DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.638#0117
58 INDIAN MYTH AND LEGEND
flower garlands make that building ever pleasant and
supremely blest. Hundreds of thousands of saintly
beings worship the illustrious King of the Pitris.
"The heaven of Indra was constructed by the great
artisan-god himself. Like a chariot it can be moved
anywhere at will. The Assembly House has many rooms
and seats, and is adorned by celestial trees. Indra sits
there with his beautiful queen, wearing his crown, with
gleaming bracelets on his upper arms; he is decked with
flowers, and attired in white garments. He is waited
upon by brilliant Maruts, and all the gods and the rishis
and saints, whose sins have been washed off* their p
souls, which are resplendent as fire. There is no sorro..
or fear, or suffering in Indra's abode, which is inhabited
by the spirits of wind and thunder, fire and water, plants
and clouds, and planets and stars, and the spirits also of
Prosperity, Religion, Joy, Faith, and Intelligence. Fairies
and elves (Apsaras and Gandharvas) dance and sing there
to sweet music; feats of skill are performed by celestial
battle heroes, auspicious rites are also practised. Divine
messengers come and go in celestial chariots, looking
bright as Soma himself.
" The heaven of Varuna was constructed by Vishwa-
karman (Twashtri) within the sea. Its walls and arches
are of pure white, and they are surrounded b - celestial
trees, made of sparkling jewels, which always blossom
and always bear fruit. In the many-coloured bowers
beautiful and variegated birds sing delightful melodies.
In the Assembly House, which is also of pure white,
there are many rooms and many seats. Varuna, richly
decked with jewels and golden ornaments and flowers, is
throned there with his queen. Adityas1 wait upon the
1 Sons of the goddess Aditi. They are attendants of Varuna, their chief, a* the
Maruts are attendants of Indra.
flower garlands make that building ever pleasant and
supremely blest. Hundreds of thousands of saintly
beings worship the illustrious King of the Pitris.
"The heaven of Indra was constructed by the great
artisan-god himself. Like a chariot it can be moved
anywhere at will. The Assembly House has many rooms
and seats, and is adorned by celestial trees. Indra sits
there with his beautiful queen, wearing his crown, with
gleaming bracelets on his upper arms; he is decked with
flowers, and attired in white garments. He is waited
upon by brilliant Maruts, and all the gods and the rishis
and saints, whose sins have been washed off* their p
souls, which are resplendent as fire. There is no sorro..
or fear, or suffering in Indra's abode, which is inhabited
by the spirits of wind and thunder, fire and water, plants
and clouds, and planets and stars, and the spirits also of
Prosperity, Religion, Joy, Faith, and Intelligence. Fairies
and elves (Apsaras and Gandharvas) dance and sing there
to sweet music; feats of skill are performed by celestial
battle heroes, auspicious rites are also practised. Divine
messengers come and go in celestial chariots, looking
bright as Soma himself.
" The heaven of Varuna was constructed by Vishwa-
karman (Twashtri) within the sea. Its walls and arches
are of pure white, and they are surrounded b - celestial
trees, made of sparkling jewels, which always blossom
and always bear fruit. In the many-coloured bowers
beautiful and variegated birds sing delightful melodies.
In the Assembly House, which is also of pure white,
there are many rooms and many seats. Varuna, richly
decked with jewels and golden ornaments and flowers, is
throned there with his queen. Adityas1 wait upon the
1 Sons of the goddess Aditi. They are attendants of Varuna, their chief, a* the
Maruts are attendants of Indra.