⁷¹ This refers to an incident in the Mahabharata. Duryodhana treacherously invited the Pandavas to a house of lac constructed for that purpose and set fire to it. They, however, being informed of it beforehand, escaped. Duryodhana, however, thought that they had been consumed and Krishna, to keep up an appearance, was performing the obsequial rites. [_See Jatugrihadaha Parva_.] ⁷² The word in the text is Madhusudana, a name of Krishna. He was called so on account of his killing the demon king Madhu. ⁷³ A name of Balarama because he always used to carry a plough-share in battle. ⁷⁴ A measure of distance equal to four _Kroras_ which at 8,000 cubits or 4,000 yards to the _Krora_ or _Kos_ will be exactly nine miles; other computations make the _Yojana_ but about five miles, or even no more than four miles and a half.—Wilson. ⁷⁵ He initiated himself for the performance of sacrifices, for any one so doing is a proof against all misfortunes. ⁷⁶ A name of Indra, the god of rain. He obtained this appellation after slaying a demon by name Paka. The word literally means, "the chastiser of Paka." CHAPTER XL. A DESCRIPTION OF VISHNU. Janamejaya said:—O Brahman, the sages describe in the Puranas, the incarnations of Vishnu of unlimited energy We have heard from them that the Lord incarnated himself as a boar. But we do not know fully his history, his commands, his deeds, his accomplishments, his objects, his conduct and prowess when he assumed before (this form) (1–3). We have heard that Krishna Dwaipāyana⁷⁷ described this great boar-incarnation before the twice-born ones when they assembled at a sacrifice (4), O Brahman, I have heard how Madhusudana, incarnating himself as a boar, saved with his tusks, the earth sunk in the ocean (5). O Brahman, now I wish to hear at length the various deeds performed by the intelligent Hari the slayer of enemies in his boar and various other incarnations⁷⁸ (6). You alone are capable of describing in order the various deeds of the lord and his character, O Brahman (7). Why did the lord Vishnu, the king of the celestials and the slayer of his enemies, take his birth as Vāsudeva in Vasudeva’s family (8)? Why did He, leaving the land of gods, abounding with immortals and pious men, come down on earth (9)? Why did He, who is the king of gods and men and from whom the earth has emanated, convert his celestial body into a human form (10). Why did He, who is alone turning the healthy circle of mankind, and who is the foremost of the holders of discus, set his heart upon assuming a human form (11)? Why did the lord Vishnu, who protects all the great men of the world, come down on earth as a milkman (12)? Why was Shrigarbha⁷⁹ identical with elements, who is the cause of the great elements conceived by a woman ranging on earth (13)? He, desired by the celestials, occupied the three worlds with his three foot-steps⁸⁰ and