with Vasishtha at their head rise and set.  Behold that excellent and bright summit of the Meru, where sitteth the great sire (Brahma) with the celestials happy in self-knowledge.  And next to the abode of Brahma is visible the region of him who is said to be the really primal Cause or the origin of all creatures, even that prime lord, god Narayana, having neither beginning nor end.  And, O king, that auspicious place composed of all energies even the celestials, cannot behold.  And the region of the high-souled Vishnu, by its native splendour, exceeding in effulgence the sun or fire, cannot be beheld by the gods, or the Danavas.  And the region of Narayana lieth resplendent to the east of the Meru, where, O child, that lord of all creatures, the self-create primal Cause of the universe, having manifested all beings, looketh splendid of his excellent grace.  O child, not to speak of the Maharshis-even Brahmarshis have no access to that place.  And, O best of the Kurus, it is the Yatis only who have access to it.  And, O Pandu’s son, (at that place) luminaries cannot shine by him; there that lord of inconceivable soul alone shineth transcendental.  There by reverence, and severe austerities, Yatis inspired by virtue of pious practices, attain Narayana Hari.  And, O Bharata, repairing thither, and attaining that universal Soul—­the self-create and eternal God of gods, high-souled ones, of Yoga success, and free from ignorance and pride have not to return to this world.  O highly fortunate Yudhishthira, this region is without beginning, or deterioration, or end for it is the very essence of that God.  And, O son of the Kurus, the Sun and the Moon every day go round this Meru, coursing in an opposite direction.  And, O sinless one, O mighty monarch, the other luminaries also go round this king of mountains in the self-same way.  Thus the worshipful Sun who dispelleth darkness, goeth round this (mountain) obscuring other luminaries.  Then having set, and passed the evening, that Maker of day, the Sun, taketh a northerly course.  Then again nearing the Meru, the divine Sun (ever) intent on the good of all beings, again courseth, facing the east.  And in this way, the divine Moon also together with the stars goeth round this mountain, dividing the month unto several sections, by his arrival at the Parvas.  Having thus unerringly coursed round the mighty Meru, and, nourished all creatures, the Moon again repaireth unto the Mandar.  In the same way, that destroyer of darkness—­the divine Sun—­also moveth on this unobstructed path, animating the universe.  When, desirous of causing dew, he repaireth to the south, then there ensueth winter to all creatures.  Then the Sun, turning back from the south, by his rays draweth up the energy from all creatures both mobile and immobile.  Thereupon, men become subject to perspiration, fatigue, drowsiness and lassitude; and living beings always