sacrifice of mine, with seeds, has been arranged for by me with labour extending for many years.[220] I shall, with seeds, accomplish much good.  No impediment will arise.  This my sacrifice is incapable of being baffled.  It matters little whether the deity pours rains or no downpours happen.  Indeed, if Indra does not, of his own will, show any regard for me, I shall, in that case, transform myself into Indra and keep all creatures alive.  Every creature, on whatever food he has been nourished, will continue to be nourished on it as before.  I can even repeatedly create a different order of things.  Let gold and whatever else of wealth there is, come to this place today.  Let all the wealth that occurs in the three worlds come here today of its own accord.  Let all the tribes of celestial Apsaras, all the Gandharvas along with the Kinnaras, and Viswavasu, and others there are (of that order), approach this sacrifice of mine.  Let all the wealth that exists among the Northern Kurus, come of their own accord to these sacrifices.  Let Heaven, and all those who have Heaven for their home, and Dharma himself, come hither.’—­After the ascetic had uttered these words, everything happened as he wished, in consequence of his penances, for Agastya was endued with a mind that resembled a blazing fire and was possessed of extraordinary energy.  The Rishis who were there beheld the power of penances with rejoicing hearts.  Filled with wonder they then said these words of grave import.’

“The Rishis said, ’We have been highly gratified with the words thou hast uttered.  We do not, however, wish that thy penances should suffer any diminution.  Those sacrifices are approved by us which are performed by lawful means.  Indeed, we desire duly those sacrifices which rest on lawful means.[221] Earning our food by lawful means and observant of our respective duties, we shall seek to go through sacrificial initiations and the pouring of libations on the sacred fire and the other religious rites.  We should adore the deities, practising Brahmacharyya by lawful means.  Completing the period of Brahmacharyya we have come out of our abode, observing lawful methods.  That understanding, which is freed from the desire of inflicting any kind of injury on others, is approved by us.  Thou shouldst always, O puissant one, command such abstention from injury in all sacrifices.  We shall then be highly gratified, O foremast of regenerate ones.  After the completion of thy sacrifice, when dismissed by thee, we shall then, leaving this place, go away.’  As they were saying these words, Purandara, the chief of the deities, endued with great energy, beholding the power of Agastya’s penances, poured rain.  Indeed, O Janamejaya, till the completion of the sacrifice of that Rishi of immeasurable prowess, the deity of rain poured rain that met the wishes of men in respect of both quantity and time.  Placing Vrihaspati before him, the chief of the deities came there, O royal sage, and gratified the Rishi Agastya.  On the completion of that sacrifice, Agastya, filled with joy, worshipped those great Rishis duly and then dismissed them all.’