24. Chapter 24

श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच । दूराद्दूरमभिप्लुत्य शनैरुच्चैः पदं गते । हस्तं हस्ते समालम्ब्य यान्त्यौ ददृशतुर्नभः ॥ १ ॥

śrīvasiṣṭha uvāca | dūrāddūramabhiplutya śanairuccaiḥ padaṃ gate | hastaṃ haste samālambya yāntyau dadṛśaturnabhaḥ || 1 ||

Vasishtha continued:—Thus ascending higher and higher and reaching by degrees the highest station, they went on viewing the heavens, with their hands clasped in each other's.

एकार्णवमिवोच्छूनं गम्भीरं निर्मलान्तरम् । कोमलं कोमलमरुदासङ्गसुखभोगदम् ॥ २ ॥

ekārṇavamivocchūnaṃ gambhīraṃ nirmalāntaram | komalaṃ komalamarudāsaṅgasukhabhogadam || 2 ||

They saw a vast expanse as that of the wide extended universal ocean, deep and translucent within; but soft with etherial mildness, and a cooling breeze infusing heavenly delight.

आह्लादकमलं सौम्यं शून्यताम्भोनिमज्जनात् । अत्यन्तशुद्धं गम्भीरं प्रसन्नमपि सज्जनात् ॥ ३ ॥

āhlādakamalaṃ saumyaṃ śūnyatāmbhonimajjanāt | atyantaśuddhaṃ gambhīraṃ prasannamapi sajjanāt || 3 ||

All delightsome and pleasant was the vast Ocean of vacuity, into which they dived, and which afforded them a delight far greater in its purity, than what is derived from the company of the virtuous.

शृङ्गस्थनिर्मलाम्भोदपीनोदरसुधालये । विशश्रमतुराशासु पूर्णचन्द्रोदरामले ॥ ४ ॥

śṛṅgasthanirmalāmbhodapīnodarasudhālaye | viśaśramaturāśāsu pūrṇacandrodarāmale || 4 ||

They wandered about all sides of heaven, under the beams of the full moon shining above them; and now halted under the clear vault of the clouds, covering the mountain tops of Meru, as if under the dome of a huge white washed edifice.

सिद्धगन्धर्वमन्दारमालामोदमनोहरे । चन्द्रमण्डलनिष्क्रान्ते रेमाते मधुरानिले ॥ ५ ॥

siddhagandharvamandāramālāmodamanohare | candramaṇḍalaniṣkrānte remāte madhurānile || 5 ||

And now they roved by the regions of Siddhas and Gandharvas, breathing the charming fragrance of Mandara chaplets; and now passing the lunar sphere, they inhaled the sweet scent exhaled by the breeze from that nectarious orb.

सस्नतुर्भूरिघर्मान्ते तडिद्रक्ताब्जसंकुले । सरसीव जलापूरमन्थरे मेघमण्डले ॥ ६ ॥

sasnaturbhūrigharmānte taḍidraktābjasaṃkule | sarasīva jalāpūramanthare meghamaṇḍale || 6 ||

Now tired and perspiring profusely, they bathed in the lakes of showering clouds, fraught with the blushing lotuses of lurid lightnings flashing within them.

भूतलौघमहाशैलमृणालाङ्कुरकोटिषु । दिक्षु बभ्रमतुः स्वैरं भ्रमर्यौ सरसीष्विव ॥ ७ ॥

bhūtalaughamahāśailamṛṇālāṅkurakoṭiṣu | dikṣu babhramatuḥ svairaṃ bhramaryau sarasīṣviva || 7 ||

They promenaded at random of their free will on all sides, and now alighted like fluttering bees on the tops of high mountains, appearing as filaments of the lotus-like earth below.

धारागृहधिया धीरगङ्गानिर्झरधारिणि । भ्रेमतुर्वातविक्षुब्धमेघमण्डलमण्डपे ॥ ८ ॥

dhārāgṛhadhiyā dhīragaṅgānirjharadhāriṇi | bhrematurvātavikṣubdhameghamaṇḍalamaṇḍape || 8 ||

They roved also under the vaults of some fragments of clouds, which were scattered by the winds, and raining like the cascade of Ganges, thinking them as shower-bath-houses in the air.

