13.

Then taking Kailyal in his arms, he said,

Be of good heart, Beloved! it is I

Who bear thee. Saying this, his wings he spread, Sprung upward in the sky, and poised his flight, Then plunged into the Gulph, and sought the World of Night.

XXII.

THE GATE OF PADALON.

1.

THE strong foundations of this inmost Earth

Rest upon Padalon. That icy Mound
Which girt the mortal Ocean round,
Reach'd the profound,...

Ice in the regions of the upper air,
Crystal midway, and adamant below,

Whose strength sufficed to bear

The weight of all this upper World of ours, And with its rampart closed the Realm of Woe. Eight gates hath Padalon; eight heavenly Powers Have them in charge, each alway at his post, Lest from their penal caves the accursed host, Maugre the might of Baly and the God, Should break, and carry ruin all abroad.

2.

Those gates stand ever open, night and day,

And Souls of mortal men

For ever throng the way.
Some from the dolorous den,

"Yama was a child of the Sun, and thence named Vaivaswata; another of his titles was Dhermaraja, or King of Justice; and a third Pitripeti, or Lord of the Patriarchs: but he is chiefly distinguished as Judge of departed souls; for the Hindus believe that, when a soul leaves its body, it immediately repairs to Yamapur, or the city of Yama, where it receives a just sentence from him, and thence either ascends to Swerga, or the first Heaven; or is driven down to Narac, the region of serpents; or assumes on earth the form of some animal, unless its offence has been such, that it ought to be condemned to a vegetable, or even to a mineral prison." Sir W. Jones.

There is a story concerning Yamen which will remind the reader, in its purport, of the fable of Love and Death. "A famous penitent, Morrugandumagarezi by name, had, during a long series of years, served the gods with uncommon and most exemplary piety. This very virtuous man, having no children, was extremely desirous of having one, and therefore daily besought the god Xiven (or Seeva) to grant him one. At length the god heard his desire, but, before he indulged it him, he asked him, whether he would have several children, who should be long lived and wicked, or one virtuous and prudent, who should die in his sixteenth year? The penitent chose the latter : his wife conceived, and was happily delivered of the promised son, whom they named Marcandem. The boy, like his father, zealously devoted himself to the worship of Xiven; but as soon as he had attained his sixteenth year, the officers of Yhamen, god of death, were sent on the earth, to remove him from thence.

"Young Marcandem being informed on what errand they were come, told them, with a resolute air, that he was resolved not to die, and that they might go back, if they pleased. They

returned to their master, and told him the whole affair. Yhamen immediately mounted his great buffle, and set out. Being come, he told the youth that he acted very rashly in refusing to leave the world, and it was unjust in him, for Xiven had promised him a life only of sixteen years, and the term was expired. But this reason did not satisfy Marcandem, who persisted in his resolution not to die; and, fearing lest the god of death should attempt to take him away by force, he ran to his oratory, and taking the Lingam, clasped it to his breast. Meantime Yhamen came down from his buffle, threw a rope about the youth's neck, and held him fast therewith, as also the Lingam, which Marcandem grasped with all his strength, and was going to drag them both into hell, when Xiven issued out of the Lingam, drove back the king of the dead, and gave him so furious a blow that he killed him on the spot.

"The god of death being thus slain, mankind multiplied so that the earth was no longer able to contain them. The gods represented this to Xiven, and he, at their entreaty, restored Yhamen to life, and to all the power he had before enjoyed. Yhamen immediately dispatched a herald to all parts of the world, to summon all the old men. The herald got drunk before he set out, and, without staying till the fumes of the wine were dispelled, mounted an elephant, and rode up and down the world, pursuant to his commission; and, instead of publishing this order, he declared, that it was the will and pleasure of Yhamen that, from this day forward, all the leaves, fruits, and flowers, whether ripe or green, should fall to the ground. This proclamation was no sooner issued than men began to yield to death. But before Yhamen was killed, only the old were deprived of life, and now people of all ages are summoned indiscriminately.” — Picart.

The Ship of Heaven awaits their coming there, And on they sail, greeting the blessed light Through realms of upper air,

Bound for the Swerga once; but now no more Their voyage rests upon that happy shore, Since Indra, by the dreadful Rajah's might Compell'd, hath taken flight;

On to the second World their way they wend, And there, in trembling hope, await the doubtful end.

5.

