Chapter VI - Elysium of bhargava

Argument. Sukra's imaginary journey to heaven, and his reception by Indra.

Vasishtha said:—

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Henceforth Sukra continued to think of the nymph with his closed eye-lids, and indulge himself in his reverie of an imaginary kingdom.

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He thought that the nymph was passing in the air, to the paradise of Indra—the god with a thousand eyes; and that he followed her closely, to the happy regions of the celestial gods.

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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.

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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).

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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 Viswarupa by their ubiquitous journey.

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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.

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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 Ganga (Mandakini).

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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 said:—

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(Airavata), with the scratches of the demoniac weapons on his face (proboscis), and tusks gory with the blood of the defeated hosts of demons.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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There were the gentle breezes blowing among the parijata plants, brightening as moon-beams in the sacred bowers; and wafting the fragrant honey, from the cups of Kunda and mandara blossoms.

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The pleasure garden of Indra, was crowded by heavenly damsels; who were besmeared with the frosty farina of késara flowers, mantling them like the creepers of the grove in their yellow robes.

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Here were the heavenly nymphs dancing in their gaiety, at the tune of the songs of their lovers; and there were heavenly musicians Narada and Tamburu, joining their vocal music in unison with the melody of the wired instruments of the lute and lyre (Vallakikakali).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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After all these sights, Sukra thought of making his obeisance to Indra, who was seated on his seat like another Brahma—the creator of the three worlds.

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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).

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Indra received him with respect, and having lifted him up with his hand, made him sit by himself.

Indra addressed him saying said:—

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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.

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Indra then sat in his seat with a graceful countenance, which shone with the lustre of the unspotted full-moon.

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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.