“And the earth, thus oppressed by the mighty Asuras endued with great strength and energy and possessed of abundant means, began to think of waiting on Brahman.  The united strength of the creatures (such as Sesha, the Tortoise, and the huge Elephant), and of many Seshas too, became capable of supporting the earth with her mountains, burdened as she was with the weight of the Danavas.  And then, O king, the earth, oppressed with weight and afflicted with fear, sought the protection of the Grandsire of all creatures.  And she beheld the divine Brahman—­the Creator of the worlds who knoweth no deterioration—­surrounded by the gods, Brahmanas, and great Rishis, of exceeding good fortune, and adored by delighted Gandharvas and Apsaras always engaged in the service of the celestials.  And the Earth, desirous of protection, then represented everything to him, in the presence, O Bharata, of all the Regents of the worlds.  But, O king, the Earth’s object had been known beforehand to the Omniscient, Self-create, and Supreme Lord.  And, O Bharata, Creator as he is of the universe, why should he not know fully what is in the minds of his creatures including the very gods and the Asuras?  O king, the Lord of the Earth, the Creator of all creatures, also called Isa, Sambhu, Prajapati, then spake unto her.  And Brahman said, ’O holder of wealth, for the accomplishment of the object for which thou hast approached me, I shall appoint all the dwellers in the heavens.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ’Having said so unto the Earth, O king, the divine Brahman bade her farewell.  And the Creator then commanded all the gods saying, ’To ease the Earth of her burden, go ye and have your births in her according to your respective parts and seek ye strife (with the Asuras already born there)’.  And the Creator of all, summoning also all the tribes of the Gandharvas and the Apsaras, spake unto them these words of deep import, ’Go ye and be born amongst men according to your respective parts in forms that ye like.’

“And all the gods with Indra, on hearing these words of the Lord of the celestials—­words that were true, desirable under the circumstances, and fraught with benefit,—­accepted them.  And they all having resolved to come down on earth in their respected parts, then went to Narayana, the slayer of all foes, at Vaikunth—­the one who has the discus and the mace in his hands, who is clad in purple, who is of great splendour, who hath the lotus on his navel, who is the slayer of the foes of the gods, who is of eyes looking down upon his wide chest (in yoga attitude), who is the lord of the Prajapati himself, the sovereign of all the gods, of mighty strength, who hath the mark of the auspicious whirl on his breast, who is the mover of every one’s faculties and who is adored by all the gods.  Him, Indra the most exalted of persons, addressed, saying, “Be incarnate.”  And Hari replied,—­’Let it be.’”

SECTION LXV