When the gods spread the sacrifice with the Cosmic Person as the offering, spring became its clarified butter, summer its fuel, and autumn its oblation. ॥14॥
Seven were its enclosing sticks and thrice seven its kindling pieces, when the gods, performing the sacrifice, bound the Cosmic Person as the sacrificial victim. ॥15॥
Through sacrifice the gods worshiped sacrifice; those were the earliest sacred ordinances. Those mighty ones attained the heights of heaven, where the ancient heavenly beings and gods abide. ॥16॥
Pada 58
“Why did you enter the palace after being told so much? Ask the four beloved boys!
Friend, see how tightly they have been bound— how firmly the four beloved ones have been tied!
In Mithila the women displayed such astonishing cleverness: the instant the boys entered, the boastful maidens bound all four.
Those before whom all fourteen worlds stand bound— see how great is the natural power of the women of Mithila!
Once they had tied them, they brought a mortar and pestle: “Count eight blows and pound carefully—today we shall have you husk the rice!”
Snehalata asks, “Why did you steal our hearts? Beloved, now behold the fruit of heart-theft!”
Pada 59
Today the heart-thief has been recognized; he has made everyone lose both knowledge and pride.
A jeweled peacock crowns the heart-thief’s head, spreading waves of beauty everywhere.
The sharp corners of the heart-thief’s keen eyes have pierced straight through the heart.
The heart-thief’s red, red lips have bewildered the mind-enchanter himself.
Binding each of his beautiful limbs tightly, the women have raised an uproar without end.
They fashion a golden mortar and a jeweled pestle, and make him prepare the rice within it.