On the slopes of the mountains, the celestial nymphs Ghṛtācī, Viśvācī, Miśrakeśī, Alambusā, Nāgadantā, Hemā, and Himā were born, radiant and graceful. The sage Bharadvāja, filled with ascetic power and unwavering concentration, summoned not only these divine beings, but also all the women who serve Śakra and attend to Brahmā, together with Tumburu and their retinues. He called forth the divine forest from the Kuru land, complete with garments, ornaments, leaves, and the eternal fruits of Kubera. He invoked the revered Soma to provide excellent food—delicacies to eat, enjoy, suck, and lick in abundance. He wished for garlands fallen from trees, divine drinks, and various meats to appear. Thus, endowed with brilliance and mastery of sacred recitation, Bharadvāja spoke his desires aloud through his ascetic power. Facing east, hands joined in reverence, he meditated, and, in response, all those deities arrived, each separately. A gentle, auspicious breeze swept away sweat, touching the Malaya and Dardura mountains, pleasing the soul and comforting all. Celestial clouds gathered, showering flowers from the heavens, and the sound of divine drums resounded in every direction. The finest winds blew, and hosts of apsaras danced, while gods and gandharvas sang and played their vīṇās, releasing melodious notes. The music filled the sky, earth, and the ears of all living beings, resonating gently and perfectly. When the divine sound, delightful to all listeners, faded, Bharata beheld the army’s arrangement, crafted by Viśvakarma. The ground was leveled everywhere for five yojanas, covered with lush green grasses that shone like blue beryl. Fruit-laden trees appeared: bilva, kapittha, jackfruit, seed-filled fruits, amalaki, and mango, all adorned with abundance. From the northern Kurus, a divine forest of delights arrived, and a celestial river, surrounded by many birds, flowed gently. Four splendid halls appeared, along with stables for elephants and horses. Palaces and mansions crowded together, each with beautiful gateways. Among the royal residences stood a gateway, white as a cloud, adorned with divine garlands and suffused with heavenly fragrance. A four-sided hall appeared, filled with beds, seats, vehicles, celestial flavors, divine food and garments, all kinds of dishes, and spotless vessels. All the seats were arranged, splendid and covered with excellent bedding. Bharata, mighty-armed son of Kaikeyi, entered the gem-filled mansion, permitted by the great sage. Ministers and priests followed him, rejoicing at the wondrous arrangement. Bharata, together with his ministers, approached the divine royal seat, fan, and umbrella, like a king. He honored the seat, bowing to Rāma, took up the yak-tail fan, and sat in the minister’s seat. The ministers and priests took their seats in order, while the commander and overseer sat behind. In a moment, rivers with banks of rice-milk mud appeared before Bharata, by Bharadvāja’s command. On both banks, delightful divine dwellings arose, coated with pale clay, born from Brahmā’s favor. Within that same moment, twenty thousand women adorned with divine ornaments, sent by Brahmā, arrived. Women adorned with gold, jewels, pearls, and coral, numbering twenty-one thousand, sent by Kubera, shone resplendently. With these women, a man seized appeared, as if possessed by madness, and twenty-one thousand apsarases from Nandana were present. Nārada, Tumburu, Gopa, and the foremost radiant Gandharva kings sang before Bharata. Alambusā, Miśrakeśī, Puṇḍarīkā, and Vāmanā danced at Bharadvāja’s command. The garlands seen among the gods and in the Citraratha forest appeared at Prayāga by Bharadvāja’s power. Bilva, Mārdaṅgika, Śamyāgrāha, and Vibhītaka trees, as well as Aśvattha dancers, performed under Bharadvāja’s command. Then the Sarala, Tāla, Tilaka, and Naktamāla trees gathered, delighted, becoming hunchbacked and dwarfish. Śiṃśupā, Āmalakī, Jambu, and other forest trees, together with Mālatī, Mallikā, Jāti, and other creepers, were present. Taking the form of beautiful women in Bharadvāja’s hermitage, the gods, drinkers of nectar, invited: “Drink, you who desire, and eat the purest meats as you wish.” On the lovely riverbanks, seven or eight women at a time bathed and anointed each man. Women with charming eyes massaged and wiped each other, and noble ladies gave drinks to one another. They fed horses, elephants, donkeys, camels, and the offspring of Surabhi, giving the vehicles their proper food. Sugarcane and honeyed grains were given to the animals, urging on the mighty warriors of the Ikṣvāku line. There was no one binding horses, nor restraining elephants; the intoxicated, joyful, and excited ones did not bow—such a wondrous, festive scene arose there, a marvel born of the sage’s power and divine favor.