For still in them doth hope predominate, Faith's precious privilege, when higher Powers Give way to fear in these portentous hours.

Behold the Wardens eight Each silent at his gate Expectant stands; they turn their anxious eyes Within, and, listening to the dizzy din Of mutinous uproar, each in all his hands Holds all his weapons, ready for the fight, For, hark! what clamorous cries Upon Kehama, for deliverance, call! Come, Rajah! they exclaim, too long we groan In torments. Come, Deliverer! yonder throne Awaits thee... Now, Kehama! Rajah, now! Earthly Almighty, wherefore tarriest thou?.. Such were the sounds that rung, in wild uproar, O'er all the echoing vaults of Padalon; And as the Asuras from the Brazen floor, Struggling against their fetters, strove to rise, Their clashing chains were heard, and shrieks and cries, With curses mix'd, against the Fiends who urge, Fierce on their rebel limbs, the avenging scourge.

6.

These were the sounds which, at the southern gate,
Assail'd Ereenia's ear; alighting here
He laid before Neroodi's feet the Maid
Who pale and cold with fear,

Hung on his neck, well-nigh a lifeless weight.

7.

Who and what art thou? cried the Guardian Power,
Sight so unwonted wondering to behold,..
O Son of Light!

Who comest here at this portentous hour,
When Yamen's throne

Trembles, and all our might can scarce keep down
The rebel race from seizing Padalon,...
Who and what art thou? and what wild despair,
Or wilder hope, from realms of upper air,
Tempts thee to bear

This mortal Maid to our forlorn abodes ?
Fitter for her, I ween, the Swerga bowers,
And sweet society of heavenly Powers,
Than this,.. a doleful scene,

Even in securest hours.
And whither would ye go?
Alas! can human or celestial ear,
Unmadden'd, hear

The shrieks and yellings of infernal woe?
Can living flesh and blood

Endure the passage of the fiery flood!

8.

Lord of the Gate, replied the Glendoveer,
We come obedient to the will of Fate;
And haply doom'd to bring

Hope and salvation to the Infernal King,
For Seeva sends us here,
Even He to whom futurity is known,
The Holiest, bade us go to Yamen's throne.
Thou seest my precious charge;
Under thy care, secure from harm, I leave her,
While I ascend to bear her father down.
Beneath the shelter of thine arm receive her!

9.

Then quoth he to the Maid, Be of good cheer, my Kailyal! dearest dear, In faith subdue thy dread; Anon I shall be here. So having said, Aloft with vigorous bound the Glendoveer, Sprung in celestial might,

And soaring up, in spiral circles, wound His indefatigable flight.

10.

But as he thus departed,

The Maid, who at Neroodi's feet was lying, Like one entranced or dying, Recovering strength from sudden terror, started; And gazing after him with straining sight, And straining arms, she stood, As if in attitude

To win him back from flight.

Yea, she had shaped his name

For utterance, to recall and bid him stay, Nor leave her thus alone; but virtuous shame Represt the unbidden sounds upon their way; And calling faith to aid,

Even in this fearful hour, the pious Maid
Collected courage, till she seem'd to be
Calm and in hope, such power hath piety.
Before the Giant Keeper of the Gate
She crost her patient arms, and at his feet,
Prepar'd to meet

The aweful will of Fate with equal mind,
She took her seat resign'd.

11.

Even the stern trouble of Neroodi's brow
Relax'd as he beheld the valiant Maid.
Hope, long unfelt till now,

Rose in his heart reviving, and a smile
Dawn'd in his brightening countenance, the while
He gazed on her with wonder and delight.
The blessing of the Powers of Padalon,
Virgin, be on thee! said the admiring God;
And blessed be the hour that gave thee birth,
Daughter of Earth!

For thou to this forlorn abode hast brought Hope, who too long hath been a stranger here. And surely for no lamentable lot, Nature that erreth not,

To thee that heart of fortitude hath given,
Those eyes of purity, that face of love:.
If thou beest not the inheritrix of Heaven,
There is no truth above.

12.

