Vaishampāyana said:—Once on a time Lord Bhava was sporting on the bank
of a charming river. In that picturesque forest where all the seasons
flourish the Gandharvas, with hundreds of Apsaras, were sporting on all
sides. The river bank was fragrant like sky with the scent of Pārijāta
and Santānaka flowers (1–3). Shankara heard the Apsaras sing in
accompaniment with the music of flute, Vinā, Mridanga and Panava. Like
bards and panegyrists the beautiful Apsaras pleased Umā and the
beautiful-bodied Hara, the god of gods, and the giver of boons who was
clad in a red raiment and adorned with garlands, singing various songs
in their honor. At that time assuming the form of the goddess, the
leading Apsarā, Chitralekhā pleased Bhava. The goddess laughed at it.
And seeing her please Ishāna other Apsarās also laughed (4–7). With the
permission of the goddess, the highly powerful and divine follower of
Bhava, assuming various forms, began to play on all sides. Thereupon
assuming the form of Mahādeva marked with signs those frolic-some
attendants began to play. And the Apsarās too, assuming the form of the
goddess, sported there. Seeing it the goddesss smiled. There arose on
all sides sounds of laughter and Bhava attained to an excess of delight.
By an accident the beautiful daughter of Vāna, by name Ushā, saw the
three-eyed deity sport with Pārvati in the river. Beholding Mahādeva,
effulgent like twelve suns, assume various forms and sport with the
goddess, for pleasing her, Ushā thought in her mind:—"The lucky women
thus sport in the company of their husbands." And she spoke out her
resolution to her friends (8-14). Informed of Ushā’s desire Pārvati said
slowly with joy:—"O Ushā, as the Lord Shankara, the slayer of his
enemies, is sporting with me so you will soon enjoy the company of your
husband" (15–16). Thus spoken to by the goddess Ushā, with
anxiety-stricken eyes, thought in her mind:—"When shall I sport with my
husband?" Thereat the goddess Haimavati, smilingly said:—"O Ushā! Hear
when you will be united with your husband. The person, whom you will see
in a dream in the night of the twelfth day of the month of Vaishāka
while sleeping on the terrace of your palace, will be your husband"
(17–19). Thus addressed the Daitya maiden, encircled by her friends,
went away, playing happily, from that place. Then clapping their hands
her friends began to ridicule Ushā whose eyes were expanded with joy
(20–21). Daughters of Yakshas, Nāgas, Daityas and many Kinnaris and
Apsaras were Ushā’s friends. They jokingly said:—"O fair lady, in no
time you will have your husband as described by the goddess. You will
have a husband, beautiful and of good birth as you have wished. The
words of the goddess never prove untrue" (22–24). Receiving in good
grace all those words of her friends Ushā began to spend her days in
anticipation of the realization of the desire conferred by the goddess.
The highly wonderful ladies, who had come there, sported for a few days
with Umā happily and then returned to their respective habitations. The
goddess too disappeared. Amongst the females, some on horse back, some
in conveyances, and some in elephants, entered into the city. And some
rose up into the sky (25–28).