Kurmastakadvyam

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

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Kūrmaśatakadvayam
80. Note 1 : The first half of this gātha shows loss of a number of letters.
The general sense of the gāthā appears to be : Note 2: The text of this gāthā as presented here creates difficulties. The first half reads at its end 'mā gajja' and the second half reads at the beginning : ‘uvvahasu peccha dhariā'. I venture to guess that the original reading must have been [क] मढ मा गव्वं उव्वहसु | The beginning of the next gāthā has almost an identified reading ‘मा कमढ वहसु गव्वं The general sense of the gāthā appears to be : "Do not be puffed up (with pride), O Tortoise, that you have carried the heavy burden of the earth. Look, how it has been carried (ruled
over) today by King Bhoja! 81. Don't be puffed up with pride, O Tortoise. Don't you be, o šesa elated !
Of what extent is the burden of the earth? There are men who are greater than the great ! [Note : The latter half of the second half of this gāthā shows loss of some letters. ] Seeing that King Bhoja has held the earth on hand do not think that its burden is light. The Tortoise and others (the Boar, the serpent Sesa)
know very well how heavy is the burden of the earth. 83. How to lighten (lahuvavium - Sk. laghūkartum) and how to increase
(weight) (gauravium-gurūkartum (Sk) you alone, O King Bhoja, here know. That same earth [once] you lightened and (at another time] you
increased it due to [her] devotion- loyalty ! 84. how did the greatness, O earth, given to you by the animals (1. Kūrma
Tortoise 2. Varāha-the Boar, 3. Sesa - the serpent and 4. Dig-gajas-eight elephants guarding the eight quarters] appear to you ? and how did the
greatness given you by King Bhoja appear when he lightened you ? 85. [The second half of this gāthā shows loss of many letters in its earlier
part. Naturally it is not possible to say what the poet wanted to convey through this gāthă. The rest of the gāthā may be translated as follows :) King Bhoja's (purpose) in snatching you away from the animals (like the Tortoise, the Boar, etc.) was to give you real (peace and happiness).