ततो मधुरगामिन्यौ विश्राम्यन्त्यौ स्वशक्तितः । शून्ये ददृशतुर्व्योम महारम्भातिमन्थरम् ॥ ९ ॥

tato madhuragāminyau viśrāmyantyau svaśaktitaḥ | śūnye dadṛśaturvyoma mahārambhātimantharam || 9 ||

Then failing in their strength, they halted in many places, with their slow and slackened steps, and beheld the vacuum full of great and wondrous works.

अदृष्टपूर्वमन्योन्यं सर्वसंकटकोटरम् । अपूर्यमाणमाशून्यं जगत्कोटिशतैरपि ॥ १० ॥

adṛṣṭapūrvamanyonyaṃ sarvasaṃkaṭakoṭaram | apūryamāṇamāśūnyaṃ jagatkoṭiśatairapi || 10 ||

They saw what they had never seen before, the tremendous depth of vacuity, which was not filled up by the myriads of worlds which kept revolving in it.

उपर्युपर्युपर्युच्चैरन्यैरन्यैर्वृतं पृथक् । विचित्राभरणाकारैर्भूतलैः सुविमानकैः ॥ ११ ॥

uparyuparyuparyuccairanyairanyairvṛtaṃ pṛthak | vicitrābharaṇākārairbhūtalaiḥ suvimānakaiḥ || 11 ||

Over and over and higher and higher, they saw the celestial spheres filled with luminous orbs adorned with their ornamental stars, roving one above and around the other.

परितः पूरितव्योम्नां मेर्वादिकुलभूभृताम् । पद्मरागतटोद्द्योतैः कल्पज्वालोपमोदरम् ॥ १२ ॥

paritaḥ pūritavyomnāṃ mervādikulabhūbhṛtām | padmarāgataṭoddyotaiḥ kalpajvālopamodaram || 12 ||

Huge mountainous bodies as the Meru moved about in the vacuous space, and emitted a rubicund glare, like a flame of fire from within their bowels on all sides.

मुक्ताशिखरभापूरैर्हिमवत्सानुसुन्दरम् । काञ्चनाद्रिस्थलार्चिर्भिः काञ्चनस्थलभासुरम् ॥ १३ ॥

muktāśikharabhāpūrairhimavatsānusundaram | kāñcanādristhalārcirbhiḥ kāñcanasthalabhāsuram || 13 ||

There were beautiful table-lands, like those of the Himalayas, with their pearly peaks of snow; and also mountains of gold, spreading an aureate hue over the land.

महामरकताभाभिः शाद्वलस्थलनीलिमम् । द्रष्टृदृश्यक्षयासक्तजातध्वान्तोत्थकालिमम् ॥ १४ ॥

mahāmarakatābhābhiḥ śādvalasthalanīlimam | draṣṭṛdṛśyakṣayāsaktajātadhvāntotthakālimam || 14 ||

They saw in some place mountains of emerald, tinging the landscape with verdant green, as it were a bed of grass; and in others some dark cloud, dimming the sight of the spectator, and hiding the spectacle in dark blackness.

पारिजातलतालोलविमानगणकेतनम् । अतो मञ्जरिकाकारमिव वैदूर्यभूतलम् ॥ १५ ॥

pārijātalatālolavimānagaṇaketanam | ato mañjarikākāramiva vaidūryabhūtalam || 15 ||

They beheld also tracts of blue sapphire, with creepers of parijata flowers, blooming with their blossoms as banners in the azure skies.

मनोवेगमहासिद्धजितवातगमागमम् । विमानगृहदेवस्त्रीगेयवाद्यसघुंघुमम् ॥ १६ ॥

manovegamahāsiddhajitavātagamāgamam | vimānagṛhadevastrīgeyavādyasaghuṃghumam || 16 ||

They saw the flights of Siddhas (or departed holy spirits), the flight of whose minds outstripped the swiftness of the winds; and heard the vocal music of the songs of heavenly nymphs in their aerial abodes.

त्रैलोक्यवरभूतौघसंचाराविरलान्तरम् । अन्योन्यादृष्टसंचारसुरासुरकुलाकुलम् ॥ १७ ॥

trailokyavarabhūtaughasaṃcārāviralāntaram | anyonyādṛṣṭasaṃcārasurāsurakulākulam || 17 ||

All the great bodies in the universe (the planetary system), were in continual motion; and the spirits of the gods and demigods, were moving about unseen by one another.

