ELYSIUM OF BHÁRGAVA.
Argument. Sukra’s imaginary journey to heaven, and his reception by
Indra.
Vasishtha said:—Henceforth Sukra continued to think of the nymph with
his closed eye-lids, and indulge himself in his reverie of an imaginary
kingdom.
2. 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.
3. He thought, he saw before him the gods, decorated with their
chaplets of beautiful _mandara_ blossoms on their heads, and with
garlands of flowers pendant on their persons resplendent as liquid gold.
4. 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 (the garden of paradise).
5. 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 Viswarúpa by their ubiquitous journey.
6. 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.
7. 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 Gangá (Mandákiní).
8. 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.
9. On one side was the warlike elephant of Indra—(Airávata), with the
scratches of the demoniac weapons on his face (proboscis), and tusks
gory with the blood of the defeated hosts of demons.
10. Those who were translated from earth to heaven in the form of
luminous stars, were roving in their aerial vehicles, blazing with
aureate beams of the shining sun.
11. The gods were washed by the showers, falling from the peaks of Meru
below, and the waves of the Ganges, rolled on with scattered _mandara_
flowers floating on them.
12. The alleys of Indra’s groves, were tinged with saffron, by heaps of
the dust of _mandara_ flowers; and were trodden by groups of Apsara
lasses, sporting wantonly upon them.
13. There were the gentle breezes blowing among the _párijáta_ plants,
brightening as moon-beams in the sacred bowers; and wafting the
fragrant honey, from the cups of _Kunda_ and _mandara_ blossoms.
14. The pleasure garden of Indra, was crowded by heavenly damsels; who
were besmeared with the frosty farina of _kēsara_ flowers, mantling
them like the creepers of the grove in their yellow robes.
15. Here were the heavenly nymphs dancing in their gaiety, at the tune
of the songs of their lovers; and there were heavenly musicians Nárada
and Tamburu, joining their vocal music in unison with the melody of the
wired instruments of the lute and lyre (Vallakikákali).
16. Holy men and the pious and virtuous, were seen to soar high in
their heavenly cars, and sitting there with their decorations of
various kinds.
17. 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.
18. There were the fruit trees of _gulunchas_, studded with clusters of
their ripening fruits; and resembling the gemming sapphires and rubies,
and set as rows of ivory teeth.
19. After all these sights, Sukra thought of making his obeisance to
Indra, who was seated on his seat like another Brahmá—the creator of
the three worlds.
20. Having thought so, Sukra bowed down to Indra in his own mind, as he
was the second Bhrigu in heaven—(_i.e._ He bowed to him with a
veneration equal to that he paid to his father).
21. Indra received him with respect, and having lifted him up with his
hand, made him sit by himself.
22. Indra addressed him saying:—I am honoured, Sukra! by thy call, and
this heaven of mine is graced by thy presence, may thou live long to
enjoy the pleasure of this place.
23. Indra then sat in his seat with a graceful countenance, which shone
with the lustre of the unspotted full-moon.
24. Sukra 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 lord of gods
and men.