Thus as Neroodi spake, his brow severe
Shone with an inward joy; for sure he thought
When Seeva sent so fair a creature here,
In this momentous hour,

Ere long the World's deliverance would be wrought,
And Padalon escape the Rajah's power.
With pious mind the Maid, in humble guise
Inclined, received his blessing silently,

And raised her grateful eyes

A moment, then again

Abased them at his presence. Hark! on high The sound of coming wings!.. her anxious ears Have caught the distant sound. Ereenia brings His burthen down! Upstarting from her seat, How joyfully she rears

Her eager head! and scarce upon the ground Ladurlad's giddy feet their footing found, When, with her trembling arms, she claspt him round. No word of greeting,

Nor other sign of joy at that strange meeting;

Expectant of their fate,
Silent, and hand in hand,

Before the Infernal Gate,

The Father and his pious Daughter stand.

13.

Then to Neroodi said the Glendoveer,
No Heaven-born Spirit e'er hath visited
This region drear and dread; but I, the first
Who tread your World accurst.

Lord of the Gate, to whom these realms are known,
Direct our fated way to Yamen's throne.

14.

Bring forth my Chariot, Carmala ! quoth then The Keeper of the way.

It was the Car wherein On Yamen's festal day,

When all the Powers of Hell attend their King, Yearly to Yamenpur did he repair

To pay his homage there.

Poised on a single wheel, it moved along, Instinct with motion; by what wondrous skill Compact, no human tongue could tell, Nor human wit devise; but on that wheel, Moving or still,

As if with life indued,

The Car miraculous supported stood.

15.

Then Carmala brought forth two mantles, white As the swan's breast, and bright as mountain snow, When from the wintry sky

The sun, late-rising, shines upon the height, And rolling vapours fill the vale below. Not without pain the unaccustom'd sight That brightness could sustain ; For neither mortal stain, Nor parts corruptible, remain, Nor aught that time could touch, or force destroy, In that pure web whereof the robes were wrought; So long had it in tenfold fires been tried, And blanch'd, and to that brightness purified.

Apparell'd thus, alone,

Children of Earth, Neroodi cried, In safety may ye pass to Yamen's throne. Thus only can your living flesh and blood Endure the passage of the fiery flood.

16.

Of other frame, O son of Heaven, art thou! Yet hast thou now to go

Through regions which thy heavenly mould will try.
Glories unutterably bright, I know,
And beams intense of empyrean light,
Thine eye divine can bear: but fires of woe,
The sight of torments, and the cry
Of absolute despair,

Might not these things dismay thee on thy flight,
And thy strong pennons flag and fail thee there?
Trust not thy wings, celestial though thou art,
Nor thy good heart, which horror might assail
And pity quail,

Pity in these abodes of no avail;
But take thy seat this mortal pair beside,
And Carmala the infernal Car will guide.
Go, and may happy end your way betide!
So, as he spake, the self-moved Car roll'd on,
And lo! they pass the Gate of Padalon.

XXIII. PADALON.

1.

WHOE'ER hath loved with venturous step to tread The chambers dread

Of some deep cave, and seen his taper's beam
Lost in the arch of darkness overhead,
And mark'd its gleam,

Playing afar upon the sunless stream,
Where from their secret bed,
And course unknown and inaccessible,
The silent waters well;

Whoe'er hath trod such caves of endless night,
He knows, when measuring back the gloomy way,
With what delight refresh'd his eye
Perceives the shadow of the light of day,
Through the far portal slanting, where it falls
Dimly reflected on the watery walls;
How heavenly seems the sky;

And how, with quicken'd feet, he hastens up,
Eager again to greet

The living World and blessed sunshine there,
And drink, as from a cup

Of joy, with thirsty lips, the open air.

2.

Far other light than that of day there shone Upon the travellers, entering Padalon. They too in darkness enter'd on their way, But far before the Car,

A glow, as of a fiery furnace light, Fill'd all before them. 'Twas a light which made Darkness itself appear

A thing of comfort, and the sight, dismay'd, Shrunk inward from the molten atmosphere.

Their way was through the adamantine rock Which girt the World of Woe; on either side Its massive walls arose, and overhead Arch'd the long passage; onward as they ride, With stronger glare the light around them spread; And lo! the regions dread,

The World of Woe before them, opening wide.

3.

There rolls the fiery flood,

Girding the realms of Padalon around.

A sea of flame it seem'd to be,

Sea without bound;

For neither mortal nor immortal sight, Could pierce across through that intensest light. A single rib of steel,

Keen as the edge of keenest scymitar, Spann'd this wide gulph of fire. The infernal Car Roll'd to the Gulph, and on its single wheel Self-balanced, rose upon that edge of steel. Red-quivering float the vapours overhead, The fiery gulph beneath them spread, Tosses its billowing blaze with rush and roar; Steady and swift the self-moved Chariot went, Winning the long ascent, Then, downward rolling, gains the farther shore.

