54. The gods seated even in the abode of Brahmá, were afraid of their impending fall; when they heard the gigantic trees of the forests falling headlong, with the tremendous crash of _pata-pata_ noise. 55. The mountains standing on the surface of the earth, were shaking and tottering on all sides; and a great earthquake shook the mountains of Kailása and Meru, to their very bottom and caverns and forests. 56. The ominous tornadoes at the end of the kalpa period, overthrew the mountains and cities and forests, and overwhelmed the earth and all in a general ruin and confusion. CHAPTER LXXII. DESCRIPTION OF NIRVÁNA OR FINAL EXTINCTION. Argument:—Brahmá’s suppression of his Respiration; his settling on the wings of air and his form of Virát. Vasishtha continued:—Now the self-born Brahmá, having compressed his breath in his form of Virát (or the heart); the aerial or atmospheric air, which is borne on the wings of wind, lost its existence. 2. The atmospheric air, which is the very breath of Brahmá being thus compressed in his breast; what other air could there remain, to uphold the starry frame and the system of the universe. 3. The atmospheric air, being compressed with the vital breath of Brahmá; the perturbed creation (as described before), was about to come to its ultimate _quietus_. 4. The firmament being no more upheld by its support of the air, gave way to the fiery bodies of meteors, to fall down on earth, as starry flowers from the arbour of heaven. 5. The orbs of heaven, being unsupported by the intermediate air, were now falling on the ground; like the unfailing and impending fruits of our deserts, or the flying fates falling from above. 6. The gross desire or the crude will of Brahmá, being now at its end at the approach of dissolution; there was an utter stop, of the actions and motions of the siddhas, as that of the flame of fire before its extinction. 7. The world-destroying winds were winding in the air, like the thin and flying scraps of cotton; and then the siddhas fell down mute from heaven, after the loss of their strength and power of speech. 8. The great fabrics of human wishes, fell down with the cities of the Gods; and the peaks of mountain were hurled headlong, by shocks of tremendous earthquakes. 9. Ráma rejoined:—Now sir, if the world is but a representation of the ideal in the mind of the great God Brahmá or Virát; then what is the difference of earth, heaven and hell to him (who encompasses the whole in his body or mind). 10. How can these worlds be said, to be the members of his body; or can it be thought, that the God resides in them with his stupendous form. 11. I well know that Brahmá is wilful spirit of God, and has no form of himself; and so do I take this world, for a formless representation of the will or idea in the Divine Mind. Please sir, explain this clearly unto me.