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15
SETUBANDHA the earth groaned when the mountain was pulled up from its roots.26
30. It was the home of pearls, and was pre-eminent, because from it emerged nectar that gave the gods the joy of life. It was vast, and its waters were turned into mire27 by the earth, crushed with ease by the surging waters of the deluge.
31. It was green with rocks long overgrown with moss; and extensive, with a terrible roar re-echoed by the wind. It afforded repose to Vişnu in his season of sleep;28 and was dark like the surface of the earth, when it had cooled after being scorched by the fire of universal ruin.
32. Hot vapours from the nether regions rose through its waters as they parted when the demons plunged down; while portions of the Mandara slopes, torn down by the force of the churning, whirled about, and stuck fast to diverse isles.
33. It was esteemed as the source of nectar. Resembling the sky, it seemed to be tinged with darkness all around. Endowed with treasures, highly prized for their excellence, it was brought into being for the protection of the earth. King Sagara had it dug (by his sons), as if as a repository of his fame.
34. The palm groves on the shore rustled as they were hit by sea spray blown by the wind; and the expanse of the beach was lashed by the waters, swollen by streams of rays from the inountain that was the moon.
35. Its waters were abandoned by yonder swan, the moon, scared by the raincloud in the shape of the Mandara mountain; and, pairs of fish, looking like red geese, lay still on the mosslike emeralds.29
26. For using it as a staff for churning the ocean. Cf. 1.49. For other interpretations see Extracts.
27. Lit. thickened. 28. See 1.21.
29. The moon, which left the ocean while it was being churned with the Mandara mountain, is fancied as a swan migrating to the Manasa lake in the rainy season; and the fish, taking shelter on the emerald deposits at the bottom during the commotion, are likened to red geese huddling together on the mossy banks of streams. The second line is variously interpreted. See Extracts.
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