Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 3 Chapter 23:30-44

Book 3: Chapter 23

Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 3: Chapter 23: Verses 30-44 Amorous pastimes of Kardama and Devahuti Then in a mirror she beheld (the reflection of) her person rid of dirt, adorned with a garland, clad in unsullied robes, decorated with auspicious marks and made much of by the maids. Her body had not only been washed up to the neck but bathed from head to foot and decked with all kinds of ornaments, particularly with a gold ornament about her neck, bangles about her wrists and tinkling anklets of gold (about her ankles). She had a girdle of gold, set with numerous jewels, about her hips and was further adorned with a precious pearl necklace and auspicious materials (such as saffron-paste and so on). Her countenance shone with beautiful rows of teeth, charming eyebrows, eyes distinguished by lovely and soft corners and vying with lotus-buds, and dark tresses. The moment she thought of her beloved spouse, the foremost of sages, she found herself along with those damsels just where that lord of created beings was. She was amazed to find herself surrounded by a thousand maids in the presence of her husband and to witness his Yogic power. The sage perceived that Devahuti had washed herself clean and shone forth as though she was no longer her former self. She had regained her original beauty, was clad in excellent robes, her charming breasts duly wrapped round, and was waited upon by a thousand Vidyadhara girls. He conceived a fondness for her and helped her to ascend the aerial mansion, O destroyer of enemy (in the form of passion). though (seemingly) attached to his beloved consort and with Vidyadhara damsels ministering to his bodily comfort (and gazing on his person), the sage did not lose his glory (mastery over his self) and shone in that aerial mansion as charming as the moon with his consort (the star Rohini) in the midst of the other lunar mansions in the vault of heavens, causing rows of lilies to open. Waited upon by becy of charming damsels and extolled by hosts of Siddhas, he revelled in the aerial mansion like Kubera (the god of riches) for long long years over the valleys of Mount Meru (the prince of the leading mountains on the globe), the pleasure-ground of the furadians of the four quarters and the four intermediate points of the compass valleys which are rendered all the more delightful by coolm gentle and fragrant breezes that stimulate passion and echo the auspicious sound of the fall of the heavenly stream (the holy Ganga). Similarly, he fondly enjoyed himself with his wife in (the heavenly gardens known by the names of ) Vaisrambhaka, Surasana, Nandana, Puspabhadra and Caitrathya as well as over the manasarovara lake. Coursing through the various spheres, as the air, on that brilliant and great aerial mansion, that could fly at will, kardama surpassed even the gods coursing though the air (whose movements are restricted to their own particular sphere). What is difficult of achievement for those self-pssessed men who have take refuge in the feet of the Lord-feet that are the source of scared rivers (like the Ganga) and put an end to the sorrows (of mundane life)? Having shown to his wife the whole extent of the terrestrial globe, which is full of many wonders because of its arrangement (into so many Dwipas and Varsas etc.), Kardama (the great Yogi) returned to his own hermitage. In order to delight his spouse Devahuti (the daughter of Swayambhuva Manu), who longed for sexual pleasure, the sage divided his self into nine (assumed nine forms) and enjoyed himself (with her) for years together as if it was for an hour only.