23. As I was looking on that mountainous body of flesh, (i.e. the huge carcass); I observed that the ample space of all the seven continents of the earth was not enough to contain this single body.
24. Seeing this, I applied to the good grace of the god of fire; and asked him saying, Lord what is this and what does it mean.
25. Why did the sun also fall down from heaven, along with that corpse; and how is it that the space of the whole earth and all its oceans, has not sufficient room to compass it?
26. The God of fire replied:—Hold your patience, my son, for a while, until this portentous event passes away; when I will explain this marvellous matter fully to you.
27. Soon as the God had said these words, there flocked an assemblage of the celestials all around us; and it consisted of all kinds of beings that are born and move about in the aerial regions.
28. There were the siddhas, sadhyas, Apsaras, Daityas, Gandharvas and Kinnaras among them; together with the Munis, Rishis, yakshas and Patres, Matres and the gods also with them.
29. All these celestials then, bowed down their heads in veneration; and all joined with their prostrate bodies to praise the dark goddess of Night, who is the refuge and resort of all.
30. The celestials said:—May that goddess protect us her protégés, who is immaculate and incomparable, and has the grey braids of Brahmá’s hairs, tied at the top of her khattanga ensign, and the heads of the slain Daityas, strung to the neck-chain hanging on her breast; who wears the feathers of Garuda on her head, and who after devouring the world, drinks off the deep also at the end.
CHAPTER CXXXIV.
The story of the Carcass Continued.
Argument:—Description of the body of the Goddess, and her food of the carcass, and drink of the blood.