9. The fields of corn seemed as pots of her sandal paste, and the rising hills were as her breasts, covered by the cloudy mantle on their tops. 10. The seas with their lucent waters were as her mirrors, to reflect the rays of her jewels of the starry frame. (The stars are explained in the gloss as drops of sweat on her person). 11. The season fruits and flowers were as embroideries on her bodice, and the rays of the sun and moon were as powders over her body, or as the pasted sandal on her person. 12. The clouds covering the landscape were as her garment, and the trees and plants on the borders, were as the fringes or the skirts of her raiment. In this manner he beheld all the ten sides of heaven as full with the form of a fairy queen. CHAPTER LI. DÁSÚRA’S BEGETTING A SON. Argument:—Mental sacrifices of Dásúra, and his production and Instruction of a son begotten by the sylvan goddess. Vasishtha continued:—Thence forward Dásúra remained as an ascetic in his hermitage, in that forest, and was known as the Kadamba Dásúra, and a giant of austere devotion. 2. There sitting on the leaves of the creepers growing on the branch of that tree, he looked up to heaven, and then placing himself in the posture of _padmásana_, he called back his mind to himself. 3. Unacquainted with spiritual adoration, and unpracticed to the ceremonial ritual, he commenced to perform his mental sacrifice, with a desire of gaining its reward. 4. Sitting on the leaves of the creepers in his aerial seat, he employed his inward spirit and mind, in discharging his sacrificial rites, of the sacred fire and horse sacrifice. 5. He continued there for the space of full ten years, in his acts of satisfying the gods with his mental sacrifices of the bull, horse and human immolations, and paying their honorariums in his mind. 6. In process of time, his mind was purified and expanded, and he gained the knowledge of the beatification of his soul. (It is believed that ceremonial acts, lead to the knowledge productive of spiritual bliss). 7. His ignorance being dispelled, his heart became purified of the dirt of worldly desires; and he came to behold a sylvan goddess, standing beside his leafy and mossy seat. 8. She was a body of light and dressed in a robe of flowers; her form and face were beautiful to behold, and her large bright eyes turned wistfully towards him. 9. Her body breathed the fragrance of the blue lotus, and her figure charmed his inmost soul. He then spoke to the goddess, standing before him with her down cast looks. 10. What art thou, O tender dame! That lookest like a creeper fraught with flowers, and defiest the god Cupid with thy beauteous form and eyes, resembling the petals of the lotus. 11. Why standest thou as Flora, the befriending goddess of flowering creepers? Thus accosted, the dame with deer-like eyes and protuberant bosom replied to him.