[2500] In the midst of those groves, O king of men,
a dwelling, radiant in appearance,
wrought of gold, with door-panels of silver, magnificent,
shines like lightning in the sky.
[Its chambers,] made of gems, made of gold, magnificent,
of manifold designs, ever well-fashioned,
are filled, O king, with adorned maidens
wearing armlets of gold.
That Saṅkhapāla, of flawless beauty,
hastening, ascended the palace
of a thousand pillars, of measureless majesty,
where his wife, the chief queen, dwelt.
And one woman, making haste,
took up a seat made of beryl, of great price,
a beautiful gem endowed with genuine excellence,
and unbidden brought it forward.
Then the serpent, taking me by the hand,
seated me upon the seat of honor:
"Here is a seat; let the good sir sit here,
for you, sir, are one of those whom I revere."
And another woman, making haste,
taking water, drew near
and washed my feet, O lord of the people,
as a wife would the feet of her husband, her beloved lord.
And yet another woman, making haste,
holding up a golden dish
with many soups and curries of various kinds,
offered me food most agreeable.
When I had eaten, O Bhārata, knowing their lord's mind,
they attended upon me with music;
and beyond that still there fell to me a great [bounty] —
heavenly pleasures of sense (kāma) not a few.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.