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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 4: Chapter 6: Verses 17-33
Brahma and the other gods proceed to Kailasa and appease Lord Siva
Nay, its beauty is enhanced by breadfruit trees. Udumbaras, the holy fig trees, Plaksas (the waved-leaf fig trees), banyans and bdelliums, birches, annual trees (such as the banana, which are cut down after they have borne fruit), betel-nut trees, Rajapugas (a species of areca-nut palms) and rose-apple trees, date-palms, hog-plums, Amras ( a species of mango trees) and so on, Priyalas, Madhukas and soap-nut trees and other varieties of trees, and clusters of bamboos both of the hollow and solid types. It is further graced with swarms of birds sweetly warbling on the margin of its ponds rich in their beds of lilies and lotuses of various kinds. It is infested with deer, monkeys, boars, lions, bears and porcupines, Gayals, Sarabhas (a species of eight-footed animals now extinct), tigers, Rurus (a species of black antelopes), wild buffaloes and other wild beasts as well as with Karnantras, Ekapadas (a species of one-footed animals) Aswamukhas, wolves and musk-deer; and the strands of its ponds look charming with the clusters of banana trees surrounding them. It is hemmed in by the river Nanda (the holy Ganga), whose waters have been hallowed by the touch of Sati (the deceased consort of Lord Siva), who bathed in it. The gods felt astonished to see (the beauty of) Mount Kailasa, the abode of Lord Siva (the lord of ghosts). There (on that mountain) they saw the celebrated and beautiful city of Alaka (the capital of Kubera, the lord of the Yaksas) as well as the garden named Saugandhika, where can be seen a species of lotuses bearing the same name ( and singularly noted for their fragrance). Along the outskirts of the city flow the two rivers Nanda and Alakananda, both of which have derived utmost sanctity from (their contact with) the dust of the feet of Lord Visnu (which are the abode of all sanctity). Descending from their aerial cars, O Vidura, celestial women, exhausted by their amorous dalliance, take a plunge into these streams and sport therein, sprinkling their mates with water. The water of these rivers gets coloured by the saffron washed (from their bosom) during their ablutions, and (tempted by its delicious fragrance) elephants drink it, even though they have no thirst, and give the same to the she-elephants also to drink.Crowded with hundreds of aerial cars made of silver, gold and most precious jewels, and inhabited by the wives of Yaksas, the city looked like the firmament oveercast with clouds accompanied by lightining. They overpassed the capital of Kubera (the lord of the Yaksas) as well as the aforementioned garden called Saugandhika, which looked charming with its wish-yielding trees, laden with fuits, flovers and leaves of variegated colours. The Notes of cuckoos and hosts of other birds in that garden added to the melody of the (humming ) bees and it was spotted with ponds containing lotus bes, the most favourite resrts of swans. by the breezes wafting the perfume of its sandal-trees, whose (soft) bark was scratched by wild elephants (rubbing their bodies against it in order to relieve their itching sensation), it flamed the passion of Yaksa wmen again and again. (Going further) they saw a number extensive wells containing beds of blue lotuses and provided with stairs of cat'-eye, which were frequented by kmpurusas (another class of demigods); and not far from them they sghted a banyan tree. The tree had a height of one hundred Yojanas (or eight hundred miles) and its boughs extended to a distance of seventy-five Yojanas (or six hundred miles) on every side. It cast apermanent shade on all sides and thus warded off the sun; yet it contained no nest. Beneath that tree, which induced great concentration of mind and was the (happy) reason of those seeking liveration, the gods beheld Lord Siva seated like Death free from anger.
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