ile creatures, are being illuminated by it. Even of this
kind is thy child, O illustrious bearer of sacrificial libations. Like
unto Surya or thy blazing self, in beauty it is even like a second Soma."
Having said these words, the goddess disappeared there and then. Pavaka
also, of great energy, having accomplished the business of the deities
proceeded to the place he liked, O delighter of the Bhrigus. It was in
consequence of the result of this act that the Rishis and the deities
bestowed the name of Hiranyaretas upon the deity of fire.[386] And
because the Earth held that seed (after the goddess Ganga had cast it
upon her), she also came to be called by the name of Vasumati. Meanwhile,
that foetus, which had sprung from Pavaka and been held for a time by
Ganga,[387] having fallen on a forest of reeds, began to grow and at last
assumed a wonderful form. The presiding goddess of the constellation
Krittika beheld that form resembling the rising sun. She thenceforth
began to rear that child as her son with the sustenance of her breast.
For this reason, that child of pre-eminent splendour came to be called
Kartikeya after her name. And because he grew from seed that fell out of
Rudra's body, he came to be called Skanda. The incident also of his birth
having taken place in the solitude of a forest of reeds, concealed from
everybody's view, led to his being called by the name of Guha. It was in
this way that gold came into existence as the offspring of the deity of
blazing flames.[388] Hence it is that gold came to be looked upon as the
foremost of all things and the ornament of the very gods. It was from
this circumstance that gold came to be called by the name of
Jatarupam.[389] It is the foremost of all costly things, and among
ornaments also it is the foremost. The cleanser among all cleansing
things, it is the most auspicious of all auspicious objects. Gold is
truly the illustrious Agni, the Lord of all things, and the foremost of
all Prajapatis. The most sacred of all sacred things is gold, O foremost
of re-generate ones. Verily, gold is said to have for its essence Agni
and Soma.'

"'"Vasishtha continued, 'This history also, O Rama, called Brahmadarsana,
was heard by me in days of yore, respecting the achievement of the
Grandsire Brahman who is identifiable with the Supreme Soul. To a
sacrifice performed in days of yore by that foremost of gods, viz., Lord
Rudra, O thou of great might, who on that occasion had assumed