Hindu mythology, Vedic and Purānic . re and chief delightsWere scripture and ascetic rites,The good Valmiki, first and bestOf hermit saints, these words addressed : * Moor, Hindu Pantheon, p. 205. 400 THE INFERIOR DEITIES. In all the world, I pray thee, whoIs virtuous, heroic, true ?Firm in his vows, of grateful every creature good and kind ?Bounteous and holy, just and wise, Alone most fair to all mens eyes ? Grant, saint divine, the boon I ask,For thee, I ween, an easy task,To whom the power is given to knowIf such a man breathes here Narad, clear before whose eyeThe prese
Hindu mythology, Vedic and Purānic . re and chief delightsWere scripture and ascetic rites,The good Valmiki, first and bestOf hermit saints, these words addressed : * Moor, Hindu Pantheon, p. 205. 400 THE INFERIOR DEITIES. In all the world, I pray thee, whoIs virtuous, heroic, true ?Firm in his vows, of grateful every creature good and kind ?Bounteous and holy, just and wise, Alone most fair to all mens eyes ? Grant, saint divine, the boon I ask,For thee, I ween, an easy task,To whom the power is given to knowIf such a man breathes here Narad, clear before whose eyeThe present, past, and future lie,Made ready answer!* Narada proceeds to narrate the life of Rama toValmiki, who feels that the task of writing downwhat was told him is too great a work for his powers,until Brahma himself appears, and encourages him toproceed— Then come, O best of seers, relateThe life of Rama, good and great ;The tale that saintly Narad told *In all its glorious length unfold. -j- * Grifhthss Ramayana, i, Ibid, i, CHAPTER II. KUVERA. Kuvera, the god of riches, does not occupy a veryconspicuous position in the mythology of the images or pictures of him are to be had, though heis frequently referred to in the Ramayana as the lordof gold and wealth. Brahma had a mental sonnamed Pulastya, who again had a mental son namedGaviputra Vaisravana (Kuvera). The latter desert-ed his father, and went to Brahma, who as a rewardmade him immortal, and appointed him to be the godof riches, with Lanka for his capital, and the carPushpaka for his vehicle.* This car was of immensesize, and moved at its owners will at a marvellousspeed ; Ravana took it by force from Kuvera, at whosedeath it was restored by Rama to its original possessor. Pulastya being incensed at this desertion (of hisson Kuvera) reproduced the half of himself in the formof Vaisravas, who looked upon Vaisravana with indig-nation. The latter strove to pacify his father, andwith this view gave him thre
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