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48
KALPA SÚTRA.
prince of mountains, the mighty Súrya, darting forth his thousand rays, the glory of the Aditya.
Next she saw a standard, with its golden staff firmly fixed, and its flag, consisting of a profusion of blue, red, yellow, and white cloth, raised and spread out to the wind, while the extremity was adorned with a bunch of peacock's feathers. It was brilliant as crystal, a pure conch, the flowers of jasmine, the drops of dew, or a silver jar. Its head was in the shape of a lion's, exceedingly splendid, while it pierced the sky with its extremity. It was lucky to behold, and had its soft flag moved backward and forward by a gentle wind, and, though vast in size, yet of a form attractive to the beholder.
She next saw a jar shining like burnished gold, full of the purest and best water, brilliant and ornamental, and placed upon a lotus made of pearls, delighting the eyes, and shedding a brilliant lustre, which diffused itself on all sides; a habitation of the mild Lakshmí herself, wholly free of defect, fortunate, and resplendent, a very type of prosperity, having the beautiful and sweet-smelling flowers of all seasons arranged in it like a necklace altogether, a perfect and brilliant flowerpot.
:
She next saw the Lotus Lake, irradiated by the first beams of the rising sun, which tinged its waters with an orange hue, producing innu