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160
Gaüḍavaho
which issued from the fire, reached the ends of the Universe and, meeting resistence, has ricochetted or recoiled (fenfor), in the form of Yama's buffalo.
174. With the addition and accumulation of the lighningstreaks, opened out (3) because of the cloud-burst, the fire becomes massed up (fufafeer) and thus shows up the results (a) of a circle of twelve suns put together.
175. The flames are warded off by the snakes with their hisses () and the rising smoke is covered up and confined by them within the limits of their quick-moving hoods.
176. Visnu is represented as a comely youth of a dark-blue complexion and portrayed as reclining on the serpent-king Seṣa.
The smoke, which Sesa holds aloft on his back, is imagined to be the blue-coloured awning, formed overhead, of the lustre of Visnu's bodily complexion, transferred upwards as He reposes (forter) on him.
177. The moon is supposed to be the store of nectar from which the gods drink daily; when fully consumed, he is replenished again. Cf. पर्यायपीतस्य सुरैहिमांशोः कलाक्षयः श्लाध्यतरोऽपि वृद्धेः । रघु० V. 16.
The Poet represents his orb in this Gāthā as a jar of nectar, which the god of love, Madana, clutches to find relief for his burning body. The moon is looked up to as a bosom friend of Madana Cf. मदनस्य किल चन्द्रो दयितः । अतश्चन्द्रे दह्यमाने नष्टोऽसौ भवतितराम् । अत उदककलशमिव चन्द्रं परित्राणाय विगृह्य दहतेऽसाविति कविकल्पितम् । Com.
178. Kubera, the Lord of Wealth (afa), is the regen of the North and the keeper of gold and silver, jewels and pearls and all the treasures of the earth, besides nine particular Nidhis or treasures, which are- महापद्मश्च पद्मश्च शङ्खो मकरकच्छपौ । मुकुन्दकुन्दनीलाश्च खर्वश्च निधयो नव ॥ They are supposed to be guarded by snakes.
179. Vasuki is the king of the Nagas or serpents who live in Pātāla. He was used by the gods and Asuras for a coil round the mountain Mandara at the churning of the ocean. He is generally identified with Sesa, a serpent with a thousand heads, which is the couch and canopy of Viṣṇu, whilst sleeping during the
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