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CHAPTER TWELVE
66
Thinking thus, the carpenter, the ground being touched by his five limbs,300 bowing to Ṛși Bala, brought him food and drink. Muni Bala thought: This is some pure-minded layman, eager to give me alms to acquire karma that has heaven as its fruit. If I do not accept the alms, I would make an obstacle to a good status for him. For this reason I accept."
So reflecting, the Blessed One, an ocean of the milk of compassion, though indifferent to his own body, accepted alms from him. The deer, his face upturned, his eyes diffused with tears, looking at the muni and the wood-cutter, thought: "Oh, the Master, an ocean of compassion, though indifferent to the body, the sole protection of penance, favors the carpenter. Oh this wood-cutter is fortunate and his birth has great fruit, by whom the Blessed One has been presented with food and drink. But I have little fortune, unable to practice penance and not able to give food. Alas for me contaminated by being an animal."
As the three continued absorbed in pious meditation in this way, a half-cut tree, struck by a strong wind, fell. The three, struck by the fallen tree, died, and became gods in the palace Padmottara in Brahmaloka.
Rama's visit to Kṛṣṇa (71-89)
Rāma, who had observed the vow for one hundred years and had gone to heaven, saw Kṛṣṇa, who had gone to the third hell, by clairvoyance. Deluded by affection for his brother, Rāma made a vaikriya-body, went to Kṛṣṇa, embraced Kṛṣṇa, and said:
"I am Rāma, your brother. I have come here from Brahmaloka to rescue you. Tell me what I can do for your comfort." Saying this, he lifted up Kṛṣṇa with his hand, but he broke into pieces and fell from his hand to the ground and joined together like quicksilver. Rāma, recognized at first from the embrace and then from the pronouncement of
300 61. His hands, feet, and forehead.
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