पर्यन्तस्थितकूष्माण्डरक्षःपैशाचमण्डलम् । वातस्कन्धमहावेगवहद्वैमानिकव्रजम् ॥ १८ ॥

paryantasthitakūṣmāṇḍarakṣaḥpaiśācamaṇḍalam | vātaskandhamahāvegavahadvaimānikavrajam || 18 ||

Groups of spiritual beings, as the Kushmandas, Rakshasas and Pisachas, were seated in aerial circles at the borders; and the winds and gales blowing with full force in their etherial course.

वहद्विमानसीत्कारमुष्टिग्राह्यघनध्वनि । ग्रहर्क्षघनसंचारात्प्रचलद्वातयन्त्रकम् ॥ १९ ॥

vahadvimānasītkāramuṣṭigrāhyaghanadhvani | graharkṣaghanasaṃcārātpracaladvātayantrakam || 19 ||

Loud roarings of clouds, as those of the crackling wheels of heavenly cars, were heard in some places; and the noise of rapid stars, resembled the blowing of pneumatic engines.

निकटातपदग्धाल्पसिद्धसिद्धोज्झितास्पदम् । अर्काश्वमुखवातास्तदग्धमुग्धविमानकम् ॥ २० ॥

nikaṭātapadagdhālpasiddhasiddhojjhitāspadam | arkāśvamukhavātāstadagdhamugdhavimānakam || 20 ||

There the half burnt Siddhas, were flying from their burning cars under the solar rays, by reason of their nearness to the Sun; and the solar embers were flung afar by the breath of the nostrils of his horses.

लोकपालाप्सरोवृन्दसंचाराचारचञ्चलम । देव्यन्तःपुरिकादग्धधूपधूमाम्बुदाम्बरम् ॥ २१ ॥

lokapālāpsarovṛndasaṃcārācāracañcalama | devyantaḥpurikādagdhadhūpadhūmāmbudāmbaram || 21 ||

In some places they beheld the rulers of men, and trains of Apsaras, hurrying up and down the air; and in others, the goddesses roving amidst the smoky and fiery clouds in the firmament.

स्वस्वर्गाहूतदेवस्त्रीस्वाङ्गविभ्रष्टभूषणम् । सामान्यसिद्धसङ्घोग्रतेजःपुञ्जतमोबलम् ॥ २२ ॥

svasvargāhūtadevastrīsvāṅgavibhraṣṭabhūṣaṇam | sāmānyasiddhasaṅghogratejaḥpuñjatamobalam || 22 ||

Here they saw some sparks of light, falling like the jewels of celestial nymphs, in their hurried flight to their respective spheres; and there they beheld the lightsome spirits of lesser Siddhas dwindling into darkness.

वलवत्सिद्धसंघट्टगमागमविघट्टितैः । घनैः सांशुकपार्श्वस्थहिमवन्मेरुमन्दरम् ॥ २३ ॥

valavatsiddhasaṃghaṭṭagamāgamavighaṭṭitaiḥ | ghanaiḥ sāṃśukapārśvasthahimavanmerumandaram || 23 ||

Flakes of mists were falling off from the clouds, as if by friction of the bodies of turbulent spirits, rushing up and down the skies; and shrouding the sides of mountains as with sheets of cloth.

काकोलूकैर्गृध्रभासै राशिभूतैश्चलैर्वृतम् । नृत्यद्भिर्डाकिनीसङ्घैस्तरङ्गैरिव वारिधिम् ॥ २४ ॥

kākolūkairgṛdhrabhāsai rāśibhūtaiścalairvṛtam | nṛtyadbhirḍākinīsaṅghaistaraṅgairiva vāridhim || 24 ||

Fragments of clouds, beset by groups in the shapes of crows, owls and vultures, were flying about in the air; and there were seen some monsters also, as Dakinis heaving their heads in the forms of huge surges, in the cloudy ocean of the sky.