But, oh! what sounds and sights of woe, What sights and sounds of fear, Assail the mortal travellers here! Their way was on a causey straight and wide, Where penal vaults on either side were seen, Ranged like the cells wherein Those wondrous winged alchemists infold Their stores of liquid gold. Thick walls of adamant divide The dungeons; and from yonder circling flood, Off-streams of fire through secret channels glide, And wind among them, and in each provide An everlasting food

Of rightful torments for the accursed brood.

5.

These were the rebel race, who in their might
Confiding impiously, would fain have driven
The Deities supreme from highest Heaven:
But by the Suras, in celestial fight,
Opposed and put to flight,
Here, in their penal dens, the accursed crew,
Not for its crime, but for its failure, rue
Their wild ambition. Yet again they long
The contest to renew,

1" They who are acquainted with day and night know that the day of Brahma is as a thousand revolutions of the Yoogs, and that his night extendeth for a thousand more. On the coming of that day all things proceed from invisibility to visibility; so, on the approach of night, they are all dissolved away in that which is called invisible. The universe, even, having existed, is again dissolved; and now again, on the approach of day, by divine necessity, it is reproduced. That which, upon the dissolution of all things else, is not destroyed, is superior and of another nature from that visibility: it is invisible and eternal. He who is thus called invisible and incorruptible is even he who is called the Supreme Abode; which men having once obtained, they never more

And wield their arms again in happier hour;
And with united power,

Following Kehama's triumph, to press on From World to World, and Heaven to Heaven, and Sphere

To Sphere, till Hemakoot shall be their own, And Meru-Mount, and Indra's Swerga-Bowers, And Brama's region, where the heavenly Hours Weave the vast circle of his age-long day.

Even over Veeshnoo's empyreal seat They trust the Rajah shall extend their sway, And that the seven-headed Snake, whereon The strong Preserver sets his conquering feet, Will rise and shake him headlong from his throne, When, in their irresistible array,

Amid the Milky Sea they force their way. Even higher yet their frantic thoughts aspire ; Yea, on their beds of torment as they lie, The highest, holiest Seeva, they defy, And tell him they shall have anon their day, When they will storm his realm, and seize Mount Calasay. 6.

Such impious hopes torment Their raging hearts, impious and impotent; And now, with unendurable desire And lust of vengeance, that, like inward fire, Doth aggravate their punishment, they rave Upon Kehama; him the accursed rout Acclaim; with furious cries and maddening shout They call on him to save; Kehama! they exclaim;

Thundering the dreadful echo rolls about, And Hell's whole vault repeats Kehama's name.

7.

Over these dens of punishment, the host
Of Padalon maintain eternal guard,
Keeping upon the walls their vigilant ward.
At every angle stood

A watch-tower, the decurion Demon's post,
Where raised on high he view'd with sleepless eye
His trust, that all was well. And over these,
Such was the perfect discipline of Hell,
Captains of fifties and of hundreds held
Authority, each in his loftier tower;
And chiefs of legions over them had power;
And thus all Hell with towers was girt around.
Aloft the brazen turrets shone
In the red light of Padalon;
And on the walls between,
Dark moving, the infernal Guards were seen,

return to earth: that is my mansion."- Kreeshna, in the Bhagavat Geeta.

"The guess, that Brama and his wife Saraswadi may be Abraham and Sarah, has more letters in its favour than are usually to be found in such guesses."— Niecamp, p.i. c.x. § 2.

The true cause why there is no idol of Brama (except the head, which is his share in the Trimourter) is probably to be found in the conquest of his sect. A different reason, however, is implied in the Veda: Of Him, it says, whose glory is so great, there is no image: - He is the incomprehensible Being which illumines all, delights all, whence all proceeded; -that by which they live when born, and that to which all must return.'"- Moor's Hindu Pantheon, p. 4.

Gigantic Demons, pacing to and fro;

Who ever and anon,

Spreading their crimson pennons, plunged below,
Faster to rivet down the Asuras' chains,
And with the snaky scourge and fiercer pains,
Repress their rage rebellious. Loud around,
In mingled sound, the echoing lash, the clash
Of chains, the ponderous hammer's iron stroke,
With execrations, groans, and shrieks and cries
Combined, in one wild dissonance, arise;

And through the din there broke,
Like thunder heard through all the warring winds,
The dreadful name. Kehama, still they rave,
Hasten and save!

