Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/458

444 holding that wonderful sight, approached the woman and asked her,Who art thou, amiable lady? Why dost thou weep ? I desire to know the truth. O tell me every thing!

"Vyasa continued, --The woman thereupon answered-O Sakra, thou mayest know who I am and why, unfortunate that I am, I weep, if only, O chief of the celestials, thou conest with me as I lead the way. Thou shalt then see what it is I weep for!-Hearing these words of the lady, Indra followed her as she led the way. And soon he saw, not far off from where he was, a handsome youth with a young lady seated on a throne placed on one of the peaks of Himavat and playing at dice. Beholding that youth, the chief of the celestials said. ---Know, intelligent youth, that this universe is under my sway!-Seeing, however, that the person addressed was so engrossed in dice that he took no notice of what he said, Indra was possessed by anger and repeated, I am the lord of the universe - The youth who was none else than the god Mahadeva (the god of the gods), seeing Indra filled with wrath, only smiled, having cast a glance at him. At that glance, however, the chief of the celestials was at once paralysed and stood there like a stake. When the game at dice was over, Isbana addressing the weeping woman said,-Bring Sakra hitler, for I shall soon so deal with him that pride may not again enter his heart !-As soon as Sakra was touched by that woman, the chief of the celestials with limbs paralysed by that touch, fell down on the earth. The illustrious Ishana of fierce energy then said unto him,--Act not, O Sakra, ever again in this way ! Remove this huge stone, for thy strength and energy are immeasurable, and enter the hole (it will disclose) where await some others possessing the splendour of the sun and who are all like unto thee - Indra then, on removing that stone, beheld a cave in the breast of that king of mountains, within which were four others resembling himself. Beholding their plight, Sakra became seized with grief and exclaimed, shall I be even like these ?- Then the god Girisha (Ishana), looking full at Indra with expanded eyes, said in anger, thou of a hundred sacrifices, enter this cave without loss of time, for thou hast from folly insulted me before my eyes! -Thus addressed by the lord Ishana, the chief of the celestials, in consequence of that terrible imprecation, was deeply pained, and with limbs weakened by fear trembled like the wind-shaken leaf of a Himalayan fig. And cursed unexpectedly by the god owning a bull for his vehicle. Indra, with joined hands and shaking from head to foot, addressed that fierce god of multiform manifestations, saying, --Thou art, O Bhava, the overlooker of the infinite Universe - Heating these words the god of fiery energy smiled and said, - Those that are of disposition like thine never obtain my grace.