Gaudavaho

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

Page 559

262
Gaüdavabo
1019. The back of the Tortoise had a black skin-surface. The gods and the demons (TST), however, saw that the portion of the back which, joined to the earth, was being rubbed off by the mountain, exhibited a white colour as a result of the friction, while on its borders (ga), it retained the dark tinge. Cf. आश्रितया भूम्या यो घृष्ट: पृष्ठप्रदेशः स गौरीभूत.। पार्वानि तु स्वभावश्यामलानि कूर्मस्य । Com.
1020. The mountain, resting down below on the back of the Tortoise and towering high above the surface of the water, cast its reflection (FfshT) over the ocean, which because of the waves (PT), was not straight but curved and crooked in its appearance (fuat). The reason perhaps is, as the Poet imagines, that the earth (रसाअल) serving as foundation of the mountain (महिहर) found that the resting space on the back of the Tortoise was insufficient (Tea) for it and hence the reflection appeared crooked (1937), as the mountain remained unsteady and wobbling all the time.
1021. The Mandara mountain was taken over, along with the groves of trees, to the ocean and was placed on the back of the Tortoise to serve as a churning rod. It was then encircled by the coiling, hard-pressing body of Vāsuki, who, while entwining, gathered together the bending ends of the spreading branches. Thus when the branch-tops of trees (HTERTI) were pressed to the mountain-sides ( 5377), their roots were torn and thrown out (Edifer).
1022. Garuda, the lord of birds, had a fight with Vásukt some time before and in the course of the fight, the spikelike (F7) piercing, sharp claws had left wounds which later turned into knots of scars (autif) on his chest (37ff). These scars were being scraped off (fsvifa) on account of the friction (FUE) in the course of the churning, producing grating sounds (ETE 51371).
1023. The rows of the leafy tufts of trees (ITREATST) started revolving in circles (fah), formed (3906) on account of the acceleration of speed ( REFTTT) in the churning action. And they got split and shattered (फुटृति) as they dashed (ताडिअ) against the sides of the mountain in their revolutions (fafup3TfFT).