29. The _kadamba_ tree seemed by its blooming blossoms, to laugh to derision, the five woody arbors on the skirts which do not bear their flowers. (These are the banian, bata and ficus religiosus, the mango, the fig tree and frondos. (_i.e._ বটাশ্বত্থ, অম্র, উডুম্বর, and পলাস called বনস্পতি or lords of woods)). 30. With its uplifted head reaching to the sky, and the flight of birds flying over it like the hairs on its head, it seemed to defy the _párijata_ tree of Indra’s heaven. 31. The body of bees thronging all about its person, gave it the appearance of the thousand eyed Indra, with whom it vied in the greater number of its eyes. 32. It had a tuft of flowers on some part of its head, appearing as the hood of a snake decorated with gems, and seeming as the infernal serpent had mounted its top with his crowned head, in order to survey the wonders of heaven. 33. Besmeared with the pollen of its flowers, it appeared as the god Siva anointed with his powdered ashes; while its shady bowers overhung with luscious fruits, refreshed the passing travellers with rest and repast. 34. The _kadamba_ arbour appeared as the garden of paradise, having alcoves under its thickening boughs, and grottos formed by the flowery creepers below it; while the birds of heaven hovered about it as its perpetual inhabitants. CHAPTER L. DÁSÚRA’S SURVEY OF THE HEAVENS. Argument. Dásúra surveys all the sky from his seat on the Kadamba tree. Vasishtha continued:—Dásúra remained in this flowery arbour, as if he dwelt on a hill of flowers; and he felt in his mind the delight, which the flowery spring and its fruitage could infuse in the heart. 2. He mounted and sat over the high and airy top of the tree, and looked on all sides like the god Vishnu surveying the worlds. 3. There sitting on a branch which reached to the sky, he was employed in his devotion, devoid of fear and desire. 4. From this his leafy and easy couch of repose, he cast his curious eyes to view the wonders of nature on all sides. 5. He beheld a river at a distance glittering as a necklace of gold, and the summits of distant hills rising as nipples on the breast of the earth. The fair face of the sky appeared as the face of a fairy, covered under the blue veil of a cloud. 6. The verdant leaves of trees were as the green garb of this fairy, and the clusters of flowers were as garlands on her head; the distant lakes appearing as water-pots, were decorated by their aquatic plants and flowers. 7. The fragrance of the blooming lotuses, seemed as the sweet breathing of the fairy; and the gurgling of the waterfalls, sounded as the trinkets fastened to her feet. 8. The trees touching the skies; were as the hairs on her body, the thick forests resembled her thighs, and the orbs of the sun and moon, were as earrings pendant on her ears.