themselves in the attainment of virtue,
wealth and profit. It is through thy grace that the (three) orders of
Brahmanas, Kshatriyas and Vaisyas are able to perform their various
duties and sacrifices.[13] Those versed in chronology say that thou art
the beginning and thou the end of a day of Brahma, which consisteth of a
full thousand _Yugas_. Thou art the lord of Manus and of the sons of the
Manus, of the universe and of man, of the _Manwantaras_, and their
lords. When the time of universal dissolution cometh, the fire
_Samvartaka_ born of thy wrath consumeth the three worlds and existeth
alone. And clouds of various hues begotten of thy rays, accompanied by
the elephant Airavata and the thunderbolt, bring about the appointed
deluges. And dividing thyself into twelve parts and becoming as many
suns, thou drinkest up the ocean once more with thy rays. Thou art
called Indra, thou art Vishnu, thou art Brahma, thou art Prajapati. Thou
art fire and thou art the subtle mind. And thou art lord and the eternal
_Brahma_. Thou art _Hansa_, thou art _Savitri_, thou art _Bhanu,
Ansumalin_, and _Vrishakapi_. Thou art _Vivaswan, Mihira, Pusha, Mitra_,
and _Dharma_. Thou art thousand-rayed, thou art _Aditya_, and _Tapana_,
and the lord of rays. Thou art _Martanda_, and _Arka_, and _Ravi_, and
_Surya_ and _Saranya_ and maker of day, and _Divakara_ and
_Suptasaspti_, and _Dhumakeshin_ and _Virochana_. Thou art spoken of as
swift of speed and the destroyer of darkness, and the possessor of
yellow steeds. He that reverentially adoreth thee on the sixth or the
seventh lunar day with humility and tranquillity of mind, obtaineth the
grace of Lakshmi. They that with undivided attention adore and worship
thee, are delivered from all dangers, agonies, and afflictions. And they
that hold that thou art everywhere (being the soul of all things) living
long, freed from sin and enjoying an immunity from all diseases. O lord
of all food, it behoveth thee to grant food in abundance unto me who am
desirous of food even for entertaining all my guests with reverence. I
bow also to all those followers of thine that have taken refuge at thy
feet--_Mathara_ and _Aruna_ and _Danda_ and others, including _Asani_
and _Kshuva_ and the others. And I bow also to the celestial mothers of
all creatures, _viz_., Kshuva and _Maitri_ and the others of the class.
O, let them deliver me their supplient.'"

[7] A form of _Yoga_ that is said to consist in the minglin