’Beholding that excellent city, superior to the city of the celestials themselves, I asked Matali, saying, ’Why do not the celestials reside in such (a place)?  Surely, this appeareth superior to the city of Purandara.’  Thereat, Matali said, ’In days of yore, O Partha, even this was the city of our lord of the celestials.  Afterwards the celestials were driven from hence by the Nivata-Kavachas.  Having performed the most rigid austerities, they had gratified the Grand-father and had asked (and obtained) the boons—­namely, that they might reside here, and that they might be free from danger in wars with the gods.’  Then Sakra addressed the self-create lord saying, ’Do thou, O lord, desirous of our own welfare do what is proper.’  Thereupon, O Bharata, in this matter the Lord commanded (Indra), saying, ’O slayer of foes, in another body, even thou shalt be (the destroyer of the Danavas).’  Then, in order to slaughter them, Sakra rendered unto thee those weapons.  The gods had been unable to slay these, who have been slain by thee.  O Bharata, in the fullness of time, hadst thou come hither, in order to destroy them and thou hast done so.  O foremost of men, with the object that the demons might be killed, Mahendra had conferred on thee the excellent prime energy of these weapons.’

“Arjuna continued, ’After having destroyed the Danavas, and also subdued that city, with Matali I again went to that abode of the celestials.’”

SECTION CLXXII

“Arjuna continued, ’Then while returning, I happened to descry a mighty unearthly city, moving at will, and having the effulgence of fire or the sun.  And that city contained various trees composed of gems, and sweet-voiced feathered ones.  And furnished with four gates, and gate-ways, and towers, that impregnable (city) was inhabited by the Paulamas and Kalakanjas.  And it was made of all sorts of jewels and was unearthly, and of wonderful appearance.  And it was covered with trees of all kinds of gems, bearing fruits and flowers.  And it contained exceedingly beautiful unearthly birds.  And it always swarmed throughout with cheerful Asuras, wearing garlands, and bearing in their hands darts, two edged swords, maces, bows, and clubs.  And, O king, on seeing this wonderful city of the Daityas, I asked Matali saying, ’What is this that looketh so wonderful?’ Thereat, Matali replied, ’Once on a time a Daitya’s daughter, named Pulama and a mighty female of the Asura order, Kalaka by name, practised severe austerities for a thousand celestial years.  And at the end of their austerities, the self-create conferred on them boons.  And, O king of kings, they received these boons,—­that their offspring might never suffer misfortune; that they might be incapable of being destroyed even by the gods, the Rakshasas and the Pannagas; and that they might obtain a highly effulgent and surpassingly fair aerial city, furnished with all manner of gems