ing for ten and two
years. For beholding him who had gone through the rite of initiation for
the observance of his great vow, there came to that place Narada and
Parvata, and the Island-born Krishna, and Dhaumya, that foremost of
silent reciters, and Devala, and Kasyapa, and Hastikasyapa. Other Rishis
also, endued with Diksha and self-restraint, followed by their disciples
and accompanied by many Siddhas and many ascetics of great merit, came
there. The son of Devaki offered them such honours of hospitality as are
deserving of the highest praise and as are offered unto the gods alone.
Those great Rishis sat themselves down upon seats some of which were
green and some endued with the colour of gold and some that were fraught
with the plumes of the peacock and some that were perfectly new and
fresh. Thus seated, they began to converse sweetly with one another on
subjects connected with Religion and duty as also with many royal sages
and deities. At that time the energy, in the form of fire, Narayana,
rising from the fuel that consisted of the rigid observance of his vow,
issued out of the mouth of Krishna of wonderful feats. That fire began to
consume those mountains with their trees and creepers and little plants,
as also with their birds and deer and beasts of prey and reptiles. Soon
the summit of that mountain presented a distressing and pitiful
appearance, Inhabited by animals of diverse kinds which began to utter
cries of woe and pain, the summit soon became bereft of every living
creature. That fire of mighty flames, having consumed everything without
leaving a remnant at last came back to Vishnu and touched his feet like a
docile disciple. That crusher of foes, viz., Krishna, beholding that
mountain burnt, cast a benignant look upon it and thereby brought it back
to its former condition. That mountain thereupon once more became adorned
with flowering trees and creepers, and once more echoed with the notes
and cries of birds and deer and animals of prey and reptiles. Seeing that
wonderful and inconceivable sight, all the ascetics became amazed. Their
hairs stood on end and their vision was blurred with tears. That foremost
of speakers, Narayana, beholding those Rishis thus filled with wonder,
addressed them in these sweet and refreshing words, 'Why, indeed, has
wonder filled the hearts of this assemblage of Rishis, these ascetics
that are always free from attachment of every kind, that are divested of
the idea of meum