Now, now, Deliverer! now, Kehama, now!
Earthly Almighty, wherefore tarriest thou?

8.

Oh, if that name abhorr'd,
Thus utter'd, could well nigh

Dismay the Powers of Hell, and daunt their Lord,
How fearfully to Kailyal's ear it came !
She, as the Car roll'd on its rapid way,
Bent down her head, and closed her eyes for dread;
And deafening, with strong effort from within,
Her ears against the din,

Cover'd and press'd them close with both her hands. Sure if the mortal Maiden had not fed

On heavenly food, and long been strengthened
With heavenly converse for such end vouchsafed,
Her human heart had fail'd, and she had died
Beneath the horrors of this aweful hour.
But Heaven supplied a power
Beyond her earthly nature, to the measure
Of need infusing strength;

And Fate, whose secret and unerring pleasure
Appointed all, decreed

An ample meed and recompense at length.
High-fated Maid, the righteous hour is nigh!
The all-embracing Eye

Of Retribution still beholdeth thee;

Bear onward to the end, O Maid, courageously!

9.

On roll'd the Car, and lo! afar
Upon its height the towers of Yamenpur
Rise on the astonish'd sight.

Behold the infernal City, Yamen's seat
Of empire, in the midst of Padalon,
Where the eight causeys meet.
There on a rock of adamant it stood,
Resplendent far and wide,
Itself of solid diamond edified,
And all around it roll'd the fiery flood.
Eight bridges arch'd the stream; huge piles of brass
Magnificent, such structures as beseem
The Seat and Capital of such great God,
Worthy of Yamen's own august abode.

1" The Dharma-Raja, or king of justice, has two countenances; one is mild and full of benevolence; those alone who abound with virtue see it. He holds a court of justice, where are many assistants, among whom are many just and pious kings: Chitragupta acts as chief secretary. These holy men determine what is dharma and adharma, just and unjust. His (Dharma-Raja's) servant is called Carmala: he brings

A brazen tower and gateway at each end Of each was raised, where Giant Wardens stood, Station'd in arms the passage to defend, That never foe might cross the fiery flood. 10.

Oh what a gorgeous sight it was to see The Diamond City blazing on its height With more than mid-sun splendour, by the light Of its own fiery river!

Its towers and domes and pinnacles and spires, Turrets and battlements, that flash and quiver Through the red restless atmosphere for ever; And hovering over head,

The smoke and vapours of all Padalon, Fit firmament for such a world, were spread, With surge and swell, and everlasting motion, Heaving and opening like tumultuous ocean.

11.

Nor were there wanting there

Such glories as beseem'd such region well;
For though with our blue heaven and genial air
The firmament of Hell might not compare,
As little might our earthly tempests vie
With the dread storms of that infernal sky,
Whose clouds of all metallic elements
Sublimed were full. For, when its thunder broke,
Not all the united World's artillery,
In one discharge, could equal that loud stroke;
And though the Diamond Towers and Battlements
Stood firm upon their adamantine rock,
Yet while it vollied round the vault of Hell,
Earth's solid arch was shaken with the shock,
And Cities in one mighty ruin fell.
Through the red sky terrific meteors scour;
Huge stones come hailing down; or sulphur-shower,
Floating amid the lurid air like snow,
Kindles in its descent,

And with blue fire-drops rains on all below.
At times the whole supernal element
Igniting, burst in one large sheet of flame,
And roar'd as with the sound
Of rushing winds, above, below, around;
Anon the flame was spent, and overhead
A heavy cloud of moving darkness spread.

12.

Straight to the brazen bridge and gate The self-moved Chariot bears its mortal load. At sight of Carmala,

On either side the Giant guards divide,
And give the chariot way.

Up yonder winding road it rolls along, Swift as the bittern soars on spiral wing, And lo! the Palace of the Infernal King!

13.

Two forms inseparable in unity Hath Yamen; even as with hope or fear

the righteous on celestial cars, which go of themselves, whenever holy men are to be brought in, according to the directions of the Dharma-Raja, who is the sovereign of the Pitria. This is called his divine countenance, and the righteous alone do see it. His other countenance or form, is called Yama; this the wicked alone can see: it has large teeth and a monstrous body. Yama is the lord of Patala; there he orders some to