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Válmiki
Yoga-Vāsistha, Book 4: Sthiti-Prakarana (On Ontology or Existence). Chapter 6 - Elysium of Bhārgava
Vasistha said: Henceforth Śukra continued to think of the nymph with his closed eye-lids, and indulge himself in his reverie of an imaginary kingdom.
He thought that the nymph was passing in the air, to the paradise of Indra- the god with thousand eyes; and that he followed her closely, to the happy regions of the celestial gods.
He thought, he saw before him the gods, decorated with their chaplets of beautiful mandāra blossoms on their heads, and with garlands of flowers pendant on their persons resplendent as liquid gold.
He seemed to see the heavenly damsels with their eyes as blue-lotuses, regaling the eyes of their spectators; and others with their eyes as beautiful as those of antelopes, sporting with their sweet smiles all about 1.
He saw also the Marutas or gods of winds, bearing the fragrance of flowers, and breathing their sweet scent on one another; and resembling the omnipresent Visvarūpa by their ubiquitous journey.
He heard the sweet hum of bees, giddy with the perfumed ichor, exuding from the proboscis of Indra's elephant; and listened to the sweet strains, sung by the chorus of the heavenly choir.
There were the swans and storks, gabbling in the lakes, with lotuses of golden hue in them; and there were the celestial gods reposing in the arbours, beside the holy stream of the heavenly Gangs (Mandākinī).
These were the gods Yama and Indra, and the sun and moon, and the deities of fire and the winds; and there were the regents of the worlds, whose shining bodies shaded the lustre of vivid fire.
On one side was the warlike elephant of Indra- (Airāvata), with the scratches of the demoniac weapons on his face (proboscis), and tusks with the blood of the defeated hosts of demons.
Those who were translated from earth to heaven in the form of luminous stars, were roving in their aerial vehicles, blazing with laureate beams of the shining sun.
The gods were washed by the showers, falling from the peaks of Meru below, and the waves of the Ganges, rolled on with scattered mandāra flowers floating on them.
The alleys of Indra's groves, were tinged with saffron, by heaps of the dust of mandāra flowers; and were trodden by groups of Apsarā lasses, sporting wantonly upon them.
There were the gentle breezes blowing among the pārijāta plants, brightening as moon-beams in the sacred bowers; and wafting the fragrant honey, from the cups of Kunda and Mandāra blossoms.
The pleasure garden of Indra, was crowded by heavenly damsels; who were besmeared with the frosty farina of kesara flowers, mantling them like the creepers of the grove in their yellow robes.
Here were the heavenly nymphs dancing in their gaiety, at the time of the songs of their lovers; and there were heavenly musicians Nārada and Tamburu, joining their vocal music in unison with the melody of the wired instruments of the lute and lyre (Vallakikākali).
Holy men and the pious and virtuous, were seen to soar high in their heavenly ears, and sitting there with their decorations of various kinds.
The amorous damsels of the gods, were clinging round their god Indra; as the tender creepers of the garden, twine about the trees beside them.
There were the fruit trees of guluncas, studded with clusters of their ripening fruits; and resembling the gemming sapphires and rubies, and set as rows of ivory teeth.
After all these sights, Śukra thought of making his obeisance to Indra, who was seated. on his seat like another Brahmā- the creator of the three worlds.
Having thought so, Śukra bowed down to Indra in his own mind, as he was the second Bhrgu in heaven- 2.
Indra received him with respect, and having lifted him up with his hand, made him sit by himself.
Indra addressed him saying: I am honoured, Śukra! by your call, and this heaven of mine is graced by your presence, may you live long to enjoy the pleasure of this place.
Indra then sat in his seat with a graceful countenance, which shone with the lustre of the unspotted full-moon.
Śukra being thus seated by the side of Indra, was saluted by all the assembled gods of heaven; and he continued to enjoy every felicity there, by being received with paternal affection by the gods and men.
Footnotes
1. The garden of paradise.
2. He bowed to him with a veneration equal to that he paid to his father.
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