with which he was afflicted. The gods then, having
heard those words, repaired to Daksha and said, ’Be
gratified, O adorable one, with Soma! Let this
curse of thine be withdrawn! Candramas is very
emaciated! Only a small portion of him may be
seen! In consequence of his wasting, O Lord of
the celestials, all creatures also are wasting!
Creepers and herbs of diverse kinds are also wasting!
In their waste we ourselves also are suffering emaciation!
Without us, what will this universe be? Knowing
this, O master of the universe, it behoveth thee to
be gratified (with Soma)!’ Thus addressed (Daksha),
that Lord of creatures, said these words unto the celestials,
’It is impossible to make my words become otherwise!
By some contrivance, however, ye blessed ones, my
words may be withdrawn! Let Sasin always behave
equally towards all his wives! Having bathed also
in that foremost of tirthas on the Sarasvati, the
god having the hare for his mark shall, ye gods, grow
once more! These words of mine are true!
For half the month Soma shall wane every day, and
for half the month (following) he will wax every day!
These words of mine are true! Proceeding to the
western Ocean at the spot where the Sarasvati mingles
with the Ocean, that vast receptacle of waters, let
him adore that God of gods (Mahadeva) there! He
will then regain his form and beauty!’ At this
command of the (celestial) Rishi (Daksha), Soma then
proceeded to the Sarasvati. He arrived at that
foremost of tirthas called Prabhasa belonging to the
Sarasvati. Bathing there on the day of the new
moon, that god of great energy and great effulgence
got back his cool rays and continued once more to illumine
the worlds. All the creatures also, O monarch,
having repaired to Prabhasa, returned with Soma amongst
them to the place where Daksha was. (Receiving them
duly) that Lord of creatures then dismissed them.
Pleased with Soma, the adorable Daksha once more addressed
him, saying, ’Do not, O son, disregard women,
and never disregard Brahmanas! Go and attentively
obey my commands!’ Dismissed by him, Soma came
back to his own abode. All creatures, filled
with joy, continued to live as before. I have
thus told thee everything about how the maker of the
night had been cursed, and, how also Prabhasa became
the foremost of all tirthas. On every recurring
day of the new moon, O monarch, the god having the
hare for his mark bathes in the excellent tirtha of
Prabhasa and regains his form and beauty. It
is for this reason, O lord of earth, that that tirtha
is known by the name of Prabhasa, since bathing there,
Candramas regained his great (Prabha) effulgence.
After this, the mighty Baladeva of undecaying glory
proceeded to Chamasodbheda, that is, to that tirtha
which is called by that name. Giving away many
costly gifts at that place, the hero having the plough
for his weapon passed one night there and performed
his ablutions duly. The elder brother of Keshava
then proceeded quickly to Udapana. Although the
Sarasvati seems to be lost there, yet persons crowned
with ascetic success, in consequence of their obtaining
great merits and great blessedness at that spot, and
owing also to the coolness of the herbs and of the
land there, know that the river has an invisible current,
O monarch, through the bowels of the earth there.”


