Arjun’s Chariot and the Forest Fires⁴³⁷ For while the tired waves, slowly breaking, Seem here no painful inch to gain, Far back, through creeks and inlets making, Comes silent, flooding in, the main.⁴³⁸ Thus addressed both by Dasarha and Arjuna, the illustrious god then put forth his most energetic form, and prepared to consume the forest. Surrounding it on all sides with his seven flames, he began to consume the forest of Khandava, exhibiting his all-consuming form like that at the end of the Yuga (cycle). Then those foremost of car-warriors (Krishna and Arjuna), riding in their cars and placing themselves on opposite sides of that forest, began a great slaughter, on all sides, of the creatures dwelling in Khandava.⁴³⁹ “Manifold is the prosperity of him who is weary, So, have we heard, O Rohita; Evil is he who stayeth among men, Indra is the comrade of the wanderer. “Flower-like the heels of the wanderer, His body groweth and is fruitful; All his sins disappear, Slain by the toil of his journeying. “The fortune of him who sitteth also sitteth,

But that of him who standeth standeth erect; That of him that reclineth lieth down; The fortune of him that moveth shall move indeed. “Kali he becometh who lieth, Dvapara when he riseth, Treta when he standeth erect, And Krta when he moveth.”⁴⁴⁰ Sarasvatichandra and his companions went on a tour of one part of Chiranjiv Shrunga, while Kumud Sundari and her companions went in the other direction. Outside the ramparts of the hill top there was a small lake. Sarasvatichandra and his companions were strolling on its embankments when Shankapuri and Shantidas turned up at the spot. Shankapuri came up close to Sarasvatichandra and said to him in a whisper, ‘Navinchandra! You are doing such things in the garb of an ascetic? Be warned that you shall repent. See how you dissipate under this mask.’⁴⁴¹ Sarasvatichandra was surprised both by his words and his English. He quickly regained his composure and replied, ‘Brother! I believe that as you understand the deeper meaning of asceticism, you shall understand me better; these words will then pain you. Therefore it would be better if you give up the scheming ways of the world and cultivate the patience to see the world from the perspective of Sundargiri. You should judge me only after that.’ Surdas and Mayapuri heard this exchange and came forward in anger. Mayapuri caught Shankapuri by the hand and said, ‘An ascetic who cannot observe the humility required to converse with an ascetic of the highest spiritual attainment is not fit to be an inhabitant of Sundargiri. If you repeat such behaviour I would be forced to advise the Master to send you back to the society.’ Shankapuri gave no reply and walked away in company of Shantidas. They came where Kumud Sundari and her companions were sitting. He sat at some distance from them and stared at Kumud. Kumud was startled. Her companions surrounded her and sent Bhakti and