Complete Shakuntala Second Part: Dushyant.

When the fool was kidnapped by a race of giant man-eating rakshasas, Indra himself descended on a winged chariot to plead for Dushyant to help him in the battle.

Battle of the Heavens

Then Dushyant ascended into the heavens on a winged chariot guided by Matali to assist the god of rain against the race of mighty demons and giants who had kidnapped his erstwhile fool. 

Rakshasa

Matali said, 'my lord the king of rain is powerless against this foe and bids you smite these demons with your sharp arrows. As darkness falls, the orb of night shall rise and light our way. Set us forth for victory, O King. Let us ride upon the clouds. until they fled.  And moving through the clouds they dispatched those hellish hordes, the invincible brood of Kalanemi.  The vampire demons were forced to release the jester of the king and swear allegiance to the god of rain. King Dushyant recovered his beloved clown in the battle while Indra was pleased to see the demons flee, screaming from the fight.

Concluding their battle they flew in winged chariots to the heavenly abode of Indra, where Dushyant was entertained for a time by the lord of heaven. He seated King Dushyant beside him on a throne of beaten gold and smiled. Then the lord of thunder Indra placed around his neck the heavenly wreath of flowers still fragrant from the sandalwood paste on his own neck. He lauded King Dushyant for his heroism in battle against the mighty rakshasa warriors.

Rakshasa

Dushyant bowed to Indra and said, "All servants owe their success to proper honor paid to their masters before the deeds are done. Dawn defeats the darkness by resting on the chariot of the sun."

To which Indra replied, "O earthly king! You have pleased me, the king of the gods. And so, your glory is greater by having been published in heaven by the gods with colors used by the apsaras to make their beauty glow. Your brave deeds have been written in the clouds, which even now blush before you."

The clouds blushed

And bidding leave of Indra, King Dushyant, along with his court jester, boarded the airship of Matali, chariot to the gods and so began the long descent to his earthly kingdom. And as they ranged the sky they passed many a snowcappped peak that pierced the clouds. And by and by they came to a mystic mountain range of purest gold. 

Mount Kailash

And Dushyant said, "When we passed this way before we fought the man-eating devils on their flying machines. I was so intent on unleashing showers of darts upon those fiends that I had not noticed this magic land. What windpath have we taken?"

Vamana Dev

And Matali replied, "When Lord Vishnu appeared as Vamana, he encompassed the three worlds in three strides. His second stride fell here. This is a paradise on earth where creatures live free from passion in constant peace and harmony."

"Even now," said Dushyant, "I feel a strange serenity possess my body and mind."

"We shall land down there for a time," said Matali, charioteer to Indra god of rain. And so saying, he began to guide the airship in its fall through the clouds. 

Chariot of the sun

"How strange to fall from the sky in your airship." Said the king. "Below I see the falcons turn and wheel, and far below us the plains come closer. A silver strip that streaks between the green becomes a raging river running through the wheat. And as we fall the river network is clear, the smaller streams appear. The spots of green have changed to massive trees. The valley of liquid gold has turned to a field of wildflowers mustard yellow. 

"As we fall, the river network is clear" Kalidas, Shakuntala

And when the craft had landed, Dushyant said, "How curious is this place. We are surrounded by snow-capped mountains where only stony crags welcome our view. But here a warm breeze wafts jasmine flowers through the fields. Eagles fly from their mountain caves high above us. But here below this valley is blessed with calm."

Matali said, "This golden peak was the abode of King Kuvera, god of forest creatures, lord of yakshas, king of all wealth. Here in these hills,  Kasyapa, the progenitor of gods resides and does his penance." 

Kashyapa Muni

The king said, "Guide this air chariot to the place where Kashyapa resides. Let us make pilgrimage to that holy place. Here the great hermits achieve their mystic powers absorbed in the secrets of yoga. Let us visit him."

And Matali said, "Your thoughts are worthy. So be it."

And so he hovered in his winged chariot a few palm's lengths above the ground. And so the airship glided on the wind until they found the ashram of that great saint Kashyapa, son of Marichi. 

And from a distance, Matali, charioteer of Indra pointed to a cave in darkened woods and said, "Look!"

"Through those trees. There stands the hermit himself, long of beard, austere in body. See how strangler vines are choking his wizened form. He stands half-buried in an ant-hill that surrounds him. He stands still as a wooden post, staring at the sun with eyes that know no rest. A  dried cobra skin adorns his breast. He has stood there unmoved for such a time that birds have built their nests within his matted hair. Behold Kashyapa Muni, son of Marichi, progenitor of gods.