Soon as he saw the prince's mind
To rest that day was well inclined, He sought Kaikeyí's son to please With hospitable courtesies. Then Bharat to the saint replied: 'Our wants are more than satisfied. The gifts which honoured strangers greet, And water for our weary feet Hast thou bestowed with friendly care, And every choice of woodland fare.' Then Bharadvája spoke, a smile Playing upon his lips the while: 'I know, dear Prince, thy friendly mind Will any fare sufficient find, But gladly would I entertain And banquet all thine armed train: Such is my earnest wish: do thou This longing of my heart allow, Why host thou hither bent thy way, And made thy troops-behind thee stay? p. 198 Why unattended? couldst thou not With friends and army seek this spot?' Bhharat, with reverent hands raised high, To that great hermit made reply: 'My troops, for awe of thee, O Sage, I brought not to thy hermitage: Troops of a king or monarch's son A hermit's home should ever shun. Behind me comes a mighty train Wide spreading o'er the ample plain, Where every chief and captain leads Men, elephants, and mettled steeds I feared, O reverend Sage, lest these Might harm the holy ground and trees, Springs might be marred and cots o'er-thrown, So with the priests I came alone.' 'Bring all thy host,' the hermit cried, And Bharat, to his joy, complied. Then to the chapel went the sire, Where ever burnt the sacred fire, And first, in order due, with sips Of water purified his lips: To Visvakarmá, then he prayed, His hospitable feast to aid: 'Let Vis'vakarmá hear my call, The God who forms and fashions all: A mighty banquet I provide, Be all my wants this day supplied. Lord Indra at their head, the three Who guard the worlds I call to me: A mighty host this day I feed, Be now supplied my every need. Let all the streams that eastward go, And those whose waters westering flow, Both on the earth and in the sky, Flow hither and my wants supply. Be some with ardent liquor filled, And some with wine from flowers distilled, While some their fresh cool streams retain Sweet as the juice of sugar-cane, I call the Gods I call the band Of minstrels that around them stand: I call the Háhá and Huhú, I call the sweet Vis'vása I call the heavenly wives of these With all the bright Apsarases, Alambushe of beauty rare, The charmer of the tangled hair, Ghritáchí And Vis'váchi fair, Hemá and Bhímá sweet to view, And lovely Nágadantá too, And all the sweetest nymphs who stand By Indra or by Brahmá's hand-- I summon these with all their train And Tumburu to lead the strain. Here let Kuvera's garden rise Which far in Northern Kuru lies: For leaves let cloth and gems entwine, And let its fruit be nymphs divine. Let Soma give the noblest food To feed the mighty multitude, Of every kind, for tooth and lip, To chew, to lick, to suck, and sip. Let wreaths, where fairest flowers abound, Spring from the trees that bloom around. Each sort of wine to woo the taste, And meats of every kind be placed.' Thus spake the hermit sulf-restrained, With proper tone by rules ordained, On deepest meditation bent, In holy might predominent. Then as with hands in reverence raised Absorbed in thought he eastward gazed, The deities be thus addreased Came each in semblance manifest. Delicious gales that cooled the frame From Malaya and Dardar came, That kissed those scented hills and threw Auspicious fragrance where they blew. Then falling fast in sweetest showers Came from the sky immortal flowers, And all the airy region round With heavenly drums was made to sound. Then breathed a soft celestial breeze, Then danced the bright Apsarases, The minstrels and the Gods advanced, And warbling lutes the soul entranced. The earth and sky that music filled, And through each ear it softly thrilled, As from the heavenly quills it fell With time and tune attempered well. Soon as the minstrels ceased to play And airs celestial died away. The troops of Bharat saw amazed What Vis'vakarmá's art had raised. On every side, five leagues around, All smooth and level lay the ground, With fresh green grass that charmed the sight Like sapphires blent with lazulite. There the Wood-apple hung the head, The Mango and the Citron glowed The Bel and scented Jak were there, And Amlá with fruitage fair. There, brought from Northern Kuru, stood Rich in delights, the glorious wood, And many a stream was seen to glide With flowering trees along its side. There mansions rose with four wide halls, And elephants and chargers' stalls, And many a house of royal state, Triumphal are and bannered gate. With noble doorways, sought the sky, Like a pale cloud, a palace high, Which far and wide rare fragrance shed, With wreaths of white engarlanded.