Filled with wonder, he said, 'I do
not think that thou art any one else than Rudra, that great and Supreme
being! O wielder of the trident, thou art the refuge of this universe
consisting of gods and Asuras! The wise say that this universe hath been
created by thee! At the universal destruction, everything once more
enters thee! Thou art incapable of being known by the gods, how then
canst thou be known by me? All forms of being that are in the universe
are seen in thee! The gods with Brahman at their head worship thy boon
giving self, O sinless one! Thou art everything! Thou art the creator of
the gods and it was thou who hadst caused them to be created! Through thy
grace, the gods pass their time in joy and perfect fearlessness!' Having
praised Mahadeva in this manner, the Rishi bowed to him, 'Let not this
absence of gravity, ridiculous in the extreme, that I displayed, O god,
destroy my ascetic merit! I pray to thee for this!' The god, with a
cheerful heart, once more said unto him 'Let thy asceticism increase a
thousandfold, O Brahmana, through my grace! I shall also always dwell
with thee in this asylum! For the man that will worship me in the tirtha
Sapta-Saraswat there will be nothing unattainable here or hereafter.
Without doubt, such a one shall go to the region called Saraswat (in
heaven) after death!' Even this is the history of Mankanaka of abundant
energy. He was a son begotten by the god of wind upon (the lady) Sukanya."
39
Vaishampayana said, "Having passed one night more, Rama, having the
plough for his weapon, worshipped the dwellers of that tirtha and showed
his regard for Mankanaka.
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