The fierce lion, the leopard, and all the untamed creatures of the forests, with yearning call of love, turned their faces towards the place, all light, where Love, as a little child was cradled in the arms of man. And in the hour of His coming many rainbows of wondrous color and beauty did span the skies. And the sun liquid as molten love became. And in that hour man and beast, and bird and flower, and all that lives upon the earth and underneath its surface and in the deep waters, did look into the abode of Love. And on the face of earth the smile of Love did rest, and sin vanished from the heart of man, even as hunger disappeareth where plentiful food is dished to the hungered. The eye of the murderer looked for darkened places wherein to bide himself, but, finding naught but light, did throw his blade into the purified waters of the holy river and knelt at the feet of the holy ones, who in ecstasy were wrapt. The gray and shrunken face of avarice lifted itself toward the skies, and lo! glorified the countenance became! The face of bloated folly, the weakness of vanity, the vileness of ingratitude, the stubbornness of unbelief in that hour were unknown to man. A joy, unfelt before, on all the earth did reign, a joy that even yet doth thrill through hearts of life, for the child that was God, and the God that was child, had come on earth to live with man. CHAPTER VI. And the child that was the Lord spoke to the mother in the hour of His coming as the Sovereign of all Sovereignty would speak: "Say unto him, Vāsudeva, thy husband, to transport me to where the wife of the King Nanda doth lie, who but now giveth birth to a daughter. "Pass through the gates; the chains shall be loosened, the keepers asleep at their posts. "The warring waters of the Jumnā a path shall make for him to pass with Me in his arms. The gates of the palace on the banks of the river wide open shall stand, and the mother asleep in her chamber shall be. "Put Me on her breast, and bear away the daughter that to her is born. And when the prince shall ask Vāsudeva for the eighth child that is born unto thee, do thou deliver the daughter of Yasodā unto him." Thus spake the Lord, and a helpless child He became. Vāsudeva in wonder passed through the gates; the keepers all slept a sleep as of death. The waters parted to make a way for him who carried the Lord to pass. Unseen, unheard, he entered the courtyard and palace and passed the sounding halls and corridors, until the room of the sleeping queen he spied, and taking the Lord from under his cloak, on the breast of the sleeping queen he laid it, and took in his place the wide-eyed daughter, that cooed and smiled in his bearded face. And sleep still held the queen and the city and the gaolers embraced, till he stood at the side of Devaki once more, who wept at the sight of the smiling babe, who soon at the hand of her brother must perish.