280 BHAGABATI GITA What time within Narayan's boundless self I dwelt, when, in the figure of a child Sucking his toe, he, in his tiny bark Of banyan leaf, mov'd o'er the mighty Deep. And all around was void; but ne'er saw I A sight so fearfully sublime as thine. Reveal thyself in some familiar shape That, knowing thee, we may thy feet adore, With undisturb'd serenity of soul." And now as in a mist the mighty form Faded away, and Durga reappeared ; And to th' assembled Rishis thus she spake "In various forms, by still more various snames. My votaries adore me. In their view - Virgo's my Sign, and Leo my heav'nly throne; I'm Vidya,† Wealth, Prosperity, and Fame; Health of the whole, and vigor of the strong; Kuverat is my steward, and Vaidya Dhannantari§ my loyal liegeman true. I love the twilights twain: the sentient heart's My fav'rite haunt; and bright my glory shines On the high watch-towers of light and life In the calm face of love, of knowledge born.
- The personified Purusha or primeval living-spirit, described a
moving on the waters on a banyan-leaf. + Knowledge. The god of Riches and the regent of the northern quarter. Hi city is Alaka in the Himalayas and his garden Chitra-ratha on Mour Mandara. He was half-brother of Ravana and once possessed the cit of Lanka in Ceylon. He is represented as white and deformed havin three legs and only eight teeth.\ The physician of the gods.
