not a more excellent place for the successful devotion of the pious. There Casyapa, father of the immortals, ruler of men, son of Maríchi, who sprang from the self-existent, resides with his consort Aditi, blessed in holy retirement.
Dushm. [Devoutly.] This occasion of attaining good fortune must not be neglected: may I approach the divine pair, and do them complete homage?
Mát. By all means.—It is an excellent idea!—We are now descended on earth.
Dushm. [With wonder.] These chariot wheels yield no sound; no dust arises from them; and the descent of the car gave me no shock.
Mát. Such is the difference, O king, between thy car and that of Indra!
Dushm. Where is the holy retreat of Máríchi?
Mát. [Pointing.] A little beyond that grove, where you see a pious Yógì, motionless as a pollard, holding his thick bushy hair, and fixing his eyes on the solar orb.—Mark; his body is half covered with a white ant's edifice made of raised clay; the skin of a snake supplies the place of his sacerdotal thread, and part of it girds his loins; a number of knotty plants encircle and wound his neck; and surrounding birds' nests almost conceal his shoulders.
Dushm. I bow to a man of his austere devotion.
Mát. [Checking the reins.] Thus far, and enough.—We now enter the sanctuary of him who rules the world, and the groves which are watered by streams from celestial sources.
