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The Seventy-Sixth Chapter
266. The mountain, having been taught the secrets of the Vedas by the 1000 ṛcas, said, "By the mantras mentioned earlier, actions of peace, prosperity, and sorcery can be performed. When these are performed with the help of fire intensified by wind, they yield the desired fruit, even if they are obtained by the killing of animals." 352. "Therefore, let us go to Saketa and perform a yajña that will yield peace and other fruits. We will begin with the killing of animals and establish our influence." 353. Having said this, Mahakal, in order to destroy his enemies, sent his cruel Asuras, the sons of Diti, to the kingdom of Sagara, saying, "Cause suffering there with severe fevers and other ailments." 354. Having sent the Asuras, he went to the city of Sagara with the mountain. There, after seeing Sagara, he blessed him with mantras and said, "I will quickly remove the great misfortune that is happening in your kingdom by performing a yajña with mantras." 355-356. "The Lord created animals for the sake of the yajña. Therefore, there is no sin in killing them, but only merit, which is the means of attaining the great happiness of heaven." 357. Having convinced him in this way, the wicked one said, "Gather sixty thousand animals for the success of the yajña, and also other things suitable for the yajña." 358. The king also gave him all the things he asked for. 359. Having begun the yajña, the mountain began to chant mantras over the creatures and throw them into the fire. At the same time, Mahakal showed the creatures being carried away in vimanas, along with their bodies, to heaven, and convinced the people that all the animals had gone to heaven. At that time, he also removed all the misfortunes and calamities from the country. 360-361. Seeing this, many simple people were deceived by his trickery and, desiring to attain heaven, wished to die in the yajña. 362. When the yajña was completed, the wicked mountain, according to the rules, offered a horse of excellent breed and, by the king's order, his queen, Sulasa, to the fire. 363. The king, whose body was consumed by the fire of grief caused by the separation from his beloved wife, entered his capital. 364. Having laid down his body on the bed, he began to doubt, "Is this great killing of creatures dharma or adharma?" 365. Doubting in this way, he, along with others, went to the great sage, Yativara. After bowing to him, he said, "O Bhattaraka, tell me what has happened." 366.