Part 5: Conquest of the goddess Sindhu by Bharata

Then the King went behind the cakra, like light behind a torch, and reached the south bank of the great river, the Sindhu. The King went toward the east on the same bank, and made a camp near Sindhu’s dwelling. Concentrating on Sindhu, he made a four days’ fast, and the goddess Sindhu’s throne shook like a wave struck by wind. Then she knew by clairvoyant knowledge that the Cakravartin had come, and she approached to worship with numerous divine gifts. Then standing in the air, crying “Hail! Hail!” accompanied by blessings, she said, “I am here, O Cakrin, your servant. What can I do?” She gave the King one thousand and eight jeweled pitchers that were like the wealth of the goddess Śrī, like a succession of deposits. She gave the King two jeweled lion-thrones, suitable for the Śrīs of fame and victory, appointed, as it were, to be his brides. She gave armlets of shining jewels, as if made by some one who had taken the head-jewels of the King of Nāgas. She gave also bracelets that resembled the sun-disc with the middle cut out, and divine, soft garments that could be grasped with one hand. He accepted all that from Sindhu, as if he were the King of Sindhu. After delighting her with gracious speech, he dismissed her. Then at the end of the four days’ fast the lord of kings took food in a golden dish that was like a newly-risen full moon. The King made an eight-day festival for the goddess Sindhu; and set out, the road being shown by the cakra always in advance.