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58
SETUBANDHA
71. As the apes uprooted the mountains the sky seemed to be raised aloft;62 the regions of the sky seemed to be driven wide apart, and the earth seemed to be expanded.63
72. Dark red as an ominous glow of the sky, the massive radiance of the gems, embedded in the hoods of the serpent Ananta,64 was seen emerging through the deep cavities that marked the site of the mountains uprooted by the host of apes.
73. The strength of Rāvana's arms, though it was great and seen at its best when applied to the Kailasa mountain, was thrown into the shade by the apes, who each uprooted a mountain with a single hand.65
74. The nether regions, with their dense gloom blending with the rays of the sun, entering through the chasms left by the uprooted mountains, became dusky like greyish smoke as the darkness grew sparse.
75. As the apes uprooted the mountains, their own abode, regardless of their own interest, they earned glory, in spite of being liable to blame, because they were solely devoted to their master's work.
76. The mountains, with their broad base held fast on the shoulders of the apes, became lighter, though heavy, because the streams were swept away by the wind rising from the speed of the apes. 66
77. Thereupon, having uprooted all the mountains, the apes quickly flew into the sky, raising cries, even more swiftly than when they alighted on them.67
78. The nimble and swift-flying apes carried the vast and heavy and unshakeable mountains to the sky with a single effort, as if with agile wings.
62. i.e., by the raised peaks.
63. i.e., the earth appeared to be wider after it was cleared of the mountains.
64. Cf. verse 69. 65. Rāvana had only moved the Kailasa mountain with his twenty arms. 66. See next verse. 67. See verse 28.
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