CHAPTER CLXXIV
(BHAVA'S SPORT AND VANA'S DAUGHTER OBTAINS A BOON)
Vaishampāyana said:—Once on a time Lord Bhava was sporting on the bank of a charming river. In that picturesque forest where all the seasons flourish the Gandharvas, with hundreds of Apsaras, were sporting on all sides. The river bank was fragrant like sky with the scent of Pārijāta and Santānaka flowers (1–3).
Shankara heard the Apsaras sing in accompaniment with the music of flute, Vinā, Mridanga and Panava. Like bards and panegyrists the beautiful Apsaras pleased Umā and the beautiful-bodied Hara, the god of gods, and the giver of boons who was clad in a red raiment and adorned with garlands, singing various songs in their honor. At that time assuming the form of the goddess, the leading Apsarā, Chitralekhā pleased Bhava. The goddess laughed at it. And seeing her please Ishāna other Apsarās also laughed (4–7). With the permission of the goddess, the highly powerful and divine follower of Bhava, assuming various forms, began to play on all sides. Thereupon assuming the form of Mahādeva marked with signs those frolic-some attendants began to play. And the Apsarās too, assuming the form of the goddess, sported there. Seeing it the goddesss smiled. There arose on all sides sounds of laughter and Bhava attained to an excess of delight. By an accident the beautiful daughter of Vāna, by name Ushā, saw the three-eyed deity sport with Pārvati in the river. Beholding Mahādeva, effulgent like twelve suns, assume various forms and sport with the goddess, for pleasing her, Ushā thought in her mind:—"The lucky women thus sport in the company of their husbands." And she spoke out her resolution to her friends (8-14). Informed of Ushā's desire Pārvati said slowly with joy:—"O Ushā, as the Lord Shankara, the slayer of his enemies, is sporting with me so you will soon enjoy the company of your husband" (15–16). Thus spoken to by the goddess Ushā, with anxiety-stricken eyes, thought in her mind:—"When shall I sport with my husband?" Thereat the goddess Haimavati, smilingly said:—"O Ushā! Hear when you will be united with your husband. The person, whom you will see in a dream in the night of the twelfth day of the month of Vaishāka while sleeping on the terrace of your palace, will be your husband" (17–19). Thus addressed the Daitya maiden, encircled by her friends, went away, playing happily, from that place. Then clapping their hands her friends began to ridicule Ushā whose eyes were expanded with joy (20–21). Daughters of Yakshas, Nāgas, Daityas and many Kinnaris and Apsaras were Ushā's friends. They jokingly said:—"O fair lady, in no time you will have your husband as described by the goddess. You will have a husband, beautiful and of good birth as you have wished. The words of the goddess never prove untrue" (22–24). Receiving in good grace all those words of her friends Ushā began to spend her days in anticipation of the realization of the desire conferred by the goddess. The highly wonderful ladies, who had come there, sported for a few days with Umā happily and then returned to their respective habitations. The goddess too disappeared. Amongst the females, some on horse back, some in conveyances, and some in elephants, entered into the city. And some rose up into the sky (25–28).
Source: https://archive.org/details/AProseEnglishTranslationOfHarivamsh
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