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CULTURAL DATA IN TILAKAMANJARĪ
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line of the hair of the earth, the necklace of the northern direction; as if the ashes of the arm stave of Śiva spread during the tandava dance, fallen down in the form of a line, as if the spume of the milk ocean inundated during deluge standing in accordance with the low lands; as if the Current of Ganga flown down at case out of eagerness for beholding the heavens, as if it were the variant form of Seşa capable of supporting the burden of the whole carth; as if the arm of the milk ocean occupied by a bracelet having shining gems studded into it; as if the steady joint or ligature of the orb of the earth entered up to the root of the hades; as if a counterpart to Himavān (Himalaya) with surface of the earth held fast by its expansive table lands; as if it were the old group of clouds of deluge (Samvarttakämbuda) looking for the end of the acon out of greed for quaffing the water clinging to the shores of the Eastern and the Western oceans; as if it derided Kailāśa swerved by the hands of Ravana by the shine of the sheen of its frame. stealing the shine of the Moon; it was creating thousands of Ganges out of spite for the mountain of snow (i.e. the Himalaya) through the cluster of linns (springs) manifesting many spurts; it emitted out sighs, as it were, out of jealousy for the loftiness of Sumeru, by means of the breezes from the openings of the caverns, circumambiating the interior of the quarters; as if it were snubbing the Mandara; Like Śival it had the flow of river Ganga issuing out of the forepart of its feet etc. Vaitädhya deriding Kailasa, being a counterpart to Himalaya, being a source of Ganga, feeling jealous of Sumeru all these go to establish its close association of Kailāśa, Himalaya and Sumeru which are a part and parcel of the Himalayan range.
Of the forests Dhanapala has made mention of Dandaka' abounding in tigers of many hues.
Dandakaranya according to Pargitar, comprised all the forests from Bundelkhanda to the Kṛṣṇā. According to the Rāmāyaṇa (Uttara Kanda Ch. 81) it was, situated between the Vindhya and the Saivala mountains; a part of it was called Janasthäna. Ramacandra lived here for a long time. According to the Uttara Rämacarita (Act I) it was a place to the west of
1. Trivikrama-Mahābhārata Kosa p. 304
2. Ibid. Vol. III. pp. 137-140.
3. अखण्डदण्डकारण्यभाजः प्रचुरवर्णकात् ।
EkERRIBI Targadà: TM. Intro. Verse 14. Vol. I. p. 20.
4. Southern boundary of the Dandaka forest which may be identified with the hills near Mahabaleśvara in Surat district.
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( सप्ताहाद् भस्मसाद्भूतम् यधनं ब्रह्मवादिना, तस्यासौ दण्डविषम विन्ध्यशैवल.... ततः प्रभृति काकुत्स्थ दण्डकारण्यमुच्यते ।)