Bhishma said After this, the Grandfather Brahman, sprung from the primeval lotus and resembling the lotus (in agreeableness and fragrance), addressed the celestials headed by Vasava, the husband of Sachi, Yonder sits the powerful Naga who lives in the nether regions Gifted with great strength and energy and with great prowess also, his name is Renuka. He is certainly a great being.

Those powerful elephants of great energy and power, who hold the entire Earth with her hills, waters and lakes, should be seen by this Renuka at your request. Let Renuka go to them and ask them about the mysteries of religion or duty! Hearing these words of the Grandfather, the celestials wellpleased, sent (the elephant) Renuka to where those upholders of the world are.

Going where those elephants are, Renuka address them, saying, Ye powerful creature have been commanded by the celestials and the departed Manes to question you about the mysteries of religion and duty! I desire to hear you discourse on that subject in detail. Ye highly blessed ones, do ye discourse on the subject as your wisdom may dictate.

Standing in the eight quarters, the elephants said, On the sacred eighth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Kartika when the constellation Ashlesha is in the ascendant, one should make gifts of treacle and rice.

an Renouncing anger, and living on regulated diet, one should make these offerings at a Shraddha, uttering these Mantras, Let Baladeva and other Nagas endued with great strength, let other powerful snakes of huge bodies that are indestructible and eternal and let all the other great snakes that have taken their birth in their family, inake vali offerings to me for the increase of my strength and energy. Indeed, let my strength be as great as that of the blessed Narayana when he raised the submerged Earth. Uttering these Mantras, one should make Bali offerings upon anthill. After sunset, offerings of raw sugar and rice should be made on anthill selected. The anthill should Previously be strewn with Gajendra flowers. Offerings should also be made of blue clothes and fragrant unguents.

If offerings are made thus, those, beings that live in the nether regions, carrying the weight of the upper regions upon their heads or shoulders, become well pleased and gratified. As for ourselves, we also do not feel the exertion of upholding the Earth, on account of such offerings beings made to us.

Afflicted with the burthen we bear, this is what we think (beneficial for men), without the slightest selfish end. By observing this rule for full year, fasting on each occasion, Brahmanas Kshatriyas, and Vaishays and Shudras, acquire great merits from such gifts.

We think that the making of such Bali offerings on the anthill is really fraught with very superior merits.

a By making such offerings one is considered as doing the duties of hospitality or a hundred years to all the powerful elephants which exist in the three worlds.

Hearing these words of the powerful clephants, the celestials and the departed Manes and the highly blessed Rishis, all spoke highly of Renuka. By making such offerings one is considered as doing the duties of hospitality or a hundred years to all the powerful elephants which exist in the three worlds.

Hearing these words of the powerful clephants, the celestials and the departed Manes and the highly blessed Rishis, all spoke highly of Renuka.