Note 12 — Chapter LXXIII

Then king Bhúnandana and the pupils of that ascetic, who possessed supernatural insight, were cheered, and he said to them, “This is the dwelling of the god Śiva, who inhabits the lower regions in the form of Háṭakeśvara, and whose praises are sung in the three worlds, so worship him.” Then they all bathed in the Ganges of the lower regions, and worshipped Śiva with various flowers, the growth of Pátála. And after the brief refreshment of worshipping Śiva, they went on and reached a splendid lofty jambu-tree, the fruits of which were ripe and falling on the ground. And when the ascetic saw it, he said to them; “You must not eat the fruits of this tree, for, if eaten, they will impede the success of what you have in hand.” In spite of his prohibition one of his pupils, impelled by hunger, ate a fruit of the tree, and, as soon as he had eaten it, he became rigid and motionless.12