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King Pṛthu Measuring the Earth
442. It appeared (najjai) as though these mountains, thrown aside (paṇolliā) and (therefore) tumbling in this direction, are now pressing and pushing (nollemti) the rounded surface of this earth in this as also in the other direction (east and west).
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443. The whole multitude of mountain-ranges, being forced aside by just one mountain clinging to the bow-end piercing (and penetrating its side), is being driven along (nijjai), filling, as it does, the intervening space with massed columns of dust.
444. It looked as if broken bits of splinters of the mighty thunderbolt, which had remained imbedded (at the time when) their wings were cut, are now dropping down from these mountains, (when we see) streaks of lightning crashing down from the clouds over their embankments, being (powerfully) pushed (by Prthu's bow).
445. The mountain-masses are being driven along, their bottoms grating, their trees and water-streams set in motion, big boulders tumbling down, (the mountains rising and falling) in waves, as they cross over even and uneven surfaces (of the earth).
446. These lofty mountains, proceeding onward under the forceful (driving) pressure of the bow's tip, are being smashed by quarter-elephants (āsāgaa), suspecting (them to be) their rival elephants rushing (to attack them).
447. The mountains, with their wide expanse of bases stuffed with boulders falling from their tops in the course of their movement, are observed to have fresh (new) water-streams, gushing out from outlets bored by the bow (end) thrust inside.
448. With their bases fully occupying the (area of the) nether world, these mountains, tilted up on the bow which pierced and came out (on their other side), were gently released (and lowered down), after having been balanced (on the bow) for a short while, for fear of demolishing the earth (by the thud of their sudden fall).
449. The currents of big rivers, which were formerly formidable with the pooling of water over the (slopes of) mountains, have now become thin streams of water and are being absorbed by the low-lying lands, from where they (mountains) are vacated.
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