Kurmastakadvyam

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

Page 58

Translation of Text B
37
73. Making herself light (krtvā laghutvam) the earth discloses-displays
herself, as being enjoyable (bhogyāṁ), before you and offers herself to you for marriage (karagrahaņa has double-meaning : (i) taking the
hand in marriage, and (ii) levying a tax). 74 You lighten the earth, you do whatever you desire-long for. By this
your supernatural power you add to the excellences of the earth quite
an extraordinary excellence (gurutvam)- greatness. 75. [Note : The earlier part of the first half of this gāthā shows loss of some
letters. It may be reconstructed as fé 3754fasi and the whole gāthā may be translated as follows :] As you support the wide earth, which was highly honoured by the animals (like the Tortoise, the Boar etc.) and whose weight was (first) reduced by you and (then) extended (by your supernatural powers] - how is it that you have conferred on the earth, it is a matter of great
surprise and wonder, quite an extraordinary excellence-greatness! 76. Do not think, O earth, that your weight of mrttikābhāra) i.e. your own
weight is great. King Bhoja has supported you (dhrtā asi) That is why
this your weight (bhāra) is great (guruka)! 77. [Note : The second half of this gātha shows loss of many letters.
Keeping in view the context and the gathā metre in which it is composed we may reconstruct it as follows: तुह ग [रुअत्तं खु धरणि जंभोएणं] तुमं धरिआ ॥ ७७ ।। Now we may translate the whole gāthā as follows :] You consider O earth, what the animals [like the Tortoise, the Boar, and the like) have given you here is your gurutva-greatness or dignity. Your greatness-dignity-lies, to be sure, in the fact that King Bhoja
himself has supported you ! 78. You have made the oceans stationary (thāhavia : sthirikrtā-Sk.) the
principal mountains (kulagiri) light (lahuvia : laghükrtā), so too the earth. We do not know even now (ajja vi : adyāpi (Sk.) meaning 'still,
yet, even now what you'll do, please, O King Bhoja, tell us (lit. me). 79. The Tortoise carries the earth on its back (patti : prstha Sk.), the
serpent Sesa on its (one thousand) heads, so too the Boar on its tusk. Since King Bhoja carries you on hand consider - think highly of this position.