31. But not knowing the knowable (Brahma), his mind could not find its rest in his ceremonial acts, nor found its purity on the surface of the stainless earth. (The earth appears sullied to the tainted soul, but it is all unstained to the taintless soul, which views it full with the holy spirit of God). 32. Not knowing the fulness of the world with divine spirit, and the holiness of the earth in every place, he thought the ground polluted (by the original sin), and did not find his repose any where. 33. Therefore he made a vow of his own accord, to take his seat on the branch of a tree, which was untainted with the pollution of the earth. (Because the Lord said, “Cursed is the ground for thy sake”; but not so the trees growing upon it). 34. Henceforth said he, “I will perform my austerities on these branching arbours, and repose myself like birds and sylvan spirits, on the branches and leaves of trees.” 35. Thus sitting on high, he kindled a flaming fire beneath him, and was going to offer oblations of living flesh on it, by paring bits of his shoulder blade (mixed with blood). 36. When the god of fire thought in himself that, as fire is the mouth whereby the gods receive their food, the offering of a Bráhman’s flesh to it, would wholly burn down their faces. (Fire is the mouth of gods, says Veda, because the gods of early Aryans were distinguished from the savages for their taking cooked food and meat, while the latter took them raw for want of their knowledge of kindling fire. Again all flesh was palatable to the gods, except that of their brotherhood—Bráhmans). 37. Thinking so, the god of fire appeared before him in his full blaze, as the luminous sun appeared before the lord of speech—Brihaspati or Jupiter. 38. He uttered gently and said, “Accept young Bráhman your desired boon from me, as the owner of a store, takes out his treasure from the chest in which it is deposited”. 39. Being thus accosted by the god, the Bráhman boy saluted him with a laudatory hymn; and after adoring him with suitable offerings of flowers, addressed him in the following manner. 40. “Lord! I find no holy place upon earth, which is full of iniquity and sinful beings; and therefore pray of thee to make the tops of trees, the only places for my abode.” 41. Being thus besought by the Bráhman boy, the god pronounced “Be it so” from his flaming mouth, and vanished from his sight. 42. As the god disappeared from before him, like the day-light from the face of the lotus-flower; the son of the sage being fully satisfied with his desired boon, shone forth in his face like the orb of the full moon. 43. Conscious of the success of his desire, his gladdened countenance brightened with his blooming smiles; just as the white lotus blushes with its smiling petals, no sooner it perceives the smiling moonbeams falling upon it. CHAPTER XLIX. DESCRIPTION OF DÁSÚRA’S KADAMBA FOREST.