प्रवृत्तैर्योगिनीसङ्घैः श्वकाकोष्ट्रखराननैः । निरर्थं योजनशतं गत्वागच्छद्भिरावृतम् ॥ २५ ॥

pravṛttairyoginīsaṅghaiḥ śvakākoṣṭrakharānanaiḥ | nirarthaṃ yojanaśataṃ gatvāgacchadbhirāvṛtam || 25 ||

There were bodies of Yoginis too, with their faces resembling those of dogs, ravens, asses and camels, who were traversing the wide expanse of the heavens to no purpose.

लोकपालपुरोध्वान्तधूमधूम्रेऽभ्रमन्दिरे । सिद्धगन्धर्वमिथुनप्रारब्धसुरतोत्सवम् ॥ २६ ॥

lokapālapurodhvāntadhūmadhūmre'bhramandire | siddhagandharvamithunaprārabdhasuratotsavam || 26 ||

There were Siddhas and Gandharvas, sporting in pairs in the coverts of dark, smoky and ash coloured clouds, spread before the regents of the four quarters of the skies.

स्वर्गगीतस्तवोन्मत्तमदनाक्रान्तमार्गगम् । अनारतवहद्धिष्ण्यचक्रलक्षितपक्षकम् ॥ २७ ॥

svargagītastavonmattamadanākrāntamārgagam | anāratavahaddhiṣṇyacakralakṣitapakṣakam || 27 ||

They beheld the path of the planets (the zodiac), which resounded loudly with the heavenly music of the spheres; and that path also (of the lunar mansions), which incessantly marked the course of the two fortnights.

वातस्कन्धनिखातोन्तर्वहत्त्रिपथगाजलम् । आश्चर्यालोकनव्यग्रसंचरत्त्रिदशार्भकम् ॥ २८ ॥

vātaskandhanikhātontarvahattripathagājalam | āścaryālokanavyagrasaṃcarattridaśārbhakam || 28 ||

They saw the sons of gods moving about in the air, and viewing with wonder the heavenly stream of Ganges (the milky way), which was studded with stars, and rolling with the rapidity of winds.

सदेहसंचरद्वज्रचक्रशूलासिशक्तिमत् । क्वचिन्निर्भित्ति भवनं गायन्नारदतुम्बुरु ॥ २९ ॥

sadehasaṃcaradvajracakraśūlāsiśaktimat | kvacinnirbhitti bhavanaṃ gāyannāradatumburu || 29 ||

They saw the gods wielding their thunderbolts, discuses, tridents, swords and missiles; and heard Narada and Tumburu singing in their aerial abodes on high.

मेघमार्गमहामेघमहारम्भाकुलं क्वचित् । चित्रन्यस्तसमाकारमूककल्पान्तवारिदम् ॥ ३० ॥

meghamārgamahāmeghamahārambhākulaṃ kvacit | citranyastasamākāramūkakalpāntavāridam || 30 ||

They beheld the region of the clouds, where there were huge bodies of them mute as paintings, and pouring forth floods of rain as in the great deluge.

उत्पतत्कज्जलाद्रीन्द्रसुन्दराम्भोधरं क्वचित् । क्वचित्कनकनिष्पन्दकान्ततापान्तवारिदम् ॥ ३१ ॥

utpatatkajjalādrīndrasundarāmbhodharaṃ kvacit | kvacitkanakaniṣpandakāntatāpāntavāridam || 31 ||

In some place they saw a dark cloud, as high as the mountain-king Himalaya, slowly moving in the air; and at others some of a golden hue as at the setting sun.

क्वचिद्दिग्दाहतापाढ्यमृष्यमूकाम्बुदांशुकम् । क्वचिन्निष्पवनाम्भोधिसंरम्भं शून्यताजलम् ॥ ३२ ॥

kvaciddigdāhatāpāḍhyamṛṣyamūkāmbudāṃśukam | kvacinniṣpavanāmbhodhisaṃrambhaṃ śūnyatājalam || 32 ||

In some place there were flimsy sheets of clouds, as are said to hover on the peaks of the Rishya range; and at another a cloud like the calm blue bed of the Sea, without any water in them.

क्वचिद्वातनदीप्रौढविमानतृणपल्लवम् । क्वचिच्चलदलिव्रातपृष्ठत्वक्कान्तिनिर्मलम् ॥ ३३ ॥

kvacidvātanadīprauḍhavimānatṛṇapallavam | kvaciccaladalivrātapṛṣṭhatvakkāntinirmalam || 33 ||

There were tufts of grass seen in some places, as if blown up by the winds and floating in the stream of air; and swarms of butterflies at others with their glossy coats and wings.

