Kurmastakadvyam

Author(s): Bhojdev Maharaj
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 39

18
9.
Kūrmaśatakadvayam
indeed born who alone since (or from) birth bore the burden of the earth!
Look, how indeed the Tortoise bore the (unbearable) burden (of the earth)! Look at his [extremely slow] gait ! That burden he laid down along with his life at the time of universal destruction (pralaya-the final end of the Universe).
10. The Tortoise supported and lifted up the earth which was sinking into the pātāla (nethermost region under the earth). None else like that Tortoise was ever born, nor will be born hereafter (in future).
11. Does anyone know the number of persons (-their number is infinite) who are born only to seek their own happiness? Have you seen any other Tortoise born in the family of Tortoises, solely devoted to doing good to others ?
12. Blessed are you, O female Tortoise, among females on this earth who gave birth to the offspring who does no find rest (even for a second since its birth).
13. Those who support the earth, along with them she (earth) too is supported. With such a determination the Tortoise alone is born here on the earth.
14. If one has to take birth let that birth be, O Tortoise, like yours-the birth which to the last breath is exclusively devoted to doing good to others.
15. The behaviour of people here is just similar to their class-species. The behaviour of the Tortoise alone is dissimilar to that of its own or other species!
16. Let the female Tortoise alone be proud of her/its offspring-child since no other child similar to her child has been born nor will be born in future too!
17. We searched to this day [but alas !] we did not find anyone equal to him in the whole world. The 'one-yoked' Tortoise quite alone carries the burden of the earth (the world).
[Note: 'one-yoked' (ekkalajua=ekayuga), i.e., quite alone]
18. He alone (really speaking) carries the burden which another's shoulder (skandha) does not carry. You see whether the Tortoise carries the burden like any others person (that is, the Tortoise is simply incomparable in carrying the huge burden of the earth).