Kurmastakadvyam

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

Page 46

Two Prakrit Poems At Dhar Translation....
offspring! Other females although they delivered offspring are really speaking barren! For your offspring alone without any support from others has been carrying-bearing-the (heavy burden of) the three worlds !
74. If a burden is really to be carried, then let it be of the size of the burden that the Tortoise carries! Since he (the Tortoise) all alone, without expecting help from others has been for ever carrying the (exceptionally heavy) burden of the (entire) earth/the world.
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75. By achieving the task (assigned) one who reaches the top, really attains a permanent/stable position/place, O Dhruva ! One although is elevated to the top without any achievement to his credit is regarded as fallen down below (ahdastat) from that elevated position.
76. You are, O Tortoise, born here (on earth), you are victorious, you are blessed/fortunate here (on earth) (you) "Whose shoulder has not been freed from the burden by a second one able to bear a burden."
77. All other females (women), although they have delivered offsprings, are rendered barren by the Tortoise. It is not possible to describe the situation otherwise !
78. Others carry a burden, but never do they carry it without the help of another dhurya (a beast of burden like a bullock or a horse). Only the Tortoise, carries the burden (of the earth) on his shoulder all alone.
79. Seeing the form or figure, of the Tortoise we (lit. our own life here) feel dejected. Seeing his unique feat of carrying the heavy burden of the earth (drstva vyavasitāni) we feel all the more dejected! (We are not certain about the meaning of the word उव्विसइ.)
80. Who does not take birth here-birth which ends in death? Only in the case of the unique Tortoise, however, the birth has been really fruitful (lit. birth which yields its fruit)!
81. What is carried without the help of another quite all alone is true-realhere (satyamaya). Whatever is carried with another's help (lit. looking at another's face [for help]), let it go to hell (lit. hṛda a deep hole or cavity)! Something like Marathi !
82. That is called camkramita (=caṁkramaṇa) moving about or going about [where there was no path] if the rest of the people others(itarāḥ)- are not able to set their foot on the path shown, for instance, by the Tortoise.