Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/217

Rh to be incarnate on earth. And, O king, the Asuras possessed of great power, and desirous of sovereignty among men, began to be born on earth amongst various creatures, such as kine, horses, asses, camels, buffaloes, among creatures such as Rakshasas and others, and in elephants and deer. And, O protector of the earth, owing to those already born and those that were being born, the Earth became incapable of supporting herself. And amongst the sons of Diti (Daityas) and of Danu (Danavas) cast out of heaven, some were born on this earth as kings of great pride and insolence. And possessed of great energy, they covered the earth in various shapes. And capable of oppressing all foes, they filled this earth having the ocean for her boundaries. And by their strength they began to oppress Brahmanas and Kshatrias and Vaisyas and Sudras and all other creatures also. Terrifying and killing all creatures, they traversed the earth, O king, in bands of hundreds and thousands. And bereft of truth and virtue, proud of their strength and intoxicated with the wine of insolence, they even insulted the great Rishis in their asylums.

"And the Earth thus oppressed by the mighty Asuras endued with great strength and energy and possessed of abundant means, began to think of going to Brahma. The united strength of the creatures (such as Shesha, the tortoise, and the huge Elephant), and of many Sheshas too, became incapable of supporting the Earth with her mountains, burdened as she was with the weight of the Danavas. And then, O king, the Earth, oppressed with the weight and afflicted with fear, sought the protection of the Grand-father of all creatures. And she beheld the divine Brahma—the creator of the worlds knowing no deterioration—surrounded by the gods, Brahmanas, and great Rishis, of exceeding good fortune, and adored by delightful Gandharvas and Apsaras always engaged in the business of the celestials. And the Earth then adored the Grand-father, having approached him. And the Earth, desirous of protection, then represented everything unto him, in the presence, O Bharata, of all the Protectors of the world. But, O king, the Earth's object had been known before-hand to the Omniscient Self-create Supreme Lord. And, O Bharata,