All around, the air was filled with the thunderous music of river currents, their great sound so complete that nothing else could be heard in that cool and delightful place. There, the king beheld the mountain itself—a wondrous vision, its slopes wrapped in the blue-green of celestial deodar forests, freshly washed and draped in clouds that hung like a soft upper garment upon its vast form. In some places, a white cloud rested atop the mountain like a regal turban, while elsewhere, the radiant sun and gentle moon crowned its heights. Its body was painted in patches: here, thick with snow like sacred ointment; there, streaked with rich veins of minerals. On certain slopes, the surface glistened as if anointed with sandalwood by a five-fingered hand, offering coolness even in the warmth of the day. The steep, rocky paths bore the delicate, red-lacquered footprints of Apsarases, betraying their celestial passage. Parts of the mountain shimmered beneath the sun’s rays, while other regions lay shrouded in deep shadow. In some places, wild mountain streams, their mouths wide and fierce, seemed to drink great draughts of water from the land. Elsewhere, bands of Vidyādharas played joyfully, and the chief Kinnaras sang melodious hymns, their music echoing through the heights. The slopes were further adorned by divine flowers fallen from the hands of Gandharvas and Apsarases, especially those from the celestial Santānaka trees. In some glades, the beds of Gandharvas—where they had just risen or where their flowers had been crushed—lay scattered, adding to the mountain’s charm. Where the wind was stilled, the ground was carpeted in dark green grass; elsewhere, the land was splendid with a profusion of flowers. This mountain was a refuge for ascetics, a place exceedingly difficult for lovers to reach. Wild animals roamed its fastness, and mighty trees were sometimes broken by the passage of elephants. The terrifying roar of lions echoed through the forest, striking fear into other creatures, while herds of elephants, ever restless and powerful, wandered untiringly. The mountain’s slopes were graced by the presence of ascetics and herds of elephants alike, and the precious jewels that emerged from its depths adorned all three worlds. It was ever a sanctuary for the Nāgas, constantly attended by Nāga peoples, who regarded the mountain—rich in jewels and grandeur—as akin to themselves. Here, ascetics attained success with little austerity, for the mere sight of this sacred place was said to destroy all sins. In some regions, the land was always well-watered by breezes carrying spray from towering waterfalls, cascades, and streams. In other parts, the peaks gathered water and rose so high and harsh, scorched by unrelenting sun and heat, that they defied even the imagination. The mountain was further adorned with areas where the branches of great deodar and other mighty trees stood unbroken, and with bamboo groves rising like pillars. Its highest peaks gleamed like snowy umbrellas, and hundreds of waterfalls and streams cascaded down, their waters discoverable by sound alone, while deep caves lay blocked by snow. Upon beholding this wondrous land, with its reddish slopes, the mighty lord of Madra wandered joyfully. After some time, he discovered a certain place, guided by divine design, and reached a most delightful region of that king of mountains—a place inaccessible to ordinary mortals. From this sacred land flowed the Iravati, the foremost of rivers, and the land itself, dark as a raincloud, was thickly clothed in countless varieties of trees. There stood shala, tala, tamala, and karnikara trees, shaded further by nyagrodha, asvattha, sirisa, and simshapa. Abundant too were shleshmātaka, amalaki, haritaki, vibhitaka, bhurja, samuñjaka, bana, and saptacchada trees; mighty nimba and nimba trees, nirgundi, haridru, the towering devadaru, and kaleyaka. There were groves of padma, candana, bilva, kapittha, red sandalwood, matamra, rishtaka, akshota, abdaka, and arjuna trees. Trees of hastikarṇa, sumanasa, and kovidara blossomed splendidly, alongside prachinamalaka, dhanaka, and samarataka. Kharjura, coconut, priyala, amrataka, inguda, tantumala, dhava, bhavya, and kashmiri-leaved trees flourished. Nutmeg, betel nut, katphala, avaliphala, mandara, kovidara, kimshuka, and kusumamshuka added their fragrance and color. Yavas, shamiparna, vetasa, ambuvetasa, red atiranga, naranga, hingu, and priyangu contributed to the rich diversity. Red asoka and asoka trees, akalla, avicharaka, mucukunda, kunda, and atarusha-parushaka grew in profusion. The land was further graced by kirata, kinkirata, ketaka, white ketaka, shobhanjana, anjana, and sukalinga-nikotaka trees. Golden, beautifully wooded asana trees and mango trees, shaped like the arrows of Kama and delightful to behold, stood among the groves. Yellow yuthika, white yuthika, jasmine, champaka-jati, tumba, and atumba trees filled the air with fragrance. Mocha, locha, lakucha, tila flowers, kusesha, supushpavarana, chavyaka, and kamivallabha trees added to the beauty. Bakula, paribhadra, haridra, dhara-kadamba, kutaja, kadamba, and mountain kutaja, all budding with flowers, flourished there. Aditya-mustaka, kumbha, saffron, kamavallabha, katphala, badara, nipa, all shone like bright lamps. Red palivana, white pomegranate, champaka, bandhu, subandhu, and various other groves filled the land. Flowers such as patala, jasmine, karavira, kurabaka, himavara, jambu, and royal jambu trees bloomed everywhere. There were groves with seed pods, camphor, fragrant agarwood, fruits and their reflections, and flourishing offspring and vines. Finally, the region was adorned with guggul trees, white hintala palms, sugarcanes, oleanders devoid of grass, ashokas, and cakramardas, completing a vision of natural abundance and divine beauty.