Bali Mahārāja’s Empowerment and Conquest of Indra’s City
Prelude to Vāmana’s Petition
रम्यामुपवनोद्यानै: श्रीमद्भिर्नन्दनादिभि: । कूजद्विहङ्गमिथुनैर्गायन्मत्तमधुव्रतै: । प्रवालफलपुष्पोरुभारशाखामरद्रुमै: ॥ १२ ॥
ramyām upavanodyānaiḥ śrīmadbhir nandanādibhiḥ kūjad-vihaṅga-mithunair gāyan-matta-madhuvrataiḥ pravāla-phala-puṣporu- bhāra-śākhāmara-drumaiḥ
ఇంద్రపురి నందనాది శ్రీమంతమైన ఉపవన‑ఉద్యానాలతో రమ్యంగా ఉండేది; కూయే పక్షిజంటలు, గానమాడే మత్తు తేనెటీగలు అక్కడ విహరించేవి, ప్రవాళ‑ఫల‑పుష్పభారంతో అమరవృక్షాల కొమ్మలు వంగి ఉండేవి।
This verse portrays Svarga as filled with splendid gardens like Nandana, where birds sing, bees hum in intoxication, and celestial trees bow under the abundance of sprouts, fruits, and flowers.
Śukadeva describes the setting of the demigods’ realm during the narrative of the devas and asuras, establishing the opulence of Svarga even as the larger theme points beyond heaven toward lasting spiritual shelter.
Appreciate nature’s beauty as a reminder of divine artistry, but cultivate detachment—recognizing that even the most opulent pleasures are temporary compared to bhakti and spiritual realization.