PDF The Slaves of Liberty: Freedom in Amite County; Mississippi; 1820-1868 (Crosscurrents in African American History) by Dale Edwyna Smith in History

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Excerpt: ... O king; first uttered in days of old by Manu. They represent the high words of Brahman. And because these words were spoken first; therefore; they are known as the first words. And since it is by Chastisement that the misappropriation of other people's possessions is stopped; therefore Chastisement has come to be called by the name of Vyavahara. The aggregate of three always rests on well applied Chastisement. Chastisement is a great god. In form he looks like a blazing fire. His complexion is dark like that of the petals of the blue lotus. He is equipt with four teeth; has four arms and eight legs and many eyes. His ears are pointed like shafts and his hair stands upright. He has matted locks and two tongues. His face has the hue of copper; and he is clad in a lion's skin.363 That irresistible deity assumes such a fierce shape. Assuming again the form of the sword; the bow; the mace; the dart; the trident; the mallet; the arrow; the thick and short club; the battle-axe; the discus; the noose; the heavy bludgeon; the rapier; the lance; and in fact of every kind of weapon that exists on earth; Chastisement moves in the world. Indeed; Chastisement moves on earth; piercing and cutting and afflicting and lopping off and dividing and striking and slaying and rushing against its victims. These; O Yudhishthira; are some of the names which Chastisement bears; viz.; Sword; Sabre; Righteousness; Fury; the Irresistible; the Parent of prosperity; Victory; Punisher; Checker; the Eternal; the Scriptures; Brahmana; Mantra; Avenger; the Foremost of first Legislators; Judge; the Undecaying; God; the individual whose course is irresistible; the Ever-agoing; the First born; the individual without affections; the Soul of Rudra; the eldest Manu and the great Benefactor. Chastisement is the holy Vishnu. He is the puissant Narayana. And because he always assumes a terrible form; therefore he is called Mahapurusha. His wife Morality is also known by the names of...