hi, that
righteous Regent of the cardinal and subsidiary points of the compass.
After this, that cult, born of the mouth of Narayana, once more
disappeared from the world. In the next birth of Brahma, viz., that which
he was derived from an egg which sprang from Hari, this cult once more
issued from the mouth of Narayana. It was received by Brahma, O king, and
practised duly in all its details by him. Brahma then communicated it, O
monarch, to those Rishis that are known by the name of Varhishada. From
the Varhishadas it was obtained by a Brahmana well-versed in the
Sama-Veda, and known by the name of Jeshthya. And because he was
well-versed with the Samans, therefore was he known also by the name of
Jeshthya-Samavrata Hari.[1903] From the Brahmana known by the name of
Jeshthya, this cult was obtained by a king of the name of Avikampana.
After this, that cult, derived from the puissant Hari, once more
disappeared from the world. During the seventh birth of Brahma due to the
lotus, O king, that sprang from the navel of Narayana, this cult was once
more declared by Narayana himself, unto the Grandsire of pure soul, the
Creator of all the worlds, in the beginning of this Kalpa. The Grandsire
gave it in days of yore to Daksha (one of his sons created by a fiat of
his will). Daksha, in his turn, imparted it to the eldest of all the sons
of his daughters, O monarch, viz., Aditya who is senior in age to
Savitri. From Aditya, Vivaswat obtained it. In the beginning of the Treta
Yuga, Vivaswat imparted the knowledge of this cult to Manu. Manu, for the
protection and support of all the worlds, then gave it to his son
Ikshaku.[1904] Promulgated by Ikshaku, that cult over-spreads the whole
world. When the universal destruction comes, it will once more return to
Narayana and be merged in Him. The religion which is followed and
practised by the Yatis, has, O best of kings, been narrated to thee
before this in the Hari Gita, with all its ordinances in brief. The
celestial Rishi Narada got it from that Lord of universe, viz., Narayana
himself, O king, with all its mysteries and abstract of details. Thus, O
monarch, this foremost of cults is primeval and eternal. Incapable of
being comprehended with ease and exceedingly difficult of being
practised, it is always upheld by persons wedded to the attribute of
Sattwa. It is by means of acts that are well-performed and accomplished
with a full knowledge of duties and in which there is nothing o