Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/84

50 represented by the six seasons. The number of spokes attached to that nave is twelve as represented by the twelve signs of the Zodiac. This wheel of Time manifests the fruits of the acts of all beings. The presiding deities of Time abide in that wheel. Subject as I am to its distressful influence, ye Aswinas, liberate me from that wheel of Time. Ye Aswinas, ye are this universe of five elements! Ye are the objects that are enjoyed in this and in the other world! Make me independent of the influence of the five elements! And though ye are the Supreme Brahma, yet ye move over the Earth in forms enjoying the delights that the senses can afford.

'In the beginning, ye created the ten points of the universe! Then have ye placed the Sun and the Sky above! The Rishis, according to the course of the same Sun, perform their sacrifices, and the gods and men, according to what hath been appointed for them, perform their sacrifices also enjoying the fruits of those acts!

'Mixing the three colors ye have produced all the objects of sight! It is from these objects that the universe hath sprung, whereon the gods and men are engaged in their respective occupations, and, indeed, all creatures endued with life!

'Ye Aswinas, I adore ye! I also adore the Sky which is your handiwork! Ye are the ordainers of the fruits of all acts from which even the gods are not free! Ye are yourselves free from the fruits of your acts!

'Ye are the parents of all! As males and females it is ye that swallow the food which subsequently develops into the fluid and blood! The infant sucks the teat of its mother. Indeed, it is ye that take the shape of the infant! Ye Aswinas, grant me my sight to protect my life!'

"The twin Aswinas, thus invoked, appeared and said, 'We are satisfied. Here is a cake for thee. Take and eat it.' And Upamanyu, thus addressed, replied, 'your word, O Aswinas, have never proved untrue. But without first offering this cake to my preceptor I dare not take it.' And the Aswinas thereupon told him, 'formerly, thy preceptor had invoked us. We thereupon gave him a cake like this, and he took it without offering it to his master. Do thou that which thy