Gaudavaho

Author(s): Vakpatiraj, Narhari Govind Suru, P L Vaidya, A N Upadhye, H C Bhayani
Publisher: Prakrit Text Society Ahmedabad

Page 352

The Flying City of Hariscandra
gifted away by him ( Karpa ) to Indra ( approaching in the disguise of a brahmin).
494. In that region, where the chariot-wheel of the great chariot-fighter ( Karna) tore into the earth, striking stories deseribing without a break (heroic events and incidents ) of many a king are being told ).
The Flying City of Hariscandra
495. The sky itself, now deprived of Generality, (peculiarly) became the curved rampart (for the city ), its differentiation (from the rest of the sky) being observed by its frightened citizens, coming out only on balconies.
496. The snakes, recoiling from (the path of) descent, as they observed clear, open space through the breaches (cracks in the subsoil), stayed put, huddled in fright, just in their holes.
497. The mansion-terraces, having their upper halves torn as under because of cracks developing through the force of (the city's) upward flight, appeared somehow renovated, as it were, with their other halves remaining intact.
498. The wells, with their (feeding) springs uprooted, as their support of the earth-surface (subsoil) was cut off, became dried up (tucchatta), developing (deeper) hollowed depths.
499. The treasure-jars (buried underground ), half exposed (to view ) by their broken bits of chains dangling (midair ), hang about suspended at the bottom of the city), in the graceful style of big ringing bells.
500. The eyes of (loving) couples, ever remaining big (and wide open ) because of their recent cessation of winking (action) are painful (to observe ), deprived, as they are, of dalliance (avilāsāim ) even at the pleasure (of each other's ) sight.
501. The lodgement of the city becomes only lighter day after day, as its ( supporting) earthy foundation is gradually crumbling on account of the wind's (violent) movement.
502. Even during nights (on the earth), awakening (from sleep) occurs for the citizens, who still feel languid (and lazy) in their ( deep) unbroken sleep, since in the course of the city's