21. I worship the god that dwells in the lotus-like hearts of his votaries, with his appearance of a swarm of sable bees; and holding a conch-shell as white as the bud of a lotus or lily, with the earrings ringing in his ears with the music of humming bees.
22. I resort to Hari’s sky-blue shade, shining with the starry light of his long stretching nails; his face shining as the full-moon with his smiling beams, and his breast waving as the surface of Ganges, with the sparkling gems hanging upon it.
23. I rely on that godling that slept on the leaf of the fig tree (when his spirit floated on the surface of the waters); and that contains the universe in himself in his stupendous form of Virát; that is neither born nor grown, but is always the whole by himself; and is possest of endless attributes of his own nature.
24. I take my refuge in Hari, whose bosom is daubed with the red dust of the new-blown lotus, and whose left side is adorned by the blushing beauty of Lakshmí; whose body is mantled by a coloured red coverlet; and besmeared with red sandal paste like liquid gold.
25. I take my asylum under that Hari who is the destructive frost to the lotus-bed of demons; and the rising sun to the opening buds of the lotus-bed of the deities; who is the source of the lotus-born Brahmá, and receptacle of the lotiform seat (cranium) of our understanding.
26. My hope is in Hari—the blooming lotus of the bed of the triple world, and the only light amidst the darkness of the universe; who is the principle of the intellect—chit, amidst the gross material world and who is the only remedy of all the evils and troubles of this transient life.
27. Vasishtha continued:—Hari the destroyer of demons, who is graced on his side by the goddess of prosperity; being lauded with many such graceful speeches of the demoniac lord, answered him as lovingly in his blue lotuslike form, as when the deep clouds respond to the peacocks’ screams.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
PRAHLÁDA’S SELF KNOWLEDGE OF SPIRITUALISM.
Argument. Prahláda’s meditations and attainment of spiritual knowledge by the blessing of Vishnu.
The Lord said:—O thou rich jewel on the crown of the Daitya race! Receive thy desired boon of me for alleviation of thy worldly afflictions.