ing of Agni with his dart, which in his
hands will be a weapon incapable of being baffled if once hurled at the
foe, will destroy Taraka from whom your fear hath arisen. Verily, all
other enemies of yours will also be slain by him. Will is eternal. That
Will is known by the name of Kama and is identical with Rudra's seed a
portion of which fell into the blazing form of Agni. That energy, which
is a mighty substance, and which resembles a second Agni, will be cast by
Agni into Ganga for producing a child upon her in order to effect the
destruction of the enemies of the gods. Agni did not come within the
range of Uma's curse. The eater of sacrificial libations was not present
there when the curse was denounced. Let the deity of fire, therefore, be
searched out. Let him now be set to this task. Ye sinless ones, I have
told you what the means are for the destruction of Taraka. The curses of
those that are endued with energy fail to produce any effect upon those
that are endued with energy. Forces, when they come into contact with
something that is endued with stronger force, become weakened. They that
are endued with penances are competent to destroy even the boon-giving
deities who are indestructible. Will, or Like, or Desire (which is
identifiable with Agni) sprang in former times and is the most eternal of
all creatures. Agni is the Lord of the universe. He is incapable of being
apprehended or described. Capable of going everywhere and existing in all
things, he is the Creator of all beings. He lives in the hearts of all
creatures. Endued with great puissance, He is older than Rudra himself.
Let that eater of sacrificial libations, who is a mass of energy, be
searched out. That illustrious deity will accomplish this desire of your
hearts." Hearing these words of the Grandsire, the high-souled gods then
proceeded to search out the god of fire with hearts cheerful in
consequence of their purpose having been achieved. The gods and the
Rishis then searched every part of the three worlds, their hearts filled
with the thought of Agni and eagerly desiring to obtain a sight of him.
Endued with penances, possessed of prosperity, celebrated over all the
worlds, those high-souled ones, all crowned with ascetic success,
sojourned over every part of the universe, O foremost one of Bhrigu's
race. They failed, however, to find out the eater of sacrificial
libations who had concealed himself by merging his self into self.[384]
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