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318
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[NOVEMBER, 1910.
(1) But they may say: "Well and good so far, but may not celestial denizens like the Sun and Moon who are to us like our eyes, be our protectors ?" This objection is met by the answer that these beings go round their determined orbits at determined velocities by the fiat of a Supreme Lord above them, and thus have their risings and settings in fixed order. And more, they are sometimes known to be vanquished by such mighty Asuras as Hiranya and Ravana, and compelled to do for them all sorts of menial services.
(0) But what about (the demi-gods such as) Indra, Brahma and Rudra ? an objector may ask. The answer is :-It is too true that Indra is the Ruler of the Three Regions12, and yet it is too well-known how he is in constant fear of losing this high estate. He is often cursestricken13, pays the penalty, by suffering for Brahmicide, is bound as a captive by Indrajit15 and allows his sway to get into the hands of such beings as Maha-bali16. Such then is Indra, weeping and crawling in the dust!
Brahmân (the four-faced demiurge—the Lord of the Brahmâąda) is no better (than Indra); for he is assailed by such evil genii as Madhu and Kaitabha, and is deprived of his Vedas which to him are his eyes and treasure.' And his head he allows to be ripped by Rudra (his own son).
Nor again is Rudra any the better. For he is to begin with, the Destroyer par excellence (how can he then protect 1). Water is wished for by the thirsty, but Rudra of the fire-colour offers himself to such thirsty (worshippers of his) as fire! He exacta horrid offerings from his devotees by saying: "Kill for me, roast for me!7." Bâņa-'sura was his votary-80 mach so that Rudra pledged himself to guard him so that even the flower he wore on his head should not fade. But when Krshṇa was hacking Hâna's (one thousend) arms as if they were so many cactusstems, the boasted guardian Rudra shat his eyes and slipped away from his ward, uttering: “If life is spared, I can live by selling salt." Again he, a sinner, out the throat of Brahma, the Guide of the worlds, his own father; and wandered about after such acts of treason in his own house, with the skall of his victim (father) fast clinging to his hand, from door to door, in search of a Saviourls.
(1) Can wealth save a man then? No. For it is subject to be stolen by thieves, bartered away for last, seized by kings, mulcted by kith and kin, chased by illness, breeds enmity and warand men for its sake poison themselves and die.
Hence, the All-God (Nârâyaņa) alone is the True Resort or Protector inasmuch as He stands by as when parents and all bare deserted. He is the true Narse of the soul from the beginning. He incarnates for us and thus stands like a mother in visible presence, speaking to us like her in sweet endearing accents. He takes apon Himelf the duties of a Carrier, when brothers and husbands stand aloof. He gaides the chariot (of his votary) in the thick of raging battle, breasts the falling arrows, saves from death and gives life to the dead. All this He does by virtue of His being Narayana (or He who is in and over all), the Life of life, Soul of soul, abiding in the core of all thing310. Only He can be the Resort and none else. This is the attitude of the refugee known as Resortlessness, for he is destitute of all Resorts save Him-the High Lord.
2. Now what is WaylessnessP It is the attitude of the refugee (or aspirant) which makes him resiga all the several ways, indicated in the Sastras, leading to the Highest Goal he has in viow; and by virtue of such resignation alone, and by virtue of his sole leaning on the Lord, considering
11 Tho Bhd (lower), Bhuvar (middle) and Svar (upper) worlds. 13 This is with reference to the ourse of Darvas (Vishnu Purana). 24 Refers to Vitra killed by Indra (Srimad-Bhagavata).
18 Soo Ramdyana. # Seo Srf-Bhagavata. 11 Road Sifatondar's legend in the Saiva books. 18 See Vishnu-Purana and Matrya, p. 183, v. 87 to 100 [Anandaprama Series). 19 See Vish -Purana, Mald-Bhdrata and Srf-Bhagavata for the story of Krahna and other Avataras
