(    loi    )
 

CHAPTER  LVIII.

HOW  EBB   AND   FLOW  FOLLOW   EACH   OTHER   IN   THE
OCEAN.

With regard to the cause why the water of the ocean Qiiotation
always remains as it is, we quote the following passage Matsya-
from the Matsya-Purdna,:—"At the beginning there
were sixteen mountains, which had wings and could fly
and rise ujd into the air. However, the rays of Indra,
the ruler, burned their wings, so that they fell down,
deprived of them, somewhere about the ocean, four of
them in each point of the compass—in the east, Risha-
bha, Balahaka, Cakra, Mainaka; in the north, Candra,
Kahka, Drona, Suhma ; in the west, Vakra, Vadhra,
Narada, Parvata; in the south, Jimuta, Dravina, Main¬
aka ; Mahasaila (?). Between the third and the fourth
of the eastern mountains there is the fire Sctmvartaka,
which drinks the water of the ocean. But for this the
ocean would fill up, since the rivers perpetually flow
to it.

" This fire was the fire of one of their kings, called story of

.           .                                                 °                    King Am-va.

Aurva. He had inherited the realm from his father,
who was killed while he was still an embryo. When
he was born and grew up, and heard the history of his
father, he became angry against the angels, and drew
his sword to kill them, since they had neglected the
guardianship of the world, notwithstanding mankind's
worshipping them and notwithstanding their being in
close contact with the world. Thereupon the angels
humiliated themselves  before  him and tried to con-