When amrita was extracted from the waters of the ocean and the gods defeated the asuras and expelled them to the underworld, Indra reigned over the universe and happy times began. The clouds shed abundant rain, the earth gave rich harvests, the inhabitants of the worlds prospered, following the paths of virtue and duty. The kings ruled according to the laws of justice, caring for the welfare of their subjects, the brahmins performed prescribed rituals and fulfilled pious vows in peaceful forest abodes. And the mighty Indra, the conqueror of the asuras, seeing that all living beings in the universe were enjoying peace, happiness and prosperity, himself was filled with great joy.
And he reigned peacefully in his heavenly kingdom, in the thousand-gate city of Amaravati, full of gold and precious stones. The path to that heavenly city lies through the northern mountains, to the top of Meru and from there further along the starry road; but the beautiful city of the celestials is invisible to the eyes of a sinner. Near the city of Indra, the wonderful Nandana grove is green, a place of rest for the gods and heavenly sages. At the entrance to the city stands guard the divine elephant Airavata, huge as a cloud, the progenitor of elephants, arising from the waters of the ocean of milk; Indra travels around his domain on it when peace reigns in the universe and his war chariot rests. The city itself has a hundred magnificent palaces, but the largest of them is Indra's lotus-decorated palace, which he himself built. In that palace, Indra sits on a throne under a white fan with his wife Shachi, surrounded by gods and holy sages.
Heroes who died in battle go there, to the kingdom of Indra. There the wonderful Parijata Tree stretches out its branches with fragrant flowers, which Indra obtained from the churning of the ocean and presented to the goddess Shachi. The gardens bloom there forever, and neither cold nor heat oppress the inhabitants of the heavenly city. They know neither old age, nor illness, nor fear. Their eyes are delighted by the dancing of the beautiful Apsaras, and the Gandharvas delight their ears with delightful melodies. But only pious and kind people who fulfilled their duty on earth, and valiant warriors who did not turn away their faces before death in battle, are accepted into his blissful abode by Indra.
Indra achieved great power after defeating the asuras, and they began to call him Sakra, the Mighty. But time passed and, intoxicated with power and glory, he became proud beyond measure and deviated from the righteous path.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru