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could accept. If there was an ascetic he could not control his anger.
If there was a Jnani (sophist) he could not get over attachments.
There might be a Mahatma, but he had not conquered his passion of
love. How could he be called fsvara, who depended on others, (and
no one but fsvara could claim Lakshmi). If there was Dharma any
where, there was not friendliness for all beings. If there was sacri-
fice, it was not for liberation. There was power but it could not resist
the flow of time. If there was one void of likes and dislikes, he did
not take a companion. If there was any one long lived, he had
neither good nature (Sila~} nor auspiciousness (Mangala.) If one
had good nature and auspiciousness, he was not long lived. If one
had all the Virtues he was out of his element with her. If he was
all that she wanted he did not want her.
Considering everything, Lakshmi at last accepted Vishnu for
her husband. He placed her on His breast. She favored the Devas,
so they became possessed of all the virtues. She showed indifference
to the Asuras, so they lost their might, energy and modesty and
became greedy.
Then arose a lotus eyed girl called Varuni (Spirituous liquor.)
The Asuras accepted her.
Then arose Dhanvantari, part of a part of Vishnu, with a pot
of Amrita in hand. Seeing the pot of Amrita, the greedy Asuras
took that by force. They quarrelled with each other, some saying
"First myself," " First myself," others saying " Not you " " Not you,"
whilst the weaker amongs| them finding that they were going to be
deprived, cried out in jealousy " The Devas are also entitled to an
equal share. They have also toiled with us."
At this time Vishnu became a most beautiful young woman.
She filled the hearts of the Asura Chiefs with passion. They asked
the tempting girl to settle their differences and to make a proper
distribution of Amrita amongst them. "But how can you trust a
woman," said the girl. But the Asuras had fallen in love with her,
so they made over the Amrita pot to her without further thought.
She consented to distribute Amrita on the condition that the Asuras
should put up with whatever she did, right or wrong. The Asuras
consented. She then made the Devas and Asuras sit in two separate
rows. She distributed the whole of the Amrita amongst tha Devas.
Only one Asura named Rahu, sat with the Devas. The Sun and
the Moon pointed him out to the girl Vishnu. Vishnu then and
there severed the head from the body of the Asura, but as the head
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v?