30. Dasaratha said:--You are welcome, O prince! be seated on this seat; you have wandered through many difficulties of the world, now take your rest here. 31. Válmíki related:--Thus accosted by the king, the prince now bearing the name of Bhása, took his seat on a cushion, after making his salutation, to the venerable sages Visvámitra and others. 32. Dasaratha exclaimed:--O the pains, that Vipaschit has so long undergone, under the thraldom of Ignorance; in the manner of a wild elephant, tied in fetters at his feet by ruthless huntsmen. 33. O to what miseries is man exposed, owing to his want of precise understanding, and by his false knowledge of the reality of these worlds, that are seen to be revolving in empty shape. 34. How wondrous are these worlds, so extensive and so remote, which Vipaschit has traversed out, and how incredible are the pains, through which he has passed so long. 35. O how wonderful is the nature and glory, of the inane Intellect of the vacuous spirit of the Supreme, that exhibits in empty air, the blank thoughts of his all comprehensive mind, as sole and substantial ones (to the apprehension of ignorant mortals). CHAPTER CXXXI. BHÁSA’S ACCOUNT OF THE WORLDS AND HIS JOURNEYS THROUGHOUT. Argument:--There is no substantive world, separate from the thoughts in the Eternal mind. Dasaratha said:--I understand that Vipaschit has acted unwisely, in taking so much pains in his wanderings for a knowledge of the spheres; because it is all in vain to inquire into unrealities and useless matters, and it was his ignorance or _avidyá_ alone, that led him to the search. 2. Válmíki related:--At this moment the sage Viswámitra, who was sitting beside the king; oped his mouth and said on the subject now under consideration. 3. Viswámitra said:--O king, there are many such men, who without a good understanding, and for want of best knowledge; are apt to think that all things are possible to be known by them. 4. Hence it is that the sons of king Vatadhána, have been wandering in this manner, and for very many years, in search of true knowledge, all over this earth, and without ever being able to arrive at it. 5. It is for exploring the limits of this earth, that they have been employed with ceaseless toil and unwearied labour, as a river runs in its incessant course for ever. 6. This great world (the earth), is situated as an orb in the air, like an imaginary tree of boys growing in the sky, or as a toy ball of fanciful Brahmá, rolling about in empty air. 7. As creeping emmets move about a sugar ball, without falling off from it; so do all living bodies move about their support of this earth, which is sustained in the empty air. 8. Those that are situated on the lower surface of this globe, are moving thereabouts as erectly, as those that are on its upper side (and though this earth is turning up and down yet no one sides away from it).