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58
S. T. Nimkar
Dr. Upadhye) and was delighted by auspicious work like sweeping and smearing (the floor with a layer of cow-dung.
etc.) 593. Once, at daybreak (lit. end of night) with a desire to collect
flowers of many different trees, (I went to a grove) in which trees were in full bloom, and which had filled the surroundings with the noise of the chirping of beautiful
birds, 594. In which the thickets of trees were resounding with the
humming of swarms of bees intoxicated with honey and in which the rays of the sun were completely warded off by
the foliage of the wish-giving trees and creepers, 595. In which the ground was touched (lit. kissed) by the low
hanging branches of trees bent by the burden of luscious. fruits and the margins of which were sprinkled with the
spray from the springs flowing down the peaks of Himālaya, 596. In which broad jewelled stone-slabs were adorned with the
red-lac dye from the feet of heavenly nymphs and where herds of deer listened attentively to the tunes of songs of
the Gandharvas. 597. Thus, my friend, such a (beautiful) grove on the peaks I
entered with a desire for flowers, not knowing the workings
of fate, wretched (or ill-fated) that I was ! 598. And there, with my mind concentrated on collecting
fragrant flowers, and with my hand reaching out to a
creeper on (or tender branch of) a small tree, I saw599-600 descending from the sky, a divine Vimāna, beautiful to
look at, which had a banner proudly fluttering (in the wind), which had a halo of great wealth (about it), which had made the surrounding regions resound with the jingling, of bells quivering in the wind, and which had given rise to a number of rainbows (or spectra) on account of the lustre
of different kinds of excellent dazzling jewels. 601-603 Then, looking at my face, there came out from it) a
divine prince, whose body was adorned by the graceful
effects of fresh youth, who was wearing garlands of flowers. - dangling on his broad chest, who had perfumed his surro
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