2i6 CRADLE TALES OF HINDUISM
The wonderful voice died away and all the senses of Arjuna^ smitten as it were for a moment, lay stilled and trembling, realising that, living or dead, all beings were equally one in God, and realising too that even what seemed his own acts were not his own, but the Lord's, done through him. Then he suddenly rose to the height of a great rapture. Before him appeared as heretofore the countless hosts of the Kurus and Pandavas, but he saw all now as a part of Krishna Himself. Each arm, each hand, each weapon, was as an arm, a hand, a weapon of the Divine Charioteer. Multitudinous were the faces and forms that appeared now as His. Fierce and terrible, like the fire that ends the worlds, was the shining energy of His glory. And Hke moths rushing upon a flame for their own destruction, all living things appeared to be rushing toward Him to be devoured.
But as the mortal gazed upon the great vision, the terror of the sight overwhelmed him. He could bear no more. And he shrank back, crying, *^ O Thou that art Lord of all the gods, Thou that art the refuge of the Universe, be gracious unto me 1 Have mercy I Show me once more, I pray, Thy common from ! " At these words, like a dream, the mighty splendour passed, and Arjuna, strong and alert, with mind braced, and muscles and nerves made firm as steel, found
