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Baku Rajendralala Mitra — A Picnic in Ancient India. [No. 4, 
“ Having thus bathed, the Andliakas and the Vishnis in the afternoon 
entertained themselves by perfuming their persons with unguents on 
board their boats. Some of the cabins in these vessels were wide, others 
square, others circular, others like the svastika, others like the Mandara hill, 
while others like the Kailasa and the Sumeru mountains. Some were shaped 
like birds, some like wolves, some like the painted Garuda, some like cranes, 
some like parrots, and some like elephants ; some painted with gateways of 
lapis lazuli, some gilt, some bedecked with rubies and pearls and lapis lazulis, 
and other gems, — all designed for the purpose by Vis'vakarma. Guided by 
able seamen, these boats, bright as gold, added new lustre to the billows. 
Pleasure boats and tenders and large vessels with commodious cabins 
adorned the bed of the flowing main. When these noble vessels moved 
about on the sea, they seemed like the abodes of Gandharvas floating in the 
air. The heavenly architect, Vis'vakarma, had, in these cabins, depicted gar- 
dens and trees and tanks and festal halls and cars in imitation of those in the 
Nandana Park of Indra, and they were in no way inferior to their heavenly 
archetypes. 
“ By order of Vishnu birds were singing sweetly and delightfully in the 
forest ; white cuckoos of paradise cooed melliflucntly for the gratification of 
the heroes ; peacocks, surrounded by their hens, danced gracefully on the tops 
of the cabins resplendent as moonbeams. The flags of the vessels bore the pic- 
tures of birds ; and the garlands on the vehicles were musical with the hum of 
bees. By order of Narayana the trees (in the neighbourhood) produced fragrant 
flowers of all seasons ; the zephyr, loaded with the pollen of various flowers 
and the aroma of the sandal-wood, blew gently, driving away all exhaustion- 
now warm and anon cool according to the varying desires of the picnicians. 
No hunger, no thirst, no langour, no ennui, no grief assailed them, when 
through the grace of Vasudeva, they were engaged in this delightful fete of 
music, singing, and dancing. 
“ Thus did these god-like heroes, protected by the wielder of the discus, 
occupy themselves in their aquatic recreations, spreading over many leagues 
(yojana) of the sea, the abode of waters. 
“ For the sixteen thousand wives of Krishna, Vis'vakarma had provided 
appropriate vessels bedecked with the choicest jewels to be found in the 
three regions of the universe, and furnished with becoming wardrobes. Each 
wife had her separate cabin, decorated with lapis lazuli, gold, and floral trea- 
sures of every season, and redolent with the finest perfumes. 
“ The long-armed and handsome Bakuleva, covered with sandal paste, 
with eyes glowing crimson under the influence of kadambari wine, and un- 
steady steps, paid his attention solely to I lev at i. Dressed in two pieces of 
sky-blue cloth, bright complexioned as the moon, and languishing-eyed, he 
appeared charming like the moon partially hidden under a cloud. With a 
