Gaudavaho

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

Page 527

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Gaüdavaho
814, 815, 816. These three Gāthās form one sentence. The great god Visnu who was the sole, safe resort of the other gods (814) and this our pious King, in whose case the line of sacrificial smoke, rising upwards, reached the sun's orb ( 815), was in reality an emanation (thura) of this great god Visnu and had a popular nick-name feTSIT.
This king is the incarnation of Krsna i.e. Visnu, who often times was carried by Garuda, the son of Vinatā, over the universe.
817. By the force of his upward flight (HAO3TOTT) he shattered the masses of clouds, which looked like pieces of the universe disintegrating at that moment.
818. Bits of string-like (TTT) lightning, separated from the shattering clouds, look like fluttering feathers of Garuda falling off, being avoided by the whirling aerial car of Visnu on the way.
819. The winged mountains sought refuge inside the ocean to avoid the thunderbolt of Indra. The fury of Garuda's flight violently agitated (fast) the ocean and as a result these winged mountains (99) were tossed up from the surface of the ocean and they went on flying (fH 3T) in the sky, trying to keep company with Garuda, ás big birds would do.
820. The sun's path was lit up with red lustre, shooting from the treasures of jewels stored at the bottom of the sea, fully exposed by the violent speed of Garuda's flight and it looked as if it is Aruna, the harbinger, who is going ahead of the sun (samo).
821. The big snakes were emitting flames of poison-fires which became doubly intense through their anger. These reddish flames looked like Garuda's feathers, bitten off and now being ruminated (915) in their mouths.
822. Ananta is another name for Sesa. The main hood on which the earth rests was left unmoved by him with a view to holding the earth steady, while he attacked Garuda with his other hoods.
823. The sharp, piercing thrusts of the nails of Garuda bad no effect, as they became blunted (faecfa) against the chest of Vāsuki, mainly because it had become hard and tough, having developed a thick scar (fast) as a result of its friction against the Mandara mountain. It should be recalled that on that great