4. Vasishtha replied:—This Brahmá is in his own nature the same with the Supreme Brahm, and is born in him, as a billow is born of the waters of the deep. (The co-eternal _logos_). 5. This great lord saw the imperfection of his creation, and saw its whole course (at one view) in times past, present and future. (The perversion of mankind subsequent to their fall). 6. He saw the decay of ceremonial rites after the end of the Satya (golden) and other ages, and considering the error to which men were to fall afterward, he felt pity for their states (for want of sacrifices). 7. Then the Lord thought of endowing me with true knowledge, and sent me on the surface of the earth for dispelling the ignorance of mankind. 8. Like me he has sent also some other great sages here, as Sanat Kumára, Nárada and many others also. 9. He has sent them all for the redemption of mankind from the fetters of their ignorance by a series of meritorious acts, and their progress in divine knowledge also. 10. These great sages seeing at the end of the past golden age, the gradual decay of the holy ritualistic rites on earth: 11. They created the rulers of earth at different divisions of the land, for regulating the course of duties, and observing their proper limits (of action). 12. They have made many works on the traditional law and sacrificial rules to be observed on earth, and many appropriate provisions for the accomplishment of religious and temporal duties (in the smritis). 13. But in the revolution of time, all these duties became slack in their course, and men have no other thought except that of seeking their daily maintenance. 14. Every day disputes are rising among the land-owners on account of their estates and properties, and the people are subjected to various penalties in large numbers. 15. In such a state, it is not possible for the rulers to rule over their states without fighting with one another, when they with their subjects are inevitably reduced to wretchedness (by warfare). 16. In order to remove the impotence (of such princes), and to lead them to a comprehensive view of things, we have prescribed to them many excellent precepts of knowledge. 17. It was the spiritual knowledge which had been at first propounded to princes; but it came afterwards to be known under the title of royal science (polity). 18. This royal science is of a recondite nature, and is also the best kind of spiritual knowledge. Many kings have been set beyond the reach of calamity by a knowledge of this science. 19. It is after many such fair-famed princes that have gone by, that your mighty self was begotten by the present king Dasaratha. 20. O slayer of your enemies, I find a very agreeable and holy kind of apathy growing spontaneously in your most clear understanding. 21. There is another kind of cold-heartedness, O Ráma, which is caused (by some sorrow) in the minds of the virtuous and reasonable men, that is styled their casual indifference.