shana purposed to take up the image again on his head, and carry it to
Lanka but found it to be so heavy, that he could not move it ; on which
being greatly grieved, and prostrating himself before the image, Peru-
ma l told him not to grieve, for that it was previously appointed that
the shrine should remain here, in the good land of the excellent Chola
kings ; and to account for it narrated a fable of a dispute between the
Ganges and the Caveri as to which of the two was the greatest, which
being decided in favor of Gangd, the Caveri (personified as a female)
dissatisfied went to the north side of the Himalaya, and there began a
severe penance. Brahma demanded what gift she wanted. The reply
was to be greater than Gangd. The answer of Brahma was, that this
could not be ; but he bestowed on her the gift of being "equal to
Gangd" Caveri dissatisfied came to a place near this, added Perumal,
and there worshipped me, demanding to be greater than Gangd. As
nothing belonging to the world can be greater than Gangd, I promised
to come myself and reside between the banks of the Caveri whereby in
effect the Caveri should have a pre-eminence over the Ganges, to fulfil
which promise I am come here, and cannot go to your town, Vibhu-
shana ! but at that you must not be sorry. Vibhushana expressed a
wish to remain ; but was forbidden, and a promise of protecting his
town being added, he went to Lanka, and resumed his reign. D'her-
ma Brahma had many additions made to the shrine.
10. The domain round Sri-rangham was two yojanas (20 miles) : those living within it are destitute of sin. Praise of the Chandra push- Jcara tirfha, or sacred pool. Praise of the Vilva tirfha, wherein Sokra performed penance ; which will even remove the crime of killing a JBrdh- man ; the Jambu tirfha where Paramesvarer performed penance. Aswa tirfha, Tndra performed penance there ; it removes all sins against matronly chastity. Paldvasu tirt'ha removes all evil contract- ed by living in] the midst of vile persons. Details of other tanks and their virtues. Mention of persons who had crimes removed at Sri- rangham, among them being Nareda to whom the narrative is pro- fessedly made : persons to whom the Mahatmya is to be read : that is, good Vaishnavas alone. Advantages of having it in the house, bene- fits derivable from hearing the Mahatmya. As for example, if a Cshetuya wishes for a kingdom,* he will obtain one and the like in proportion to other kinds of people. In conclusion Isvarer praises Nareda for his patience, and piety, in listening to the narrative, offering to add more if required. Nareda in return declares that by the recital his knowledge is perfected, he wishes for no more. The Sri-rangha Mahatmyam, it is then said, was translated from the Grant'ha of the Brahmdnda Puranam by Appivacharyar.
