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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 10: Chapter 20: Verses 39-49
(Virgin) tracts of land gradually gave up their moisture and the plants their unripe state, (even) as the wise slowly give up the sense of identification with, and the feeling of mineness with respect to, the body etc., which are not the self. On the advent of the autumn the ocean became calm and quiet (even) as an ascetic is relieved of his recitation of the Vedas when his mind is completely at rest. Cultivators checked the water going out of the fields by means of strong dams (even) as those practising Yoga preserve the wisdom flowing out through the senses by controlling the latter. The moon alleviated the suffering of living beings caused by the rays of the autumnal sun, (even) as (the dawn of) wisdom puts an end to the miseries born of one's identification with the body or as Sri Krsna (the Bestower of liberation) relieved the agony (caused by their separation from Him) of the women of Vraja. The cloudless sky looked charming (at night) with its stars twinkling brightly due to the autumnal season (even) like the mind with the quality of Sattva predominating in it and revealing the (correct) import of the Vedas.
The full moon shone in the firmament with the hosts of stars (even) as on the earth did Sri Krsna, the Protector of the Yadus, surrounded by the circle of Vrsnis. Embracing the temperate breeze that blew from the woods in (full) blossom, people dismissed their anguish (occasioned by heat), but not so the cowherd women (of Vraja), whose mind had been captivated by Sri Krsna (inasmuch as it tended to enhance the poignancy of their agony of separation from the Lord caused by His absence from Vraja during the daytime.) Persistently sought by their partners cows, she-deer, female birds and women conceived under the influence of the autumnal season even as works intended to propitiate the Lord are necessarily followed by their fruit. At sunrise (all) aquatic flowers bloomed forthwith the exception of water-lilies, even as (all) people barring the thieves are rendered fearless under a (good) king. Enriched with ripe corns the earth looked happy with (Vedic) sacrifices carried on with oblations of first fruits at the end of the rainy season as well as with (other) grand festivals conducted for the gratification of the senses in cities and villages, and more so with Sri Krsna and Balarama (the two Avataras of Sri Hari). Going out (at the end of the four months of the rainy season), merchants, recluses, kings and students about to return from the house of their preceptor after the completion of their studies-that had been detained* by the rains-(now) realized their ends even as those adept in Yoga and well-versed in Mantras (mystic formulas) etc., impeded by the span of their life, attain ethereal forms earned by them when the (appropriate) time comes.
Thus ends the twentieth discourse entitled "A description of the Rains and Autumn" in the first half of Book Ten of the great and glorious Bhagavata-Purana, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Samhita..
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