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Notes
261
1013. The column of smoke appeared lovely (HE) like a path (सरणि) blackened (सामला) by the thick (बहल) flow of the water of ichor (731), oozing from (the temple of) of the heavenly elephant (सुरकरि) called Airāvata of Indra (तिअसणाह), invited (37TE3T) to go down on the earth by the good deeds of this King
1014. By the greatness of his own merits (Turia), his predecessors (rycat) were dwarfed ( ų) by him; but at the same time, by his own greatness (Tria), he made them also great (78875371).
1015. The King's wrathful frowns (ataf387341), accompanied with (FT) sighs indicative of a feeling of pity (THEUTTUITHTA), looked charming (fa) in his case, although he scrupulously insisted on the observance of a strict penal code of restrictions (ETFADDETT) that he had laid down in his authority as the ruling monarch (8). A stickler for enforcing the laws, as he was, he, however, ruled over his subjects in just the opposite way (faaretzr), showing them clemency and forgiveness, in spite of their breaches of behaviour. Rules and regulations are meant for imperfect humans and not vice versa.
The king Yaśovarman is god Hari or Visņu Himself, since he holds on his chest the goddess Lakşmi, the consort of the great God, Who as Tortise was instrumental in churning the milky ocean and the emergence of the goddess therefrom. The scenes of the churning of the ocean are described in a Kulaka of 24 Gäthäs (1016-1039)
1016. In the act of churning, the bottom of the ocean was being dug up by the Mandara mountain and the conchs (fa) and strings of jewels were thrown up (sounft3). To the Tortoise, an incarnation of god Visnu, who lay at the bottom to support the Mandara mountain on His back, it appeared that a silver plate full of materials of worship (Spaan) was being hastily held over (BYTf3T) to Him by the gods (fata).
1018. The big fish (HETATOTT), lifted up, having been balanced (afs3T) on His back, displayed reddish patches of their throats, as they gave out breaths (3HT). Thus they looked like clouds with lightning streaks flashing off and on.
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