Many of the ideas in th e preceding sketch are derived from the following hymn :-

AthaTva veda, iv. 16.

The mighty lord on high our deeds, as if at hand, espies; 'I'he gods know all men do, though men would fain th eir

acts disguise : Whoever stands, whoever mov es, or steals from place to

place, Or hid es him in his secret cell,- t he gods his movemen ts

t race. Wh erever two tog ether plot, and deem they are alone , Ki ng Varuna is there , a thi rd, and all t he ir schemes are

kn own. This earth is his, to him belong those vast an d boundless

skies ; Both seas within him rest, and yet in th at small pool he

lies. Wh oever far beyond t he sky should think his way to

wmg, H e could not there elude the grasp of Varuna the king. H is spies, descending from the skies, glide all t his world

around ; Their th ousand eyes all-scanning sweep to ear th's remotest

bound. Wh ate'er exists in heaven and earth, what e'er beyond

th e skies, Before the eyes of Varuna, the king, unfolded lies. The ceaseless winkings all he counts of every mortal' s

eyes, H e wields this universal frame as gameste r throws his

dice. Th ose knotted nooses which thou fling'st, 0 god, the bad

to snare, All liars let them overtake, but all the truthful spare .