the world; no stain hast thou, into whoso heart, purified by the ablution of learning, has entered the light of knowledge.’ 

“Dattátreya spoke.

30    ‘True is this, O gods! all learning havo I, who am impartial in view: but by reason of association with this woman I

31 am now impure after eating, For commerce with women when continually pursued tends to depravity.’

“Thus addressed, the gods then spoke again, 

“The gods spoke.

32 This woman, O sinless bráhman! is the inother of the world; she is not depraved, even like the sun’s halo of rays, which touches the dvija and the chandála alike.’ 

Garga spoke.

33 “Thus accosted by the gods, Dattátreya then with a smile Apoke thus to all the thirty gods;- ‘If this be your opinion, 

34 then summon all the Asuras to battle, O most virtuous gods

35 and bring them here before my view-delay ye not-in order that the glory of their strength may be consumed by the fire of my glance, and that they may all perish from my sight.’

36     “The valiant Daityas, summoned to battle by the gods in 

compliance with that his advice, advanced with fury against

37 the troops of the gods. The gods being slaughtered by the Daityas were quickly demoralised by fear; they fled in

 38 body, seeking protection, to Dattátreya’s hermitage. Even

there the Daityas penetrated, driving forward the heaven dwellers, and saw the high-soulcd mighty Dattátreya; and

 39 seated at his left side his wife, Lakshmi, lovod by all the worlds, beauteous, her shape most graceful, her countenang.

40 like the moon, her eyes lustrous as the blue water-lily,* he hips large and breasts full, uttering melodious speech, adorne

* Nilotpala, the blue water-lily, see note page 29. 

41 with every womanly virtue. Seoing her before them, Daityas, seized with longing, could not bear the intense lo

42 with fortitude; and pined in mind to carry her off. Desistiny from the gods, but desirous of seizing the lady, they we shattered in vigour, being bewitched by that sin. Then compact

43 together they spoke. If only this jewel of womankin in the three worlds might be our prize, successful then should

44 we all be - this is our engrossing thought. We are resolve therefore, let us all, foes of the gods, raise her up, placa in the palki, and bear her to our abode.’

 45 “Thereupon possessed with longing and thus mutually e horted, afflicted by love, the united Daityas and Dánav.

46 raised up his virtuous wife, mounted her in the palki, a placing the palki on their heads set off for their own homes.

47 Thereon Dattátreya smiling spoke thus to the gods-Bravo  ye prosper! Here is Lakshmi borne on the heads of the Daityas. She has passed beyond the seven stations, she will reach another, a now one.’ 

“The gods spoke.

48 Say, 0 lord of the world, in what stations has she her abode; and what result of a man’s does she bestow or destroy?’ 

“Dattatroya spoke.

49     ‘When stationed on tho foot of men, Lakshmi bestows a habitation; anl when stationed on the thigh, clothing and

50 manifold wealth; and when taking her position in the pudenda, a wife; when resting in the bosom, she grants offspring; when stationed in the heart, she fulfils the thoughts

51 of men. Lakshmi, is the best fortune of fortunate men. When resting on the neck, she adorns the neck with loved relatives and wives, and close contact with those who are

52 absent. When abiding in the countenance, tho sea-born goddess bestows beauty fashioned according to her word, real

53 comand also, and poetic fire. When mounted on the head, she forsakes the man and thence resorts to another abodo. And here, mounted on their head, she will now desert these Daityas.

54 Thorofore seize your arms and slay these foes of the g0ds; nor fear them greatly; I have rendered them impotent; and through touching another’s wife their merit is consumed, their inight is broken. 

Garga spoke.

55 “Thereupon those enemies of the gods, being slain by divers weapons and their heads being asgailed by Lakshmi, porished

56 thus have we heard. And Lakshmi, flying up, reached the great Muni Dattatreya, being hymnod by all the gods who

57 were filled with joy at the slaughter of the Daityas. There upon tho gods, prostrating themselves before the wiso Dattátriya, gained as before the uppermost heaven, being freed from

58 alffliction. Likewise, do thou also, O king! if Thou wishest to obtain matchless sovereignty according to thy desire, straight way propitiate him.”