Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 12 Chapter 8:15-26

Book 12: Chapter 8

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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 12: Chapter 8: Verses 15-26

Coming to know of this and alarmed at (the magnitude of) his askesis, Indra the lord of paradise), it is said, started interrupting it in this seventh Manvantara (for fear of losing his throne), 0 Saunaka l (In order to bring about the sage's downfall) he sent to the sage Gandharvas (heavenly musicians) and Apsaras (celestial nymphs), Kama (the god of love), (the deities presiding over) the vernal season and the south wind (lit., a breeze blowing from the Malaya mountain), as well as greed (the pet child of Rajas) and pride. They all repaired, 0 powerful sage to the hermitage of the sage along the northern slopes of the Himalayas, where flows the river Puspabhadra and the rock named Citra stands. The hallowed site of that hermitage was adorned with sacred trees and creepers, crowded with families of holy Brahmana sages and studded with sacred pools full of pellucid water. The hermitage was full of the melodious humming of (honey-) intoxicated bees and the notes of joyous cuckoos. It was marked with the ecstasy of dance of blithesome peacocks and teemed with flocks of joyous birds. (A breeze bearing the cool spray from waterfalls and embraced by (fragrant) flowers entered the hermitage and (gently) played on it, kindling love (in the hearts of men). There appeared the vernal season with its evenings made charming by the rising moon and with rows of young leaves and bunches of flowers, and trees and creepers in close embrace. The god of love, followed by Gandharvas with bands of musicians expert both in vocal and instrumental music, and leading troops of Apsaras, was (also) seen (there) with bow and arrows in hand. The servants (emissaries) of Indra saw the sage comfortably seated with closed eyes near the sacred fire after pouring oblations into it and formidable like fire in human form. The damsels danced and the songsters sang, while other Gandharvas played charmingly on clay tomtoms, lutes and small drums before him. Then Love set the five-pointed arrow to his bow; while Spring, Greed (the son of Rajas) and other servants of indra tried to agitate the sage's mind. (Even) as Punjikasthali (the chief of the Apsaras) was sporting with (a number of) balls (in front of the sage) and running after them, her (slender) waist getting very unstable under the weight of her (full) breasts, wreaths of flowers dropping from her braid, and eyes moving this way and that, the breeze blew away the fine garment (about her loins), the waist-band (that held it fast) having given way.

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