Setubandha

SR No.: 001384
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Krishnakant Handiqui
Publisher: Prakrit Text Society Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1976
Total Pages: 812
Language: English, Sanskrit
Classification: Book_English & Literature
File Size: 14 MB

Page 256

SETUBANDHA
95
65. It carried a mass of Rāma's arrows that had, during the upheaval of the sea, 13 stuck in its slopes, with the feathers broken here and there, as if they were the remnants of its wings clipped by Indra's thunderbolt.44
66. There, the elephant fell as the lion sprang upon its temples, but tore up the latter's heavy mane with its trunk; and the bee turned about on hearing the hum of its mate, upsetting the flower of the creeper on which it lay.
67. Snow-cold streams of water, oozing from the moon-stones (at night), ceased to flow during the day, with the waters partly drying up, and the moss stirred here and there by the gusts of wind.
68. Quicksilver moved about on slabs of emerald, with its traces flickering here and there, and looked like water rolling on lotus leaves.
69. The Sun seemed to ascend the mountain at dawn, with the upright orb rising aloft, and his horses worn out with fatigue; and having journeyed with the orb evenly balanced, seemed to descend it at the end of the day.
70. There, at night, the inhabitants of the woods, going round to avoid the rugged places on the slopes, trod the paths, lighted on their way by the stars journeying ahead of them.
71. The orb of the moon, lingering on the summit, moved along, being directly hit by the Kirāta maidens, separated from their lovers, with handfuls of tear-stained flowers.45
72. Adorned with the heavenly bodies, like the sky, the mountain had on it the aerial cars of the gods. It scorned the vehemence of the winds of the epoch of destruction, resisted by its peaks. It coloured the clouds with the soaring rays of its bejewelled peaks, and resounded with the deep roar of the restless lions in the caves.
43. i.e., during the chastisement of the sea by Rāma with the fiery arrows.
44. It is fancied that the Suvela, like all other mountains, had wings until they were clipped by Indra.
45. i.e., the maidens chastised the moon, the traditional enemy of forlorn lovers, finding it near at hand on the summit of the mountain,