Brahma, the great Creator, spoke with authority, declaring that service must be rendered to the twice-born, to kshatriya kin, and to one’s own relatives. He himself set this example, ensuring that all proper respect and duties were observed. In organizing the sacred proceedings, Brahma appointed Indra as the doorkeeper, Varuna as the giver of waters, Kubera as the bestower of wealth, and Vayu as the bringer of fragrance. Surya, the radiant sun, was established as the illuminator, while Madhava was given authority, and Soma, the divine nectar, was stationed on the left side of the path. The noble and honored Savitri, wife of Brahma, was summoned by the officiating priest, who called to her, “Come, O goddess, with haste.” At the time of initiation, all the sacred fires were kindled, but Savitri, delayed by her household duties and her womanly nature, did not arrive promptly. The priest, observing the preparations, lamented, “Nothing has been decorated at the door; no intricate designs adorn the walls, nor are there auspicious marks in the courtyard. The vessels remain unwashed, and even Lakshmi, the wife of Narayana, has not yet arrived.” He listed the divine wives present: Swaha, wife of Agni; Dhumrorna, wife of Yama; Varuni, wife of Varuna; Gauri, beloved of Vayu; and Suprabha. Riddhi, wife of Kubera, and Gauri, beloved of Shiva, were there, as well as Medha, Shraddha, Vibhuti, Anasuya, Dhriti, and Kshama. Yet Ganga and Sarasvati had not come, nor had the maidens, Indrani, Chandra’s wife, or Rohini, beloved of the Moon. Arundhati, wife of Vasishtha, and the wives of the seven sages were present, along with Anasuya, wife of Atri, and other women. But many brides, daughters, friends, and sisters had not yet arrived, and the priest confessed he had been waiting a long time. Savitri herself, absorbed in her household tasks, declared, “I will not go alone until my friends arrive. Go and tell Brahma, and wait a moment. I will come quickly, together with all of them, surrounded by all the gods in splendor.” The priest assured her, “You will attain the highest, and so will I, without doubt,” and then left Brahma to return to her. Still, Savitri, distressed and preoccupied, told the priest, “Until my friends arrive, I cannot come. Thus I have been told, O god, and time is passing; do as you see fit today, O Grandfather.” Hearing this, Brahma grew impatient and, with some anger, instructed Indra, “Bring another wife here quickly for me. Just as a sacrifice cannot proceed without the proper time, you must decide and bring a suitable woman. Until the completion of the sacrifice, do not let your mind dwell on Savitri; after the rite is finished, I will release her again.” Obeying Brahma, Indra traversed the whole earth in search of a worthy maiden, but all the women he saw were already given to others. At last, he found an Abhira maiden of remarkable beauty, graced with a fine nose and lovely eyes. She was neither goddess, nor gandharvi, nor asuri, nor serpent-woman—there was no maiden like her in all the worlds. Indra beheld her, radiant and graceful, as though she were another goddess of fortune herself. Her beauty was unmatched, the sum of all exceptional charm in creation gathered in her form. She was the best among slender-waisted women, and Indra thought, “If only she were a maiden!” He felt that no other god on earth, apart from himself, could have earned such merit, and that this jewel among women was fit for the blessed ancestor, Brahma. Indra wondered, “If she is passionate, then my efforts will bear fruit.” He saw her complexion was like a blue cloud, a golden lotus, and coral, her limbs radiant, her hair, cheeks, and lips like blossoming flowers. Desire burned in her heart, her eyes glowed with longing, and Indra marveled, “How did the Creator fashion her, having seen no equal?” He mused that if she were crafted by Brahma’s own skill, then artistry itself had reached its pinnacle. Her breasts and lips stirred the heart, her locks, though slightly crooked, offered pleasure, and even her flaws appeared as virtues upon her great beauty. Her eyes, adorned and elongated, reached toward her ears, and Indra reflected that the eyes ornamented the ears, and the ears, the eyes—no need for further decoration. He wondered at the transformations of beauty, how every feature, even what might seem a flaw, became an adornment in her. Indra, in his old age, marveled that after so many years he had finally seen such a treasure, the very boundary of Kauśalya’s beauty, made manifest by the Creator. Her playful gestures and affectionate glances stirred the minds of men, and Indra realized that even Brahma’s brilliance was dimmed by her beauty. Goosebumps rose over his body as he gazed upon her, radiant as new gold, her eyes elongated like lotus petals. Among all the gods, yakṣas, gandharvas, serpents, and demons, Indra had seen many women, but none with such perfection of beauty as this maiden before him.