[261] Upon Gandhamādana, supreme among mountains, that most excellent peak,
those [goddesses] rejoice, guarded by the foremost of devas.
Then came the foremost of seers, who ranges over all the world,
bearing a well-blossomed branch of that excellent tree —
pure, sweetly fragrant, honored by the Thirty [gods] (Tidasa),
a flower supreme, enjoyed by the foremost of the immortals,
unobtained by others or by the dānavas —
by none save the devas — worthy of them and a blessing.
Then four women, their skin like gold,
sovereigns among women, rose up before the sage —
Āsā, Saddhā, Sirī, and then Hirī —
and thus they spoke to Nārada, the deva-brahmin:
"If, O great sage, this flower of the pāricchatta
has not been marked out by you [for another], O brahmin,
then give it to us — may every destination prosper for you —
and may you yourself be to us even as Vāsava."
Beholding them begging for it, Nārada
spoke thus, stirring up a quarrel:
"I have no need whatsoever of these;
let her among you who is the best adorn herself [with it]."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.