reat deity with mind, word,
and deed.[1809] Without doubt, Hari appeared in that place whence the
sound we heard arose. As regards ourselves, stupefied by His illusion, we
could not see him. After the breeze had ceased and the sacrifice had been
over, our hearts became agitated with anxiety, O foremost one of Angira's
race. As we stood among those thousands of men all of whom were of pure
descent, no one honoured us with a glance or nod. Those ascetics, all of
whom were cheerful and filled with devotion and who were all practising
the Brahma-frame of mind, did not show any kind of feeling for us.[1810]
We had been exceedingly tired. Our penances had emaciated us. At that
time, an incorporeal Being addressed us from the sky and said unto us
these words--"These white men, who are divested of all outer senses, are
competent to behold (Narayana). Only those foremost of regenerate persons
whom these white men honoured with their glances, become competent to
behold the great God.[1811] Go hence, ye Munis, to the place whence ye
have come. That great Deity is incapable of being ever seen by one that
is destitute of devotion. Incapable of being seen in consequence of his
dazzling effulgence, that illustrious Deity can be beheld by only those
persons that in course of long ages succeed in devoting themselves wholly
and solely to Him. Ye foremost of regenerate one, ye have a great duty to
perform. After the expiration of this the Krita age, when the Treta age
comes in course of the Vivaswat cycle, a great calamity will overtake the
worlds. Ye Munis, ye shall then have to become the allies of the deities
(for dispelling that calamity)."--Having heard these wonderful words that
were sweet as nectar, we soon got back to the place we desired, through
the grace of that great Deity. When with the aid of even such austere
penances and of offerings devoutly given in sacrifices, we failed to have
a sight of the great Deity, how, indeed, can you expect to behold Him so
easily? Narayana is a Great Being, He is the Creator of the universe. He
is adorned in sacrifices with offerings of clarified butter and other
food dedicated with the aid of Vedic mantras. He has no beginning and no
end. He is Unmanifest. Both the Deities and the Danavas worship
Him.'--Induced by these words spoken by Ekata and approved by his
companions, viz., Dwita and Trita, and solicited also by the other
Sadasyas, the high-minded Vrihaspati brought that sacrifice to a
com