Vasishta:—
Upon hearing these words of the goddess, the second Leela, who was standing by,
bent herself lowly before the goddess and addressed her with her folded
palms. The second Leela said, “Goddess! the genius of intelligence is
ever adored by me and she gives me her visits in my nightly dreams. I
find you here exactly of her likeness. Therefore give me your blessing, O
goddess with the beautiful face.”
Vasishta
said:— The goddess, being addressed by the lady in this way, remembered her
faith and reliance in her, then politely spoke to the lady standing as a
suppliant before her. The goddess said, “I am pleased, my child, with
your unfailing and undiminished adoration of me all your lifetime. Now say what
you want of me.”
The
second Leela said, “Ordain O goddess, that with this body of mine I may
accompany my husband to whatever place he is destined to go after his death in
the war.”
The
goddess replied, “Be it so my child who has worshipped me with flowers, incense
and offerings with all diligence and without fail.”
Vasishta
said:— The second Leela was cheered by this blessing of the goddess. The first
Leela was much puzzled in her mind at the difference between their
states. The first Leela said, “Those who desire truth and they whose
desires lean towards godliness have all their wishes fulfilled without delay
and fail.
Then
tell me, goddess, why could I not keep company with my brahmin husband with my
body of the brahmani, but had to be taken to him in the mountain home after my
death.”
The
goddess answered saying:— Know, O excellent lady, that I have no power to do
anything. Everything happens according to the desire of the living being. Know
me only as the presiding divinity of wisdom, and I reveal everything according
to my knowledge of it. It is by virtue of the intellectual powers exhibited in
every being that it attains its particular end.
Vasishta
said:— Viduratha, accompanied by a large group of his companions, left his camp
like the bright moon beset by a host of stars. He was in armor and girt by
laces and girdles. Dressed in his military clothing, he went forth amidst the
loud war cry sorrow to the vanquished like God Indra going to battle. He gave
orders to the soldiers and was informed of the battle array.
The
iron hoops of its wheels flashed with their golden pegs, and the long and
beautiful shaft of the car, rang with the tinkling of pearls which were
suspended to it. It was drawn by long necked, swift and slender horses of the
best breed and auspicious marks. Their swiftness and bearing made them seem
like they were flying in the air pulling a heavenly car with some god in
it.
Viduratha
collected his forces and, without considering the enemy’s superiority, pressed
himself forward into them, as the great Mount Meru rushed into the waters of
the great deluge.
Two
edged saws pierced the bodies of the warriors, and the flinging weapons hurtled
in the air, clashing and crashing each other. The darkness of the night
was put to flight by the blaze of the weapons. The entire army was pierced by
arrows sticking like hairs on their bodies.
The
fighting was stern without a cry or noise, like the pouring of rain in a
breezeless sky. The glitter of swords in the darkened air was like the flashes
of forked lightning in murky clouds. Darts were flying about with a hissing
noise. Crowbars hit one another with a harsh sound. Large weapons struck each
another with a jarring noise. The dreadful war raged direfully in the dim
darkness of the night.
Love