क्वचिन्मेरुनदीकल्पवातधूलिविधूसरम् । क्वचिद्विमानगीर्वाणप्रभाचित्रबलाङ्गकम् ॥ ३४ ॥

kvacinmerunadīkalpavātadhūlividhūsaram | kvacidvimānagīrvāṇaprabhācitrabalāṅgakam || 34 ||

In some place, there was a cloud of dust raised by the wind, and appearing as a lake on the top of a mountain.

क्वचिन्निरम्बरोन्नृत्तमातृमण्डलमालितम् । क्वचिन्नित्यं नवक्षीबक्षुब्धयोगीश्वरीगणम् ॥ ३५ ॥

kvacinnirambaronnṛttamātṛmaṇḍalamālitam | kvacinnityaṃ navakṣībakṣubdhayogīśvarīgaṇam || 35 ||

The Matris were seen, to be dancing naked in their giddy circles in some place, and the great Yoginis sat at others, as if ever and anon giddy with intoxication.

क्वचिच्छान्तसमाधिस्थविश्रान्तमुनिमालितम् । समं दूरास्तसंरम्भसाधुचित्तमनोहरम् ॥ ३६ ॥

kvacicchāntasamādhisthaviśrāntamunimālitam | samaṃ dūrāstasaṃrambhasādhucittamanoharam || 36 ||

There were circles of holy men, sitting in their calm meditation in one place; and pious saints at others, who had cast away their worldly cares at a distance.

गायत्किन्नरगन्धर्वसुरस्त्रीमण्डलं क्वचित् । क्वचित्स्तब्धपुराकीर्णं वहत्पुरवरं क्वचित् ॥ ३७ ॥

gāyatkinnaragandharvasurastrīmaṇḍalaṃ kvacit | kvacitstabdhapurākīrṇaṃ vahatpuravaraṃ kvacit || 37 ||

There was a conclave of celestial choristers, composed of heavenly nymphs, Kinnaras and Gandharvas in one place; and some quiet towns and cities situated at others.

क्वचिद्रुद्रपुरापूर्णं क्वचिद्ब्रह्ममहापुरम् । क्वचिन्मायाकृतपुरं क्वचिदागामिपत्तनम् ॥ ३८ ॥

kvacidrudrapurāpūrṇaṃ kvacidbrahmamahāpuram | kvacinmāyākṛtapuraṃ kvacidāgāmipattanam || 38 ||

There were the cities of Brahma and Rudra full with their people, and the city of illusion (Maya) with its increasing population.

क्वचिद्भ्रमच्चन्द्रसरः क्वचित्स्तब्धमयंसरः । क्वचित्सरत्सिद्धगणं क्वचिदिन्दुकृतोदयम् ॥ ३९ ॥

kvacidbhramaccandrasaraḥ kvacitstabdhamayaṃsaraḥ | kvacitsaratsiddhagaṇaṃ kvacidindukṛtodayam || 39 ||

There were crystal lakes in some places and stagnant pools at others; and lakes with the Siddhas seated by them, and those embosomed by the rising moon.

क्वचित्सूर्योदयमयं क्वचिद्रात्रितमोमयम् । क्वचित्संध्यांशुकपिलं क्वचिन्नीहारधूसरम् ॥ ४० ॥

kvacitsūryodayamayaṃ kvacidrātritamomayam | kvacitsaṃdhyāṃśukapilaṃ kvacinnīhāradhūsaram || 40 ||

They saw the sun rising in one part, and the darkness of night veiling the others; the evening casting its shadow on one, and the dusky mists of dusk obscuring the other.

क्वचिद्धिमाभ्रधवलं क्वचिद्वर्षत्पयोधरम् । क्वचित्स्थल इवाकाश एव विश्रान्तलोकपम् ॥ ४१ ॥

kvaciddhimābhradhavalaṃ kvacidvarṣatpayodharam | kvacitsthala ivākāśa eva viśrāntalokapam || 41 ||

There were the hoary clouds of winter in some places, and those of the rains in others; somewhere they appeared as tracts of land and at another as a sheet of water.

