elf free from anger. He is incapable of being seen either by
ourselves or by thee, O Vrihaspati! Only he can see Him to whom He
becomes gracious.'--Then the Rishis Ekata, Dwita, and Trita, who were well
conversant with the science of morality and duties compiled by the seven
Rishis, addressed that conclave and began the following narration.--'We
are the sons of Brahman, begotten by a fiat of his will (and not in the
ordinary way). Once on a time we repaired to the north for obtaining what
is for our highest good. Having undergone penances for thousands of years
and acquired great ascetic merit, we again stood on only one foot like
fixed stakes of wood. The country where we underwent the austerest of
penances, lies to the north of the mountains of Meru and on the shores of
the Ocean of Milk. The object we had in mind was how to behold the divine
Narayana in his own form. Upon the completion of our penances and after
we had performed the final ablutions, an incorporeal voice was heard by
us, O puissant Vrihaspati, at once deep as that of the clouds and
exceedingly sweet and filling the heart with joy. The voice said,--"Ye
Brahmanas, well have ye performed these penances with cheerful souls.
Devoted unto Narayana, ye seek to know how ye may succeed in beholding
that god of great puissance! On the northern shores of the Ocean of Milk
there is an island of great splendour called by the name of White Island.
The men that inhabit that island have complexions as white as the rays of
the Moon and that are devoted to Narayana. Worshippers of that foremost
of all Beings, they are devoted to Him with their whole souls. They all
enter that eternal and illustrious deity of a thousand rays.[1803] They
are divested of senses. They do not subsist on any kind of food. Their
eyes are winkless. Their bodies always emit a fragrance. Indeed, the
denizens of White Island believe and worship only one God. Go thither, ye
ascetics, for there I have revealed myself!"--All of us, hearing these
incorporeal words, proceeded by the way indicated to the country
described. Eagerly desirous of beholding Him and our hearts full of Him,
we arrived at last at that large island called White Island. Arrived
there, we could see nothing. Indeed, our vision was blinded by the energy
of the great deity and accordingly we could not see Him.[1804] At this,
the idea, due to the grace of the great God Himself, arose in our minds
that one that had not undergone sufficie