Thus Hari’s lives and exploits are countless; they are all charming, delightful and marvellous. Whenever in every cycle of creation the Lord manifests himself and performs lovely sports of various kinds,

-the high sages have on each occasion sung his story in most sacred strains, relating his marvellous adventures of diverse kinds, which the wise hear without any amazement.

Hari is infinite, and infinite are Hari’s stories; and all the saints recite them and listen to them in various ways. The delightful adventures of Ramachandra cannot all be sung even in ten thousand aeons.

I have told this tale, O Bhavani, to show that even enlightened sages are deluded by Hari’s illusion. The Lord is sportive and gracious to his suppliants; he is easy to serve and a remover of all sorrows.

There is no god or man or sage whom Hari’s powerful illusion does not infatuate. Bearing this in mind, one should adore the Lord of this mighty illusion.

Now hear, O daughter of the Mountain King, yet another reason why the unbegotten, impersonal and formless Absolute became king of Ayodhya. I shall relate at length the marvellous story connected with it.

The Lord, whom you saw roaming in the forest with his brother, dressed in hermit’s garb, and whose doings, Bhavani, drove you so mad when you were Sati-