ऊर्ध्वाधोगमनव्यग्रसुरासुरगणं क्वचित् । पूर्वापरोत्तरायाम्यदिक्संचाराकुलं क्वचित् ॥ ४२ ॥

ūrdhvādhogamanavyagrasurāsuragaṇaṃ kvacit | pūrvāparottarāyāmyadiksaṃcārākulaṃ kvacit || 42 ||

Bodies of gods and demigods, were roving from one side to the other;some from east to west, and others from north to the south.

अपि योजनलक्षाणि क्वचिद्दुष्प्रापभूधरम् । अविनाशितमःपूर्णं दृषद्गर्भोपमं क्वचित् ॥ ४३ ॥

api yojanalakṣāṇi kvacidduṣprāpabhūdharam | avināśitamaḥpūrṇaṃ dṛṣadgarbhopamaṃ kvacit || 43 ||

There were mountains heaving their heads to thousands of miles in their height; and there were valleys and caves covered in eternal darkness.

अविनाशिबृहत्तेजः क्वचिदर्कानलोपमम् । हिमानीजठराशीतं क्वचिच्चन्द्रादिसद्मसु ॥ ४४ ॥

avināśibṛhattejaḥ kvacidarkānalopamam | himānījaṭharāśītaṃ kvaciccandrādisadmasu || 44 ||

There was a vast inextinguishable fire, like that of the blazing sun in one place; and a thickly frost covering the moonlight in another.

क्वचिद्वहत्पुरोवृत्तकल्पवृक्षलतावनम् । क्वचिद्दैत्यहतोत्तुङ्गप्रपतद्देवपत्तनम् ॥ ४५ ॥

kvacidvahatpurovṛttakalpavṛkṣalatāvanam | kvaciddaityahatottuṅgaprapataddevapattanam || 45 ||

Somewhere there was a great city, flourishing with groves and arbours; and at another big temples of gods, levelled to the ground by the might of demons.

वैमानिकनिपातेन वहिलेखाङ्कितं क्वचित् । क्वचित्केतुशतोत्पातमिथःसंघट्टपट्टितम् ॥ ४६ ॥

vaimānikanipātena vahilekhāṅkitaṃ kvacit | kvacitketuśatotpātamithaḥsaṃghaṭṭapaṭṭitam || 46 ||

In some place there was a streak of light, described by a falling meteor in the sky; in another the blaze of a comet with its thousand fiery tails in the air.

क्वचिच्छुभग्रहगणप्रगृहीताग्र्यमण्डलम् । क्वचिद्रात्रितमोव्याप्तं क्वचिद्दिवसभास्वरम् ॥ ४७ ॥

kvacicchubhagrahagaṇapragṛhītāgryamaṇḍalam | kvacidrātritamovyāptaṃ kvaciddivasabhāsvaram || 47 ||

In one place there was a lucky planet, rising with its full orb to the view; in another there spread the gloom of night, and full sunshine in another.

क्वचिदुद्गर्जदम्भोदं क्वचिन्मूकामलाम्बुदम् । वातावकीर्णशुक्लाभ्रखण्डपुष्पोत्तरं क्वचित् ॥ ४८ ॥

kvacidudgarjadambhodaṃ kvacinmūkāmalāmbudam | vātāvakīrṇaśuklābhrakhaṇḍapuṣpottaraṃ kvacit || 48 ||

Here the clouds were roaring, and there they were dumb and mute; here were the high blasts driving the clouds in air, and there the gentle breeze dropping the clusters of flowers on the ground.

क्वचिदत्यन्तनिःशून्यमवदातमनन्तरम् । आनन्दमृदुशान्ताच्छं ज्ञस्येव हृदयं ततम् ॥ ४ ॥

kvacidatyantaniḥśūnyamavadātamanantaram | ānandamṛduśāntācchaṃ jñasyeva hṛdayaṃ tatam || 4 ||

They wandered about all sides of heaven, under the beams of the full moon shining above them; and now halted under the clear vault of the clouds, covering the mountain tops of Meru, as if under the dome of a huge white washed edifice.

