Narada describes Shakra's divine assembly hall

Narada turned his description to Shakra’s sabha. “O Kourvaya,” he said, “Shakra’s divine assembly hall is radiant, a prize he obtained through his own acts. He built it himself, and it possesses the radiance of the sun.” He gave its dimensions: one hundred yojanas wide, one hundred and fifty long, and five high. It was airborne and could roam anywhere at will. It was a place that dispelled old age, misery, and fatigue. It was free from fear, pure, and auspicious, full of rooms and seats, beautiful and adorned with celestial trees. “O Partha, descendant of the Bharata lineage,” Narada continued, “there is a supreme seat in that sabha. The lord of the gods sits there with Mahendrani Shachi, who is Shri and Lakshmi.” Indra’s form was beyond description. He wore a crown and red bracelets on his upper arms, dressed in spotless garments and adorned with brightly colored garlands. With him were Hri (Modesty), Kirti (Fame), and Dyuti (Splendor). There, the great-souled Shatakratu — another name for Indra — was always worshipped. All the Maruts (storm gods), all the householders, the siddhas (perfected beings), the sadhyas (a class of celestial deities), and the masses of gods, all divine in form and adorned with ornaments, worshipped the king of the gods, the vanquisher of enemies. Then Narada listed the worshippers. All the devarshis (divine sages) paid homage to Shakra. They were unblemished, cleansed of sin, radiant like fire, without fatigue. They were performers of the soma sacrifice. The names came in a litany: Parashara, Parvata, Savarni, Galava, Shankha, Likhita, Gourashira, Durvasa, Dirghatapa, Yajnavalkya, Bhaluki, Uddalaka, Shwetaketu, Shatyayana, Havishmat, Gavishtha, King Harishchandra, Hridya, Udarashandilya, Parasharya, Krishihvala, Vataskandha, Vishakha, Vidhata, Kala, Anantadanta, Tvashta, Vishvakarma, and Tumburu. Some were born from wombs, others were not. Some lived on air, others on fire. All worshipped the wielder of the vajra (thunderbolt). More followed: Sahadeva, Sunitha, the immensely ascetic Valmiki, Shamika, Satyavak, the truthful Prachetas, Medhatithi, Vamadeva, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Marutta, Marichi, the immensely ascetic Sthanu, Atri, Kakshivat, Goutama, Tarkshya, Vaishvanara, Kalakavrikshiya, Ashravya, Hiranyada, Samvartta, Devahavya, and the powerful Vishvaksena. But the assembly was not only of beings. Concepts and forces themselves had seats. “O Pandava,” Narada said, “all the divine waters and herbs are there. Shraddha (Faith), Medha (Intelligence), Sarasvati (Speech and Learning), artha (prosperity), dharma (righteousness), kama (desire), lightning, clouds bearing rain, the winds, thunder, the eastern direction, the twenty-seven fires that convey sacrificial offerings — all are seated there.” So too were Agni, Soma, Indragni, Mitra, Savita, Aryama, Bhaga, the Vishvadevas, the Sadhyas, Shukra, Manthi, the sacrifices, the dakshinas (ritual fees), the planets, all the stobhas (musical chants), and all the mantras uttered at sacrifices. And then there was entertainment. The apsaras (celestial dancers) and the beautiful gandharvas (celestial musicians) were there. With dancing, music, songs, and various other forms of entertainment, they amused Shatakratu, the king of the gods. With hymns and rituals, they praised the valorous acts of the great-souled destroyer of Bala and Vritra. All the brahmana rajarshis (sage-kings) and all the devarshis came and went, riding various divine chariots that blazed like fire, garlanded and adorned. Brihaspati (preceptor of the gods) and Shukra (preceptor of the asuras) went there together. Many other ascetics, rigid in their vows, riding chariots like the moon and themselves as handsome as the moon, went there on Brahma’s instructions. Bhrigu and the seven great sages were among them. “O king,” Narada concluded, “I have myself seen this sabha of Shatakratu’s, named Pushkaramalini. O great king, O unblemished one, now hear about Yama’s.”