The institutes of Vishnu (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1880)

8 VISH2VU. I, 42.
account of the lustre of the gems decorating the
neck of the snake 5’esha; he was shining like a
hundred moons; and his splendour was equal to
the rays of a myriad of suns.
42. He was clad in a yellow robe (radiant like
gold) ; imperturbable; decorated with all kinds of
gems; and shining with the lustre of a diadem
resembling the sun in colour, and with (splendid)
ear-rings.
43. Lakshmi was stroking his feet with her soft
palms; and his attributes (the shell, the discus, the
mace, and the lotus-flower) wearing bodies were
attending upon him on all sides.
44. Having espied the lotus-eyed slayer of
Madhu, she knelt down upon the ground and ad-
dressed him as follows :
45. ‘ When formerly I was sunk into the region
of Rasatala, I was raised by thee, O God, and
restored to my ancient seat, O Vishzzu, thanks to
thy benevolence towards living beings.
46. ‘ Being there, how am I to maintain myself
upon it, O lord of the gods ? ’ Having been thus
addressed by the goddess, the god enunciated the
following answer :
47. ‘Those who practise the duties ordained for
each caste and for each order, and who act up
strictly to the holy law, will sustain thee, O earth ;
to them is thy care committed.’
48. Having received this answer, the goddess of
the earth said to the chief of the gods, ‘ Communi-
cate to me the eternal laws of the castes and of the
orders.
47. Regarding the four castes and the four orders, see II, 1;
HI, 3.