Book Title: Gaudavaho
Author(s): Vakpatiraj, Narhari Govind Suru, P L Vaidya, A N Upadhye, H C Bhayani
Publisher: Prakrit Text Society Ahmedabad
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earth disintegrated, the circle of mountains smashed and the seas pushed far back, the three worlds were thus brought to universal destruction by Indra, wanting ultimate peace and stability " (156). "The thunderbolt goes back in the hand of Indra, light in body but gaining in weight (respect), by the discharge of its mission, its sharp edge destroyed while breaking the tough wings of the mountains" (159).
After this, he goes back to the main theme and gives a short description of the water-sports (161-162 ), indulged in by the King's courtesans in the bathing tanks (Vapis) of his vanquished enemies. Thereafter he digresses again to give us a picturesque description of Pralaya or a periodic dissolution of the Universe, the sole survivor of which is Lord Visnu or Bālaka-Hari, now incarnated in the human form of King Yasovarman. Pralaya Scenes (167-181):
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As the heavenly grove of trees started burning, the swarms of bees were screened by thick smoke and their bunches of tender leaves were clasped by the sylvan deities with their palms (in an effort to save them)' (168). "The moon's orb blazes in flames, its spotlike deer running away and the attendant planets dropping off in the guise of flying sparks" (169). "The fire approaches the Lord of gods who is trembling with fear, as it were, the flames fluttering with the breeze stirred by chowries being waved over him by the nymphs" (173). Śesa holds aloft the circling mass of smoke, which loooks like a canopy of Visnu's bodily complexion, as He reposes on him" (176). "Such playful activity (līlā) was displayed by our King who assumed the form of the enemy of Kamsa (KṛṣṇaVinsu) at the time of the universal destruction" ( 181 ).
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