Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/242

208 less plain the king came upon another forest full of the retreats of ascetics, beautiful to look at, delighting the heart, and of cool, agreeable breezes. And it was full of trees covered with blossoms, the soil overgrown with the softest and greenest grass, extending for many miles around, and echoing with the sweet notes of winged warblers. And it resounded also with the notes of the male Kokila and of the shrill cicala. And it abounded with magnificent trees with outstretched branches forming a shady canopy overhead. And the bees hovered over flowery creepers all around. And there were beautiful bowers in every place. And there was no tree without flowers, none without fruits, or none that had prickles on it, or none that had no bees swarming around it. And the whole forest resounded with the melody of winged choristers. And it was decked with various flowers. And there were refreshing shades of blossoming trees.

"Such was the delicious and excellent forest that the great bowman entered. And trees with branches beautified with clusters of flowers began to gently wave at the soft breeze and rain their flowers over the monarch's head. And the trees clad in their flowery attire of all colors, with sweet-throated warblers perching on them, stood there in rows with heads touching the very heavens. And around their branches hanging down with the weight of flowers the bees tempted by the honey hummed in sweet chorus. And the king endued with great energy beholding innumerable spots covered with bowers of creepers decked with thick clusters of flowers, from excess of gladness became very much charmed. And the forest was exceedingly beautiful in consequence of those trees ranged around with flowery branches twining with each other and looking like so many rain-bow for gaudiness and variety of colors. And it was the resort of bands of ascetics crowned with success, of the Charanas, of tribes of Gandharvas and Apsaras, of monkeys and Kinnaras drunk with joy. Delicious, cool, and fragrant breezes conveying the effluvia of fresh flowers blew in all directions as if they had come there to sport with the trees. And the king saw that charming forest gifted with such beauties. And it was situate in a delta of