Text 3] The Appearance of the Demon Vrtrasura 101

invented many powerful space vehicles, they cannot even go to the
moon, not to speak of other planets. By direct experience one cannot
learn anything beyond the range of human perception. One must hear
from authorities. Therefore Sukadeva Gosvami, a great personality, says,
‘“‘What I am describing to you, O King, is what I have heard from au-
thoritative sources.” This is the Vedic system. The Vedic knowledge is
called sruti because it must be received by being heard from authorities.
It is beyond the realm of our false experimental knowledge.

TEXT 2

a2 aféfy tara ant seaages: |
qeeg ae fragt 2a ars TT NII

sa vai barhisi devebhyo
bhagam pratyaksam uccakaih
adadad yasya pitaro

devéh saprasrayam nrpa

sah—he (Visvaripa); vai—indeed; barhisi—in the sacrificial fire;
devebhyah—unto the particular demigods; bhaégam—the proper share:
pratyaksam—visibly; uccakaih—by loud chanting of the mantras;
adadat—offered; yasya—of whom; pitarah—the fathers; devah—
demigods; sa-prasrayam—very humbly in a gentle voice; nrpa—O King
Pariksit.

TRANSLATION

O Maharaja Pariksit, the demigods were related to Visvaripa
from his father’s side, and therefore he visibly offered clarified
butter in the fire while chanting mantras such as “‘indraya idarh
svaha’’ [‘‘this is meant for King Indra’’] and ‘‘idam agnaye”’ [‘‘this
is for the demigod of fire’’]. He loudly chanted these mantras and
offered each of the demigods his proper share.

TEXT 3

a ua zat wet Tage fe |
TAMASAT ARi AAMT | 3 II
