In the renowned land of Malava, there once stood a city called Avanti, celebrated far and wide. Its king was a man of great eminence, his fame reaching as high as the very summit of the earth. Avanti itself was a place of abundance and joy, its people prosperous and content. The city was fortified with strong ramparts and imposing gateways, secured by sturdy locks and doors, and further protected by deep, graceful moats. Within these walls, the bustling life of commerce flourished. Merchants from many lands crowded the streets, offering a dazzling array of fine wares. The avenues were delightful, lined with shops and neatly arranged crossroads, making the city lively and well-ordered. Houses and lofty towers adorned the skyline, their beauty enhanced by royal swans—white and splendid, their variegated necks adding charm to the scene. Avanti was further graced with hundreds of thousands of grand mansions. The city brimmed with joy, its residents celebrating countless sacrificial festivals, the air resounding with the melodies of songs and the music of many instruments. Flags and banners of every hue fluttered above, while the streets were crowded with elephants, horses, chariots, and throngs of foot soldiers. Warriors of every kind mingled with people from distant regions, and the city was home to Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and the twice-born—all living in harmony. O best of sages, Avanti was a place of prosperity and wisdom, adorned with learned people. There was no trace of filth, ignorance, or poverty. Sickness and disability were unknown, and none were addicted to gambling. Instead, the men and women of Avanti were ever joyful and good-natured, delighting in play both day and night. The men were well-dressed, their earrings polished to a shine; they were handsome, virtuous, and adorned with divine ornaments, resembling the god of love himself, and marked by every auspicious feature. With lovely hair, pleasing cheeks, and pleasant faces framed by mustaches, these men were learned in all the scriptures and formidable in battle, breaking enemy armies with ease. They were generous, bestowing every kind of jewel, and enjoyed all manner of wealth. The women of Avanti, too, were of enchanting beauty. They walked with the grace of swans and elephants, their eyes blooming like lotuses, their waists slender, hips shapely, and breasts full and high. Their hair was beautiful, their faces charming, and their cheeks lovely. Their locks were steady and graceful, their necks expressive in movement, and their ears adorned with shining ornaments. Their lips were as red as bimba fruit, their faces brightened by betel, and they wore golden jewelry and every sort of ornament. Whether dark or fair, their lovely hips swayed, their girdles and anklets resounding as they moved. Divine garlands and garments adorned them, and they were anointed with heavenly fragrances. These women were skilled and fortunate, their forms pleasing and radiant with beauty and charm. Their faces were ever smiling, playful and intoxicated with delight. In assemblies and courtyards, they enchanted all with their songs, music, stories, and conversation. Among them were chief courtesans, skilled in dance and song, adept in glances and speech, possessing all the virtues of women. Others were seen as teachers of virtue—noble women from good families, devoted to their husbands, adorned with every excellence. Beyond the city’s splendid dwellings, Avanti was encircled by sacred forests and groves, delightful gardens, and divine temples, all adorned with myriad flowers. The trees included shala, tala, tamala, bakula, nagakesara, pippala, karnikara, sandalwood, aguru, and champaka, as well as puṇnāga, coconut, jackfruit, pine, orange, lakucha, lodhra, saptaparṇa, and auspicious anjana. Mango, bilva, kadamba, shimshapa, dhava, khadira, patala, ashoka, tagara, and both white and colored karavira trees flourished there. Other trees graced the land: yellow arjuna, bhallataka, siddha, amrataka, banyan, sacred fig, kashmarya, palasha, and deodar. There were mandara, parijata, tamarind, vibhitaka, prachina amalaki, plaksha, jambu, and shirisha trees. Kaleya, kanchanara, madhu-jambira, tinduka, date, agastya, bakula, shakotaka, and haritaka trees also grew in abundance. Kankola, mucukunda, hintala, bijapura, and clusters of ketaki groves, along with atimukta and kubjaka, added to the city’s beauty. Jasmine, kundabana, and clusters of banana trees flourished, along with matulunga, areca nuts, karuna, and sindhuvara fruits. Bahuvara, kovidara, badara, karañjaka, and countless other flowering trees, all delightful to behold, abounded. Creepers and shrubs wove canopies overhead, and gardens rivaling the celestial Nandana were rich with the fragrance of flowers, their branches bowed with the weight of fruit. The air was alive with the calls of many birds and the presence of countless animals. Chakoras, lotuses, bumblebees, and priyaputras dwelled there, as did kalavinka birds, peacocks, parrots, cuckoos, pigeons, khanjariṭa birds, hawks, and doves. Many other kinds of birds, delightful to the ear, made their home there. Rivers, lotus ponds, and many lakes sparkled amidst the greenery, along with other sacred bodies of water adorned with kumuda and utpala lotuses, white and colored blooms, and fragrant kahlaras. Aquatic flowers of every kind, divine and aromatic, radiated beauty in every season. Swans and karandavas glided gracefully, while chakravakas, sarasa cranes, balaka herons, turtles, fish, and crocodiles inhabited the waters. Waterfowl, kadamba birds, divers, water-cocks, and many other aquatic creatures filled the air with a variety of sounds. On every side, Avanti was adorned with birds of many colors and ever joyful, surrounded by flowers and sacred waters of every kind. Thus was Avanti: a city of beauty, prosperity, and virtue, blessed by nature and humanity alike, a true jewel of the earth.