me and that, therefore, I am not now near his present
quarters. Like a Chataka waiting in expectation of the clouds, I am
waiting for him whom I regard as dear to me. For dispelling all evil from
him and bringing about what is beneficial to him, I am engaged in
reciting the Vedas till he comes and am in Yoga and passing my time
happily.'

"'"The Naga said, 'Verily, thy conduct is exceedingly good. Pious thou art
and devoted to the good of all righteous persons. O highly blessed
Brahmana, every praise is due to thee. Thou beholdest the Naga with eyes
of affection. I am that Naga, O learned Rishi, whom thou seekest. Do thou
command me, as thou wishest, in respect of what is agreeable to thee and
what I should do for thee. Having heard from my spouse that thou art
here, I have approached this spot, O regenerate one, for beholding thee.
When thou hast come hither, thou art certain to return hence with thy
object fulfilled. It behoveth thee, O foremost of regenerate persons, to
employ me to any task with all confidence. All of us have certainly been
purchased by thee with thy merits,[1939] since thou, disregarding what is
for thy own good, hast employed thy time in seeking the good of
ourselves.'

"'"The Brahmana said, 'O highly blessed Naga, I have come hither, moved by
the desire of obtaining a sight of thee. I have come here, ignorant as I
am with all things, for asking thee about something. O Naga, relying on
the Jiva-soul, I desire to attain to the Supreme Soul which is the end of
the Jiva-soul. I am neither attached to, nor dissociated from, the
world.[1940] Thou shinest with the effulgence of thy own merits covered
by pure fame,--with an effulgence that is as agreeable as that of the
moon. O thou that livest on air alone, do thou first answer a question
that I wish to put to thee. Afterwards I shall inform thee of the object
that has brought me hither!'"'"

SECTION CCCLXII

"'"The Brahmana said, 'Thou goest away for dragging the one-wheeled car of
Vivaswat according to thy turn. It behoveth thee to describe to me
anything wonderful that thou mayst have noticed in those regions through
which thou sojournest!'

"'"The Naga said, 'The divine Surya is the refuge or home of innumerable
wonders. All the creatures that inhabit the three worlds have flowed from
Surya. Innumerable Munis, crowned with ascetic success, together with all
the deities, reside in the rays of Surya like birds perching on the
branches of tre