Chapter L - Dasura’s survey of the heavens

Argument. Dasura surveys all the sky from his seat on the Kadamba tree.

Vasishtha continued:—

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Dasura remained in this flowery arbour, as if he dwelt on a hill of flowers; and he felt in his mind the delight, which the flowery spring and its fruitage could infuse in the heart.

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He mounted and sat over the high and airy top of the tree, and looked on all sides like the god Vishnu surveying the worlds.

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There sitting on a branch which reached to the sky, he was employed in his devotion, devoid of fear and desire.

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From this his leafy and easy couch of repose, he cast his curious eyes to view the wonders of nature on all sides.

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He beheld a river at a distance glittering as a necklace of gold, and the summits of distant hills rising as nipples on the breast of the earth. The fair face of the sky appeared as the face of a fairy, covered under the blue veil of a cloud.

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The verdant leaves of trees were as the green garb of this fairy, and the clusters of flowers were as garlands on her head; the distant lakes appearing as water-pots, were decorated by their aquatic plants and flowers.

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The fragrance of the blooming lotuses, seemed as the sweet breathing of the fairy; and the gurgling of the waterfalls, sounded as the trinkets fastened to her feet.

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The trees touching the skies; were as the hairs on her body, the thick forests resembled her thighs, and the orbs of the sun and moon, were as earrings pendant on her ears.

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The fields of corn seemed as pots of her sandal paste, and the rising hills were as her breasts, covered by the cloudy mantle on their tops.

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The seas with their lucent waters were as her mirrors, to reflect the rays of her jewels of the starry frame. (The stars are explained in the gloss as drops of sweat on her person).

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The season fruits and flowers were as embroideries on her bodice, and the rays of the sun and moon were as powders over her body, or as the pasted sandal on her person.

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The clouds covering the landscape were as her garment, and the trees and plants on the borders, were as the fringes or the skirts of her raiment. In this manner he beheld all the ten sides of heaven as full with the form of a fairy queen.