Setubandha

Author(s): Krishnakant Handiqui
Publisher: Prakrit Text Society Ahmedabad

Page 19

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Canto VII. The Vanaras proceed to build the causeway 'that was to be the touchstone of their valour; the precursor of the overthrow of Ravana's might; the abiding symbol of Rama's fame.' Heaps of mountains are vehemently dropped into the waters, convulsing the ocean and rocking the carth, but this does not produce the desired result.
Formed by the mountains that were continuously in a long unbroken series, the causeway appeared to but vanished as it plunged into the sea. v. 70
Canto VIII. The remaining mountains are placed on the shore, and the sea becomes calm. The Vanaras are worn out with toil, but the situation is saved by the genius of Nala, who at the request of Sugrīva applies his skill to the construction of the bridge. He methodically fits the mountains together as they are dropped in, and succeeds in building a causeway linking the Malaya mountain on the mainland with the plateau of the Suvela on the island of Lanka.
Soaked in water, and clinging together, the mountains, with the join imperceptible, were not parted from each other, even though battered by the raging sea. v. 32
released, and came be built in the sky,
the great
The causeway is named after architect.
Did Nala's Way drop on the sea, fashioned in the sky? Built long ago, was it hauled from the Malaya range? Did it come into being in the waters of the sea? Did it emerge from the nether regions, complete
in structure ? v. 57
The deer (on the mountains of the causeway) looked at the ocean, and the people at Nala, all together, with eyes full of fear lest the mountains should topple down and the waters of the mountain streams that cascaded far into the sea rose aloft as they dashed (against the waves) to the music provided by the jubilation of the apes.
V. 65.
Some characteristic features of the bridge of mountains are mentioned.
1
Vanara