Page:Katha sarit sagara, vol2.djvu/537

 sorrow; without propitiating him we cannot obtain the fulfilment of our desires." When Chandraketu had formed this resolution, he went with his wife Muktávali to the heavenly abode of Śiva, to perform asceticism. And Padmaśekhara told the story of his boon to Indra, and having conceived a hope of the destruction of his enemy, went to the world of the moon. Then that king of the gods in Samádhisthala, having also conceived a hope of the destruction of his enemy, called to mind the counsellor of the immortals. And he appeared as soon as he was thought upon, and the god, bowing before him, and honouring him, said to him, " Śiva, pleased with the asceticism of Padmaśekhara, has promised that be shall have a son-in-law who shall slay Vidyuddhvaja. So we shall eventually see an end put to his crimes; in the meanwhile I am despondent, dwelling here in misery on account of my having fallen from my high position. So devise, holy sir, some expedient that will operate quickly." When the adviser of the gods heard this speech of Indra's, he said to him; " It is true that that enemy of ours has nearly exhausted his asceticism by his crimes; so now we have an opportunity of exerting ourselves against him. Come, then; let us tell Brahmá; he will point out to us an expedient."

When Bŗihaspati had said this to Indra, he went with him to Brahmá, and after worshipping him, he told him what was in his mind. Then Brahma said, " Am I not also anxious to bring about the same end? But Śiva alone can remove the calamity that he has caused. And that god requires a long propitiation:* so let us go to Vishnu, who is like-minded with him; be will devise an expedient." When Brahmá and Indra and Bŗihaspati had deliberated together to this effect, they ascended a chariot of swans, and went to Śvetadvípa; † where all the inhabitants carried the conch, discus, lotus, and club, and had four arms, being assimilated to Vishnu in appearance as they were devoted to him in heart. There they saw the god in a palace composed of splendid jewels, reposing on the serpent Śesha, having his feet adored by Lakshmi. After bowing before him, and having been duly welcomed by him, and venerated by the divine sages, they took the seats befitting them. When the holy one asked the gods how they prospered, they humbly said to him, " What prosperity can be ours, O god, as long as Vidyuddhvaja is alive? For you know all that he has done to us, and it is on his account that we have come here now: it now rests with you to determine what further is to be done in this matter."