"Lord, thou hast changed me into a living being; where now dost thou command me to dwell? Remember, lord, that when I was a flower I trembled and drew in my leaves at every breath of the wind. I feared heavy rain; I feared storms; I feared thunder and lightning; I feared even the burning rays of the sun. Thou hast commanded me to be the incarnation of the lotus; hence I have kept my former nature, and now I fear the earth and all that is on it. Where dost thou command me to dwell?"
Krishna raised his wise eyes to the stars, meditated a while, and then asked,—
"Dost thou wish to live on the summits of mountains?"
"Snow and cold are there, lord, I am afraid."
"Well, I will build thee a palace of crystal at the bottom of the lake."
"In the depths of the waters move serpents and other monsters; I am afraid, lord."
"Dost thou prefer the boundless steppes?"
"Whirlwinds and tempests rush over the steppes like wild herds."
"What is to be done with thee, incarnate flower? Ha! In the caves of Ellora live holy hermits. Wilt thou dwell far away from the world, in those caves?"
"It is dark there, lord; I am afraid."