Sri Vasista

1. O Rāma, Sukra then closed his eyes and started contemplating about that celestial lady.  He began conjuring up a mental empire around her.

2. This lady is going to the land of Indra.  I am following her to this enchanting region.  I have reached it.   It is beautiful with gods.

3. These gods are handsome with their lovely flower decorations.  They are of liquid gold men with joyful faces.

4. Their eyes reveal joy and looks are like blue lotus.  A lovely smile runs across their lips.  Their looks will steal the hearts of women.

5. Enhanced by the loveliness of flowers, they seem to be reflections of each other.  And so they present a Universal-like form.

6. The songs (I hear) are of the sounds of bees enjoying the visible fluid flowing out of the cheeks of ecstatic elephants.  These are truly the songs and sounds celestial.

7. This is Mandakini (the ganga of the skies) with the Swan of Brahma moving among golden lotuses.  On its coastline are the beautiful gardens in which Indra relaxes.

8. These are the guardians of ‘Lokas’ – Yama, Chandra, Indra, Surya, Agni, Water and Wind – who spread across with their shining beams.

9. This is the great elephant ‘Irāvata’ which relieves itself of the itching on its face by scratching against weapons of war.  This is the one which tears the 'daitya' foes with its powerful tusks.

10.  These are the celestial travellers in the air, who with their liquid gold hue, appears like stars in the sky to the denizens of the earth.

11. These are the waves of the river ‘ganga’ rolling down the story slopes of Meru and drenching the celestial beings (on the banks) with its foggy foam.  Beautiful ‘mandāra’ flowers are floating on the waters.

12. These are the gardens of Indra, with bountiful bouqets of gold-hued ‘mandāra’ flower-laden creepers and rows of ‘apsaras’ swinging in the creeper-swings.

13. These are the mild winds and breezes blowing off the ‘Kunda’ and ‘mandāra’ creepers bearing their fragrance.  These airs from ‘Parijāta’ trees are cool like moon-beams.

14. This is the ‘Nandana’ garden (of the heavens) spread with lady like creepers wearing the apparel of flower follicles and dew drops.

15. These are the lovely celestial damsels blissfully dancing to charming tunes.  These are ‘Narada’ and Tumbura’ whose voice resembles that of a ‘veena’.

16. These are the richly decorated beings of great merit flying the vehicles across the skies.

17. These are the celestial damsels with lascinious limbs entertaining Indra, the lord of the celestials.  These ladies are like creepers in a garden bringing great splendour to the gardens.

18. These are the magnificient ‘Kalpa’  trees with flower bunches like ‘Chintamani’ and bearing ripe flowers.

19. I enter this heaven and occupy my seat and bow to Indra who looks like a second Brahma, the creator of three worlds.

20. Ideating thus, Sukra bowed mentally to Indra like another sage Bhrigu in the sky.

21. Then Indra walked upto Sukra with great respects, worships him and led him to a seat near his throne.

22. ‘O Sage Sukra, we are greatly blessed by your visit to us.  I wish you stay with us long’.

23. ‘O Rama, then Sukra took his seat and shone like a full moon’.

24. He was then greeted by the courtiers of Indira.  Sukra stayed in heaven for a long time.  He was treated like a son of Indra.