narrative of the discourse between Brahma, O king, and the Three-eyed Mahadeva.  In the midst of the Ocean of milk, there is a very high mountain of great effulgence like that of gold, known, O monarch, by the name of Vaijayanta.  Repairing thither all alone, from his own abode of great splendour and felicity, the illustrious deity Brahma used very often to pass his time, engaged in thinking on the course of Adhyatma.  While the four-faced Brahma of great intelligence was seated there, his son Mahadeva, who had sprung from his forehead encountered him one day in course of his wanderings through the universe.  In days of yore, the Three-eyed Siva endued with puissance and high Yoga, while proceeding along the sky, beheld Brahma seated on that mountain and, therefore, dropped down quickly on its top.  With a cheerful heart he presented him before his progenitor and worshipped his feet.  Beholding Mahadeva prostrated at his feet, Brahma took him up with his left hand.  Having thus raised Mahadeva up, Brahma, that puissant and one Lord of all creatures, then addressed his son, whom he met after a long time, in these words.

“The Grandsire said, ’Welcome art thou, O thou of mighty arms.  By good luck I see thee after such a long time come to my presence.  I hope, O son, that everything is right with thy penances and thy Vedic studies and recitations.  Thou art always observant of the austerest penances.  Hence I ask thee about the progress and well-being of those penances of thine!’

“Rudra said, ’O illustrious one, through thy grace, all is well with my penances and Vedic studies.  It is all right, again, with the universe.  I saw thy illustrious self a long while ago in thy own home of felicity and effulgence.  I am coming thence to this mountain that is now the abode of thy feet.[1917] Great is the curiosity excited in my mind by this withdrawal of thyself into such a lone spot from thy usual region of felicity and splendour.  Great must the reason be, O Grandsire, for such an act on thy part.  Thy own foremost abode is free from the pains of hunger and thirst, and inhabited by both deities and Asuras, by Rishis of immeasurable splendour, as also by Gandharvas and Apsaras.  Abandoning such a spot of felicity, thou residest alone in this foremost of mountains.  The cause of this cannot but be grave.

“Brahma said, ’This foremost of mountains, called Vaijayanta, is always my residence.  Here, with concentrated mind, I meditate on the one universal Purusha of infinite proportions.’

“Rudra said, ’Self-born thou art.  Many are the Purushas that have been created by thee.  Others again, O Brahma, are being created by thee.  The Infinite Purusha, however, of whom thou speakest, is one and single.  Who is that foremost of Purushas, O Brahma, that is being meditated by thee?  Great is the curiosity I feel on this point.  Do thou kindly dispel the doubt that has taken possession of my mind.