“Bhishma said, ’The mind itself, blessed be thou, indicates the premonitory symptoms of one’s future prosperity and future fall.  In this connection is cited the old story of the discourse between Sree and Sakra.  Listen to it, O Yudhishthira!  The great ascetic Narada, of energy whose effulgence is as immeasurable as Brahma itself, with sins all destroyed, capable of beholding through the prosperity of his penances both this and the other world at once, and the equal of the celestial Rishis in the region of the Creator, roved according to his pleasure through the triple world.  One day, rising up at dawn, he wished to perform his ablutions, and for that purpose went to the river Ganga as she issued out of the pass known by the name of Dhruva and plunged into the stream.[858] At that time the thousand-eyed Indra also, the wielder of the thunderbolt, and the slayer of Samvara and Paka, came to the very bank where Narada was.  The Rishi and the deity, both of souls under perfect command, finished their ablutions, and having completed their silent recitations, sat together.  They employed the hour in reciting and listening to the excellent narratives told by the great celestial Rishis descriptive of many good and high deeds.  Indeed, with concentrated attention the two were engaged in such pleasant discourse on ancient history.[859] While sitting there they beheld the rising Sun casting his thousand rays right before him.  Seeing the full orb, both of them stood up and hymned his praises.  Just at that time they beheld in the sky, in a direction opposite to that of the rising star of day, some luminous object, resplendent as blazing fire and that seemed to be a second star of day.  And they saw, O Bharata, that that luminous object was gradually approaching towards them both.  Riding upon Vishnu’s vehicle adorned with Garuda and Surya himself, that object blazed forth with unrivalled splendour, and seemed to illumine the three worlds.  The object they saw was none other than Sree herself, attended by many Apsaras endued with splendid beauty.  Indeed, she looked like a large solar disc herself, possessed of effulgence resembling that of fire.  Adorned with ornaments that looked like veritable stars, she wore a wreath that resembled a garland of pearls.  Indra saw that goddess called Padma having her habitation in the midst of lotuses.  Descending from her foremost of cars, that unrivalled lady began to approach towards the lord of the three worlds and the celestial Rishi Narada.  Followed by Narada, Maghavat also proceeded towards that lady.  With joined hands, he offered himself up to her, and versed as he was with all things, he worshipped her with reverence and sincerity never surpassed.  The adorations over, the lord of celestials, O king, addressed Sree in the following words.’

“Sakra said, ’O thou of sweet smiles, who, indeed, art thou and for what business hast thou come here?  O thou of fair brows, whence dost thou come and whither wilt thou proceed, O auspicious lady?’