Thereupon sinking into the lake of Yamunā the liberal prince saw the
region of Nāgas in Rasātala like unto this world (48). He saw there the
thousand-headed Deity Ananta having a golden ball for his insignia. In
his hand was a plough-share and by his belly was a mace (49). He was of
yellow hue and was seated on a yellow seat. He was clad in a dark-blue
raiment and on his ear was shining a Kundala resembling the bud of a
lotus. And his lotus-like eye-lids were closed (50). That serpent was
embellished with two Swastikas²⁵⁹ and he was seated at ease on a
beautiful white seat made by his own body (51). His breast was adorned
with a garland of golden lotuses and his head was decked with a golden
tiara bent a little towards left (52). The body, resembling a white
cloud of that large-armed king of serpents the slayer of his enemies,
was besmeared with crimson-colour ed sandal and adorned with lotus
garlands. The four quarters were filled with the lustre (of his person)
(53). Vasuki and other leading serpents were worshipping their only
king, the powerful Sesha, master of one all spreading ocean (54). The
two Nāgas, Kamvala and Ashwatara, by name, were fanning with chowries
that king of Nāgas, seated on a throne of righteousness (55). The
Pannaga king Vāsuki, encircled by his serpent ministers, headed by
Karkotaka, was shining near him (56). With celestial and golden jars
covered with lotuses other leading Nagas were sprinkling that king
already bathed in one sheet of water (57). He saw there the dark blue
hued Vishnu²⁶⁰ clad in a yellow raiment and bearing the mystic mark of
Srivatsa, seated at ease on the lap of that king of serpents (58).
Another powerful celestial form, resembling Sankarshana, gifted with the
beauty of the moon, was seated there without any seat (59). That giver
of presents was about to address a few words to Krishna there but his
power of speech was suppressed by his (Krishna’s) prowess (60).
Beholding such eternal and divine prosperity in the serpents that giver
of liberal presents was filled with surprise. And coming to the bank
from the water he saw Rama and Krishna of wonderful forms seated on the
car and looking towards each other (61-62). Seeing this Akrura, again
out of curiosity, plunged into the lake and saw that the king of gods,
Ananta, having a white face and clad in a blue raiment, was being
worshipped as before; and that the powerful Krishna too was seated on
the lap of that thousand-headed king of serpents and being worshipped as
before (63–64). Then again coming out all on a sudden and reciting in
his mind that _mantra_ he went to the car by the same way by which he
had come (65). Thereupon Krishna delightedly said to Akrura who was
before him:—"What did you see of the Nāga region situate in this
Bhagavat lake? I think you have seen something wonderful for you waited
for a long time in the lake and your mind too has been agitated
(66-67)."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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