32. O yes, I am as fast bound by my ignorance, and captivated by my reminiscence, as a captive bird in a net, that has lost all power over itself.
33. O fie! that my silly mind is so deluded by its desires, that it is always wont to mistake the shadow for the substance, of people dwelling in their aerial castles.
34. This extraordinary magic, I ween is shown to me by Vishnu—the holder of the discus, of whom I recollect to have asked the favour of showing Máyá or delusion to me.
35. I will now betake myself to austere devotion in the cavern of a hill, in order to learn the origin and subsistence of delusion (i.e. how the deceitful delusion sprang from the truthful God, and where in it consists).
36. Having long thought in this manner, Gádhi went out of the city, and came to the cavern of mountain; where he rested after all his travels and travail of thought, like a lion tired with his roaming for forage.
37. He remained there for a whole year, living only on the water of the cataract collected in the hollow of his palm; and devoted himself to the worship of Vishnu, the holder of the Sáringi bow.
38. Then the lotus eyed god appeared to him in his watery form, which was as clear and graceful to sight, as the limpid lake of autumn with the blue lotuses full blown upon it.
39. With this form, the god approached to the hermit’s cell in the mountain, and stood over it in the likeness of a transparent watery cloud, resting on the humid atmosphere.
40. The lord spoke to him saying:—Gádhi thou hast fully seen the great spell of my magic (máyá); and known the network or delusion, which is spread by destiny over all the affairs of this world. (i.e. Man is destined, and to be deluded to think the false scenes of the world as real ones).
41. Thou hast now well understood the nature of delusion, which thou didst desire in thy heart to know, what is it again that thou wantest to know, by these austerities of thine in this mountain cave?