46. The flames ascending far above in the air, appeared as fixed lightenings in the sky; and the firmament assumed a face as that of molten gold.
47. The fiery sparks flying afar to the starry frame, doubled the number of stars in heaven; and the flashing fires in the bosom of the sky, delighted the eyes of damsels (as at the sight of fire works).
48. The blowing and booming fires, rebellowing in the hollow sky; startled the sleeping foresters in the woods, who rushed out of their caves and caverns, and wandered about in the forest.
49. The wild beasts and birds being half burnt in their caves and nests, lay and fell dead on the ground; the lakes and river waters boiled with heat, and the foresters were suffocated by the fumes.
50. The young chauri bulls, were parched in the flames; and the stink of the burning fat and flesh of wild beasts, filled the air with a nasty stench.
51. This all devouring wild fire, raging as a conflagration or diluvian fire, hath wholly consumed and swallowed up your hermitage, as a serpent devours its prey.
52. The Huntsman asked:—Tell me sir, what was the real cause of this fire; and why the Bráhman lads that dwelt in their pupilage there, were burnt down also.
53. The sage replied:—It is the vibration or effort of the volitive or designing mind, that is the true cause or incentive of the production or demolition of the desired object; and so its quiescence is the cause of the absence of the three worlds.
54. As a sudden fear or passion is the cause of palpitation of the heart, so an effort or desire of the mind is the mobile force (or primum mobile) for the causation of the three worlds.
55. It is the pulsation of the Divine Mind, that is the cause of the imaginary city of the world; as also of the increase of population and of rains and draughts.