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SETUBANDHA
96. The high-peaked mountains, red with minerals, standing on either shore, looked like flagstaffs marking the causeway, with the white, wind-swept cascades serving as banners.
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97. Having built the causeway, and scattered on the ground the mountains left over, the host of apes set out on their march, inspired by Rama with martial ardour as he marched with them.
98. As they passed they beheld the sea, divided in twain by the causeway, and reduced in extent, with the waters diminished on one side, being consumed by the submarine fire.60
99, 100. The host of apes marched over Nala's Way, the bridge linked to both shores, that was full of white lotus blossoms as well as conch shells, heaps of broken green leaves as well as bright emeralds, and young shoots mingling with corals.61
The causeway bent under the weight, with the mountains coming loose; but the ocean supported it firmly with all its strength, pressing hard upon the nether regions.
101. Obstructed by the causeway, the sea, like a wild elephant tied to a post, rocked the flanks of the bridge, and spread over it its massive waves, even as an elephant stretches out its trunk and shakes the post (to uproot it).
102. Bathed in sweat after they had carried loads of mountains, the apes crossed the sea, and laved their hands, soiled by the minerals, in the cascades of the mountains on the flanks of the causeway.
103. They reached the summit of the Suvela that had groves befitting the trees brought from the Nandana garden by Ravana; where the sylvan creepers were crushed under the weight of the clouds settling on them with their load of water.
104. Hearing that the host of apes had crossed the sea, with their valour unresisted, the demons became remiss in carrying out the orders of their master.
60. i.e., the waters consumed by the submarine fire could not be replenished by the waters from the other side of the causeway which reached to the bottom of the sea, like a wall.
61. The flowers and leaves belonged to the mountains of the causeway, and the corals, emeralds etc. were those washed up by the waves.
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