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BALADEVA'S GOING TO HEAVEN
309 practices penance in the forest.” They were frightened at the thought: “Does he practice such penance with the desire for, our kingdoms, or does he subdue a charm? We shall go and kill him.” With this thought, they went simultaneously with a full army to the vicinity of Muni Rāma.
Then the god Siddhārtha, always near him, created many lions terrifying to the world. The kings, frightened, went and bowed to Bala and from that time Balabhadra was known as 'Narasinha.' While he was practicing penance in the forest, many tigers, lions, et cetera, influenced by his excellent sermons, became gentle. Some became laymen, some acquired a leaning toward right-belief; some practiced kāyotsarga; some observed a fast at that time. Turned away from eating meat, they became attendants, like disciples of Muni Rāma in the form of animals.
A certain deer, a relative of Rāma in a former birth, recalling his former births, with a strong desire for emancipation attained, became a constant companion, Always attending Rși Rāma, the deer roamed the forest and he looked for wood-gatherers, et cetera who had come with food. When he saw them, he went at once to Rși Rāma standing in meditation and, upsetting his (Rāma's) feet with his head, he announced givers of alms. At his insistence Rāma abandoned meditation instantly and went for alms with the deer going in advance.
One day carpenters came to that forest for suitable trees and cut down many strong, straight trees, The deer in his roaming saw them and at once told Rāma; and at his insistence the great muni completed his meditation. As they were seated, Rși Rāma came there, with the deer going in advance, for alms to break a month's fast. The head of the carpenters, delighted at seeing Rāma, thought: “Oh! here is some sage in the forest, like a wishing-tree. Oh, the beauty! Oh, the splendor! Oh, the tranquillity! Oh, he is some great man! By this muni as a guest, I have accomplished my desire entirely."
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