Vasishtha said:—Thus contemplating on the course of nature, these philomaths moved with their spiritual bodies, from the bank of Samangá (towards the Mandara mountain). 2. They ascended to the sky, and passed through the pores of the clouds to the region of the Siddhas; whence they descended to the lower world, and arrived at the valley of Mandara. 3. There Sukra saw on a cliff of that mountain, the dried body of his former birth, lying covered under the dark and dewy leaves of trees. 4. He said, here is that shriveled body, O father! which thou hadst nourished with many a dainty food before. 5. There is that body of mine, which was so fondly anointed with camphor, agallochum and sandal paste, by my wet-nurse before. 6. This is that body of mine, which was used to repose on the cooling beds, made with heaps of mandara flowers, in the airy spots of Meru. 7. This is that body of mine, which was so fondly caressed by heavenly dames of yore, and which is now lying, to be bitten by creeping insects and worms, on the bare ground below. 8. This is that body of mine, which was wont of yore to ramble in the parterres of sandalwood; now lying a dried skeleton on the naked spot. 9. This is that body of mine, now lying impassive of the feelings of delight in the company of heavenly nymphs, and withering away unconscious of the actions and passions of its mind. 10. Ah my pitiable body! how dost thou rest here in peace, forgetful of thy former delights in the different stages of life; and insensible of the thoughts of thy past enjoyments and amusements of yore. 11. O my body! that hast become a dead corpse and dried by sun-beams; thou art now become so hideous in thy frame of the skeleton, as to frighten me at this change of thy form. 12. I take fright to look upon this body, in which I had taken so much pleasure before, and which is now reduced to a skeleton. 13. I see the ants now creeping over that breast of mine, which was formerly adorned with necklaces studded with starry gems. 14. Look at the remains of my body, whose appearance of molten gold, attracted the hearts of beauteous dames, bearing now a load of dry bones only. 15. Behold the stags of the forest flying with fear, at the sight of the wide open jaws, and withered skin of my carcass; which with its horrid mouth, frightens the timid fawns in the woods. 16. I see the cavity of the belly of the withered corpse, is filled with sun shine, as the mind of man is enlightened by knowledge. 17. This dried body of mine, lying flat on the mountain stone, resembles the mind of the wise, abased at the sense of its own unworthiness. 18. It seems to be emaciating itself like an ascetic, in his supine hypnotism on the mountain, dead to the perceptions of colour and sound, and of touch and taste, and freed from all its desires and passions.