With focused mind and ascetic power, the great sage Bharadvāja invoked a wondrous vision. He summoned the celestial women who serve Śakra and Brahmā, calling them together with Tumburu and their attendants. He wished for the divine forest of the northern Kurus to appear there, complete with heavenly garments, ornaments, and leaves, as well as the eternal fruits of Kubera. He invoked Soma, the revered deity, to provide an abundance of excellent foods—dishes to eat, enjoy, suck, and lick—so that all might be satisfied. He wished for garlands of every kind, those fallen from trees, divine liquors, and various meats to be present. Immersed in deep concentration and radiant with spiritual brilliance, the sage spoke these words, empowered by his ascetic discipline. Facing east, hands joined in reverence, Bharadvāja meditated, and in response, the summoned deities began to arrive, each in their own splendor. A gentle wind, soothing and auspicious, swept over the Malaya and Dardura mountains, bringing comfort to all. Celestial clouds gathered overhead, showering flowers upon the earth as the sound of divine drums echoed in every direction. The finest breezes blew while hosts of apsarases danced, and the gods and gandharvas sang melodiously, playing their vīṇās and filling the air with enchanting music. This heavenly sound permeated sky and earth, reaching the ears of every living being, resonant, gentle, and perfectly rhythmic. When this delightful music faded, Bharata beheld a marvel: the army’s arrangements had been wrought by Viśvakarma himself. The ground for five yojanas around had become level and was covered in lush green grass, sparkling like blue beryl. Suddenly, trees heavy with bilva, kapittha, jackfruit, amalaki, and mango fruits appeared, their branches laden. From the land of the northern Kurus, a celestial forest of delight manifested, and a divine river, alive with birdsong, began to flow nearby. Four splendid halls emerged, along with stables for elephants and horses, palaces and mansions clustered together, each adorned with beautiful gateways. Among the royal residences stood a gateway as white as a cloud, decorated with divine garlands and suffused with heavenly fragrance. A four-sided hall appeared, filled with beds, seats, and vehicles, fully equipped with all celestial flavors, divine foods and garments, a variety of dishes, and spotless vessels. In this splendid place, all seats were arranged and covered with excellent bedding. With the sage’s permission, Bharata, strong-armed son of Kaikeyi, entered the mansion glittering with gems. His ministers and priests followed, their hearts rejoicing at the sight. Within, Bharata approached the royal seat, fan, and umbrella, fit for a king. He honored the seat with a bow to Rāma, then took up the yak-tail fan and sat in the minister’s place. The ministers and priests arranged themselves in order, followed by the commander and overseer who took their seats behind. In a moment, by Bharadvāja’s command, rivers with banks of rice-milk mud appeared before Bharata. Along their banks arose delightful, divine dwellings, coated in pale clay, born from Brahmā’s favor. At that very instant, twenty thousand women adorned with celestial ornaments arrived, sent by Brahmā. With them came twenty-one thousand women, radiant in gold, jewels, pearls, and coral, sent by Kubera. Amidst these women, a man appeared, seized as if by madness, and there were also twenty-one thousand apsarases from Nandana. In front of Bharata, Nārada, Tumburu, Gopa, and the foremost Gandharva kings sang, their radiance shining. Alambusā, Miśrakeśī, Puṇḍarīkā, and Vāmanā danced gracefully at Bharadvāja’s command. Garlands known among the gods and in the Citraratha forest appeared there at Prayāga, summoned by the sage’s power. The trees—Bilva, Mārdaṅgika, Śamyāgrāha, Vibhītaka—and the Aśvattha dancers performed at the sage’s command. Sarala, Tāla, Tilaka, and Naktamāla trees gathered joyfully, assuming hunchbacked and dwarfish forms. Śiṃśupā, Āmalakī, Jambu, and other forest trees, along with Mālatī, Mallikā, Jāti, and other fragrant creepers, were present as well. The gods, drinkers of nectar, assumed the forms of beautiful women in Bharadvāja’s hermitage and invited all to eat and drink: “Drink, you who desire, and eat the purest meats as you wish.” On the lovely riverbanks, groups of seven or eight women at a time bathed and anointed each man. The women, their eyes charming, massaged and wiped one another, and the noble ladies served drinks amongst themselves. They cared for the animals too, feeding horses, elephants, donkeys, camels, and the offspring of Surabhi, ensuring every vehicle received its proper food. They gave sugarcane and honeyed grains to the animals, encouraging the mighty warriors of the Ikṣvāku line. There was no need to bind horses or restrain elephants; intoxicated with joy and excitement, the animals and men alike were unrestrained in their happiness. Every desire was satisfied. Smeared with red sandalwood and joined by groups of apsarases, the soldiers raised their voices in joy, their hearts filled with wonder at the sage’s miraculous hospitality.