p. 856

"Trereat Sampiti related unto the ascetic all about his fearful,arduous,and rash act of following up the sun. “‘O rever - end sire,in consequence of my body suffering from sores, I, my senses bewildered from shame, and myself fatigued, canno€ utter words. From pride for power of flight, I and Jatayv, being intoxicated by conceit, began to voyage the sky afar off, with the view of testing each other’s prowess, binding ourselves by the vow that we would follow the Sun so long as he did not enter that mighty Setting mountain,—and appear before the ascetics on the summit of Kailaca. And simultaneously plunging (into the zrial deep) we saw on the earth beneath separate cities resembling car-wheels ; aod bere the sound of musical instruments ; and there the tiaklings of ornaments. And (at places) we beheld many 4 damsel clad in red attire, engaged in singing. And swiftly darting up into the sky and approaching the path of the Sus, we saw a wood interspersed with swards. And we saw the earth covered with crags and masses of rocks, and iatersected by streams resembling threads. And Himavan, aod Vindhya, and that mighty mountain, Meru, appeared on the earth like elephants in a tank. Then we began to sweat, and to be filled with regret ; and fear seized us both. And we became bewildered ; and fainted away frightfully.* And we knew not the south, or the west, or the quarter presided over by Fire ;t and the world that was still burning at the ead * Consequent on Jatayu having dropped down.—T. + South-east.—T.

p. 857

of a yuga, appeared (unto us) as if it had been consumed quite.* And my mind, combined with my eyes waxed feebler. And thea fixing with might and main my eyes as well as my mind (on the sun), I could by a violent exercise of my energy behold the sun. And the sun shining, appeared unto us like the earth in exteat. Then, without asking me Jatayu dropped tothe earth. Secing him, 1 at once descended from the sky and Jatiyu was not burnt in consequence of having been shielded by my wings. And scathed through the agitationt [fell through the zrial way. I guessed that Jatdyu fell in Janasthina. And I myself, my wings blasted, and rendered inert, fell on Vindhya. Deprived of my kingdom, and my brother, and my wings, and my prowess, I wishing to put a Petiod to my existence, will hurl myself headlong from this summit of the mountain.”