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SETUBANDHA 41. Receiving the mountains (accurately) released by the apes as well as those dropping at the wrong place in the causeway, Nala put them in position and joined them together, all at once.
42. "The sea supported the mountains set firmly together by Nala, and brought into position those dropping at the wrong place; while it surged in front of the causeway with a heavy swell.
43. As Hanūmat brought each mountain, with its summit worn by the wheel of the Sun's chariot, 21 Nala fixed it in position in the sea as he lifted it with his left hand with ease.
44. The mountains of the nether regions, devoted to the service of the Ocean, and crowned with moss, sustained the mountains tottering in the partly built causeway, with extensive lotus beds in the pools on their summit.
45. Starting from the margin of the beach, the emerald-green stretch of woods (on the mountains of the causeway), with the glistening branches, swayed as it was rocked by the rush of waters moving back and forth.
46. The serpents, coiled about the tusks of the sea elephants, and looking like iron rings, fell to the ground when they were tossed up during the latter's fight with the elephants (on the mountains), scared by the commotion of the sea.
47. The volume of sea water that returned after being driven far afield by the falling mountains was the first to adjust Nala's Way when it inclined in another direction 22
48. The elephants, half submerged in the heaving waters, with their ichor streaming freely, tore the serpents clinging to their feet, like ropes, stretching and pulling them (with their trunks).23
49. The waves rolled, made brighter by the lustre of the gems, with the broken emeralds greener in contact with the juice of the fruits (dropping from the trees on the mountains), and the foam made whiter by the shattered conch-shells.
21. Indicates the height of the mountain. 22. Illustrates the co-operation of the sea. Cf. verse 42. 23. Lit. stretched and pulled.
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