Baal Kaanda
35 - The piteous appeal of mother Earth and other gods
Chaupais
Description
The number of villains, thieves and gamblers and of those who coveted others' wealth and wives swelled to a great extent. People honoured not their parents and gods and exacted service from pious souls. Those who act in this way, Bhavani, know all such creatures as demons. Perceiving the supreme disrespect for religion Earth was extremely alarmed and perturbed. "The weight of mountains, rivers and oceans," she said to herself, "is not so oppressive to me as of him who is malevolent to others." She saw all goodness perverted; yet for fear of Ravana she could not utter a word. After great deliberation she took the form of a cow and went to the spot where all gods and sages were in hiding. With tears in her eyes she told them her sufferings; but none of them could be of any help to her