शुक्रवाहनभेकौघैः क्वचिद्गलकृतारवम् । शून्यतावारिवलितं क्षेत्रमाकाशवासिनाम् ॥ ५० ॥

śukravāhanabhekaughaiḥ kvacidgalakṛtāravam | śūnyatāvārivalitaṃ kṣetramākāśavāsinām || 50 ||

The vacuous region of the celestial gods, was so full with the dewy beams (himansu) of the silvery orb of the moon (sweta-vaha), that it appeared as a shower of rain, and raised the loud croaking of the frogs below.

मयूरहेमचूडादिपक्षिभिः क्वचिदावृतम् । विद्याधरीणां देवीनां वाहनैर्विहितास्पदैः ॥ ५१ ॥

mayūrahemacūḍādipakṣibhiḥ kvacidāvṛtam | vidyādharīṇāṃ devīnāṃ vāhanairvihitāspadaiḥ || 51 ||

There appeared flocks of peacocks and goldfinches, to be fluttering about in some place, and vehicles of the goddesses and Vidyadharis thronging at another.

क्वचिदभ्रान्तरोन्नृत्यद्गुहमायूरमण्डलम् । क्वचिदग्निशुकैः श्यामं शाद्वलानामिव स्थलम् ॥ ५२ ॥

kvacidabhrāntaronnṛtyadguhamāyūramaṇḍalam | kvacidagniśukaiḥ śyāmaṃ śādvalānāmiva sthalam || 52 ||

Numbers of Kartikeya's peacocks were seen dancing amidst the clouds, and a flight of greenish parrots was seen in the sky appearing as a verdant plain.

क्वचित्प्रेतेशमहिषमहिम्ना वामनाम्बुदम् । क्वचिदश्वैस्तृणग्रामशङ्काग्रस्तासिताम्बुदम् ॥ ५३ ॥

kvacitpreteśamahiṣamahimnā vāmanāmbudam | kvacidaśvaistṛṇagrāmaśaṅkāgrastāsitāmbudam || 53 ||

Dwarfish clouds were moving like the stout buffaloes of Yama; and others in the form of horses, were grazing on the grassy meadows of clouds.

क्वचिद्देवपुरव्याप्तं क्वचिद्दैत्यपुरान्वितम् । अन्योन्याप्राप्यनगरं नगरन्ध्रकरानिलम् ॥ ५४ ॥

kvaciddevapuravyāptaṃ kvaciddaityapurānvitam | anyonyāprāpyanagaraṃ nagarandhrakarānilam || 54 ||

Cities of the gods and demons, appeared with their towers on high;and distinct towns and hills, were seen at distances, as if detached from one another by the driving winds.

क्वचित्कुलाचलाकारनृत्यद्भैरवभासुरम् । क्वचित्सपक्षशैलेन्द्रसमनृत्यद्विनायकम् ॥ ५५ ॥

kvacitkulācalākāranṛtyadbhairavabhāsuram | kvacitsapakṣaśailendrasamanṛtyadvināyakam || 55 ||

In some place, gigantic Bhairavas were dancing with their mountainous bodies; and great garudas were flying at another, as winged mountains in the air.

क्वचिद्धर्घरवातौघपक्षप्रोड्डीनपर्वतम् । क्वचिद्गन्धर्वनगरसुरस्त्रीवृन्दबन्धुरम् ॥ ५६ ॥

kvaciddhargharavātaughapakṣaproḍḍīnaparvatam | kvacidgandharvanagarasurastrīvṛndabandhuram || 56 ||

Huge mountains also, were tossed about by the blowing of winds; and the castles of the Gandharvas, were rising and falling with the celestial nymphs in them.

क्वचिद्वहद्गिरिध्वस्तवृक्षलक्षोच्छ्रिताम्बुदम् । क्वचिन्मायाकृताकाशनलिनीजलशीतलम् ॥ ५७ ॥

kvacidvahadgiridhvastavṛkṣalakṣocchritāmbudam | kvacinmāyākṛtākāśanalinījalaśītalam || 57 ||

There were some clouds rising on high, and appearing as rolling mountains in the sky, crushing down the forests below; and the sky appeared in some place, as a clear lake abounding in lotuses.

