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Translation of Text B
31
maxim-traditional knowledge that in this world there are men who are greater than the (well-known) great. "The earth is a very heavy burden to be borne"—thus the people think, O King Bhoja. Holding (bearing) that burden how is it that invading it
(the earth) you conquered it ? 21. Bearing the heavy burden of the earth how did you crush the pride
arrogance-of the Tortoise and the exalted position of the serpent Sesa
and the like? 22. You supported the earth and robbed the Tortoise of its greatness.
Without doing any harm to (the Tortoise) you showed a (new) path. 23. I realised that the Tortoise, the Boar, the serpent sesa and the like are,
in fact, animals ! Otherwise would not their hearts have broken into a
hundred pieces ? 24. When you supported - bore- the earth that gigantic - big-bodied
Tortoise appeared remarkably diminutive (pra-laghuka remarkably small-tiny).
[Note : the second half of this verse is obscure.] 25. Making the (burden of the) earth light and then carrying it solely
singly-what greatness did you add to your own greatness and what to
that of the Tortoise ? 26. Making the (burden of the) earth light and carrying it with the Tortoise
what greatness did you add to your own and to that of two (viz. the
Tortoise and the earth) ? 27. The Tortoise took birth here on earth for adding greatness to that of
the earth. You are, O King Bhoja born here for rendering it (the earth)
insignificant (light)! 28. Whatever greatness the animals like the Tortoise; the Boar, the serpent
sesa brought you, its completion (nirvāha ?), 0 earth, is ne
manifested by King Bhoja. 29. Making light (the burden of) the earth if it is then carried what merit
is there?
[The second half of this verse is rather obscure !] 30. The principal mountains (kulagiri) were made light; the oceans were
made light and so too the earth ! Then the burden of the earth was
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