Kurmastakadvyam

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

Page 62

Translation of Text B
41
(laghutva) is well known to what a great distance (or to what a high
degree !) 100. [Note : The latter half of the second half of this gātha shows loss of
many letters). The rest of the gāthā may be translated as follows : 1 You reduce the weight of the earth, you inflict punishment (one of the four means of success against enemy (-sāma, dāna, bheda and danda).
You use or employ other means too. Whatever you like you do it..... 101. (Under the weight of the earth] the Tortoise's shell has burst. [The
Prakrit word phatta corresponds with Marathi phātane] The tusk of the Boar has been broken into a hundred pieces. How do you support the
earth, [O King Bhoja !) on the sharp tip (or end) of your sword ? 102. [Note : The printed reading protein is highly misleading. As pointed out
by Pischel we must read a day instead. We may now translate the gāthā as follows:-]
The greatness taken away by the great never departs -vanishes. It is [in fact] his own (one who takes away the greatness) smallness-meanness;
in the case of others, again, it is even so. 03. The burden or load of the earth, made light by you and held by you
in your hand looks beautiful like a bracelet on your hand. When, however, the same was carried by the Tortoise and the like(kūrma
pramukha), it indeed appears like a load or burden (bhāra). 104. The earth which is naturally weighty-heavy-became all the more
'heavy' (guru means weighty or heavy and also great, respectable) i.e. respectable or great as it was held by the great King Bhoja ! Now, see
who dares look at her (the earth) ! 105. I know that the supernatural powers called animā (becoming as small
as an atom), laghimā (assuming excessive lightness at will) and similar powers (siddhis) -are acquired by you. The earth which you had (first) lightened (lahuāviä Sk. laghūkstā) that earth you again made weighty
heavy (guru (i) weighty, (ii) great, respectable) 106. The earth, although lightened by you, does not consider herself
lightened. That you, [O King Bhoja) lightened her - that itself she (the earth) considers as a matter of honour - of pride [the two words (laghu i. light ii contemptible) and guru (i weighty and ii great, respectable) are obviously double meaning.)