क्वचिदिन्दुकराकृष्टिशीतलाह्लादमारुतम् । क्वचित्तप्तानिलादग्धद्रुमपर्वतवारिदम् ॥ ५८ ॥

kvacidindukarākṛṣṭiśītalāhlādamārutam | kvacittaptānilādagdhadrumaparvatavāridam || 58 ||

The moon-beams shone brightly in one spot, and sweet cooling breezes blew softly in another. Hot sultry winds were blowing in some place, and singeing the forest on the mountainous clouds.

क्वचिदत्यन्तसंशान्तवातादेकान्तनिर्ध्वनि । क्वचित्पर्वततुल्याभ्रशिखाकूटशतोदयम् ॥ ५९ ॥

kvacidatyantasaṃśāntavātādekāntanirdhvani | kvacitparvatatulyābhraśikhākūṭaśatodayam || 59 ||

There was a dead silence in one spot, caused by perfect calmness of the breeze; while another spot presented a scene of a hundred peaks, rising on a mountainlike cloud.

क्वचित्प्रावृड्भवोन्मत्तघनाभ्ररवघर्घरम् । क्वचित्सुरासुरगणप्रवृत्तरणदुगमम् ॥ ६० ॥

kvacitprāvṛḍbhavonmattaghanābhraravaghargharam | kvacitsurāsuragaṇapravṛttaraṇadugamam || 60 ||

In one place the raining clouds, were roaring loudly in their fury; and in another a furious battle was waging between the gods and demons in the clouds.

क्वचिद्व्योमाब्जिनीहंसीस्वनाहूताब्जवाहनम् । क्वचिन्मन्दाकिनीतीरनलिनीलुण्ठकानिलम् ॥ ६१ ॥

kvacidvyomābjinīhaṃsīsvanāhūtābjavāhanam | kvacinmandākinītīranalinīluṇṭhakānilam || 61 ||

In some place the geese were seen gabbling in the lotus lake of the sky, and inviting the ganders by their loud cackling cries.

स्वशरीरेण गङ्गादिसरितां सन्निधानतः । प्रोड्डीनमत्स्यमकरकुलीराम्बुजकूर्मकम् ॥ ६२ ॥

svaśarīreṇa gaṅgādisaritāṃ sannidhānataḥ | proḍḍīnamatsyamakarakulīrāmbujakūrmakam || 62 ||

Forms of fishes, crocodiles and alligators, were seen flying in the air, as if they were transformed to aerial beings, by the holy waters of their natal Ganges.

पातालगार्कजनितभूच्छायाकाकचोपनैः । क्वचित्क्वचिन्मण्डलेषु ग्रस्तचन्द्रार्कमण्डलम् ॥ ६३ ॥

pātālagārkajanitabhūcchāyākākacopanaiḥ | kvacitkvacinmaṇḍaleṣu grastacandrārkamaṇḍalam || 63 ||

They saw somewhere the eclipse of the moon, by the dark shadow of the earth, as the sun went down the horizon; and so they saw the eclipse of the sun by the shadow of the moon falling on his disk.

क्वचित्सर्गानिलाधूतमायाकुसुमकाननम् । पतत्पुष्पहिमासारत्रसद्वैमानिकाङ्गनम् ॥ ६४ ॥

kvacitsargānilādhūtamāyākusumakānanam | patatpuṣpahimāsāratrasadvaimānikāṅganam || 64 ||

They saw a magical flower garden, exhaling its fragrance in the air; and strewing the floor of heaven, with profusion of flowers, scattered by showers of morning dews.

उदुम्बरोदरमशकक्रमभ्रमज्जगत्त्रयान्तरगतभूतसंचयम् । विलङ्घ्य तद्वरललने खमुच्चकैर्महीतलं पुनरपि गन्तुमुद्यते ॥ ६५ ॥

udumbarodaramaśakakramabhramajjagattrayāntaragatabhūtasaṃcayam | vilaṅghya tadvaralalane khamuccakairmahītalaṃ punarapi gantumudyate || 65 ||

They beheld all the beings contained in the three worlds, to be flying in the air, like a swarm of gnats in the hollow of a fig tree; and then the two excellent ladies stopped in their aerial journey, intent upon revisiting the earth. NOTE. Most part of the above description of the heavens, consists of the various appearances of the clouds, and bears resemblance to Shelly's poetical description of them. All this is expressed by one word in the Cloud-Messenger of Kalidasa, where the cloud is said to be "Kama rupa" or assuming any form at pleasure.