237 unusual, returned. He related this story to King Bikrama: "^On Mount Citrakuta there is a temple of Siva. I have not seen many places like ito Near it flows a sparkling river of pure water, If a sinner bathes there, the water becomes like lamp-black; if a virtuous man bathes there, the water instantly becomes like milk. I saw something extraordinary there, and that, 0 King, 1 shall tell you straightaway. There is, in the temple of Siva, a worshiper, and although he practices austerities, he obtains no results, for the goddess is not satisfied with his offerings. "To whom," he laments, "shall I describe my misery?" He offers sacrifice and prays daily. With great humility he utters praises.y "When the king heard this, he did not delayo He went forthwith to Mount Citrakutac He saw that all the words of the messenger were true, for he saw the entire spectacle in the templeo The King said to the devotee, * Speak, Brahman, tell me your storye For how many days have you sacrificed and prayed, 0 Brahman? Whose fault is it that the goddess is noc pleased with you?* "^0 Wise King, hear my wordso For one hundred years I have been making offerings and prayers without (so much as) touching rice, and still the goddess is not pleased with my worship.' "King Bikrama reflected thus: 'By doing good for others, I have always gained happinesso There is no merit equal to that gained by dying for the sake of another,T Drawing his sword, he put it to his throat (and said), ^1 offer my head to the goddess.T" The goddess appeared and stayed his hand^ She said to King Bikrama, ¥Choose a boon which is difficult for you to obtaino You have propitiated me noWo! "When he heard these pleasing words, the King said, !Why have I obtained happiness so quickly when this worshiper has practised austerities for many days? It you hear the words of a king, tell me why you have not given dar^ari to him?' "^Hea^ me, 0 King, this is the reason. T will explain it to youc, If a person prays with his finger tips 3 and if, in praying, he properly turns his rosary, even so, if he prays with a distracted mind, all his prayers will be in vaino If one uses charms or goes to a place of pilgrimage, to a Brahman, a god^ a swami, a preceptor, a soothsayer, or an Ayurvedic doctor, as one believes in these, so one obtains the fruit of one^s action v "The King realized that this was true, and he spoke according to the Sast^as: 'God is not found in wood, in stone, or in clayo Where the mind is^ there god shines forth The mind, therefore, is the cause of all things j