Setubandham-16

सेतुबन्धम्-१६

पुण्णणइसोत्तसंणिहजलमज्झमुणिज्जमाणचलतिमिणिवहम् ।

बल‍आमुहमूलसमीसरन्तमसिरासिकज्जलि‍अपा‍आलम् ॥ २-३६ ॥

[ पुण्यनदीस्रोतःसन्निभजलमध्यज्ञायमानचलतिमिनिवहम् ।

  वड्वामुखमूलसमवसरन्मषीराशिकज्जलितपातालम् ॥]

Shoals of fish in the ocean could be surmised by the currents induced by their movement  resembling the currents of the holy river Ganga. The netherworld had darkened due to the black soot emanating from the downward flames of Vadava fire.

तो जग्गाडि‍अमूलो पव‍अबलक्कन्तमहि‍अलुद्धुच्छलिओ ।

दिट्ठीअ दिट्ठसारो णज्ज‍इ तुलिओ त्ति राहवेण समुद्दो ॥ २-३७ ॥

[ तत उद्घाटितमूलः प्लवगबलाक्रान्तमहीतलोर्ध्वोच्छलितः ।

  दृष्ट्या दृष्टसारो ज्ञायते तुलित इति राघवेण समुद्रः ॥]

Rama gauged the ocean by the fact that its bottom was visible due to its waters streaming up when the monkey brigade occupied the shores of the ocean.

Rama looks at the ocean:

कालन्तरपरिहुत्तं दट्ठूण वि अप्पणो महीअहिस‍अणम् ।

अण‍असुआबद्धमणो रामो पल‍अवरिणिं ण संभर‍इ सिरिम् ॥ २-३८ ॥

[ कालान्तरपरिभुक्तं दृष्ट्वाप्यात्मनो महोदधिशयनम् ।

  जनकसुताबद्धमना रामः प्रलयगृहिणीं न स्मरति श्रियम् ॥]

Rama with his heart bound to Sita, the daughter of Janaka, did not remember Lakshmi who was his consort at the time of the great deluge, even after seeing the ocean which he had enjoyed at another time when he slept on the ocean.

Lakshmana looks at the ocean:

ईसिजलपेसि‍अच्छं विहसन्तवि‍इण्णपव‍अव‍इसंलावम् ।

अद्दिट्ठे व्व ण मुक्कं दिट्ठे उ अहिम्मि लक्खणेण वि धीरम् ॥ २-३९ ॥

[ ईषज्जलप्रेक्षिताक्षं विहसद्वितीर्णप्लवगपतिसंलापम् ।

  अदृष्ट इव न मुक्तं दृष्टे उदधौ लक्ष्मणेनापि धैर्यम् ॥]

Although Lakshmana saw the ocean with a slender glance as he conversed with Sugriva, the chief of monkeys smilingly, his valour did not desert him as if he had not seen it. [ Lakshmana looked at the ocean with nonchalance.]

Sugriva looks at the ocean:

हरिसणिराउण्णामि‍अपीण‍अरालोअपा‍अडोवरिभा‍अम् ।

पव‍आहिओ वि पेक्ख‍इ अद्धुप्प‍इअं व रुम्भि(न्धि)ऊण सरीरम् ॥ २-४० ॥

[ हर्षनिरायतोन्नामितपीनतरालोकप्रकटोपरिभागम् ।

  प्लवगाधिपोऽपि प्रेक्षते अर्धोत्पतितमिव रुद्ध्वा शरीरम् ॥]

Sugriva, the chief of monkeys looks at the ocean as the upper part of his sinuous body, elongated and bent with joy appears as if it has half-heartedly jumped up controlling the (rest of) the body.

गरुडेण व जलणणिहं समुद्दलङ्घणमणेण वाणरव‍इणा ।

अवहोवासपसरि‍अं पक्खवि‍आणं व पुल‍इअं क‍इसेण्णम् ॥ २-४१ ॥

[ गरुडेनेव ज्वलननिभं समुद्रलङ्घनमनसा वानरपतिना ।

  उभयावकाशप्रसृतं पक्षवितानमिव प्रलोकितं कपिसैन्यम् ॥]

Sugriva, the chief of monkeys who was thinking of crossing the ocean looked at the army of monkeys spread on both sides like Garuda would his wings before flying.

सा‍अरदंसणहित्था अक्खित्तोसरि‍अवेवमाणसरीरा ।

सहसा लिहिअव्व ठिआ णिप्पन्दणिरा‍अलोअणा क‍इणिवहा ॥ २-४२ ॥

[ सागरदर्शनत्रस्ता आक्षिप्तापसृतवेपमानशरीराः ।

  सहसा लिखिता इव स्थिता निःस्पन्दनिरायतलोचनाः कपिनिवहाः ॥]

 The monkeys assembled there with their bodies shaking after jumping up and retracting frightened by the sight of the ocean looked as if in a painting with their eyes widespread and un-blinking.
- - -- 

Setubandham-15

सेतुबन्धम्-१५

स‍अरङ्ग‍अं विद्दुमपल्लवप्पहाघोलिरसास‍अरङ्घ‍अम् ।

रविरा‍इ‍अं धरणि‍अलं व मन्दरा‍अड्ढणदूरविरा‍इ‍अम् ॥ २-२९ ॥

[ सतरङ्गकं विद्रुमपल्लवप्रभाघूर्णमानशाश्वतरङ्गकम् ।

  रविराजितं धरणितलमिव मन्दराकर्षणदूरविराविकम् ॥]

The waves of the ocean had revolving red tint due to the luster of the red color of the young shoots of coral resembling the earth colored by the rays of the sun; The roar of the ocean was heard as though it was the roar of the churning by Mandara mountain. 

मुत्ताल‍अं ति‍असविण्णजीवि‍असुहाम‍अजम्मुत्ताल‍अम् ।

वित्थिण्ण‍अं पल‍उव्वेलसलिलहेलामलि‍उव्वित्थिण्ण‍अम् ॥ २-३० ॥

[ मुक्तालयं त्रिदशवितीर्णजीवितसुखामृतजन्मोत्तालकम् ।

  विस्तीर्णकं प्रलयोद्वेलसलिलहेलामृदितोर्वीस्त्यानकम् ॥]

The vast ocean was a source of gems; it produced the ambrosia which was the source of happiness of the Devas who conquered it; it compressed the mass of earth easily at the time of Pralaya as its waters crossed the shores.

चिरपरूढसे‍आलसिलाहरि‍अन्त‍अम्

पवणभिण्णरवदारुणणीहरि‍अन्त‍अम् ।

महुमहस्स णिहासम‍ए वीसाम‍अम्

पल‍अडड्ढविज्झा‍अतुलव्वीसाम‍अम् ॥ २-३१ ॥

[ चिरप्ररूढशॆवालशिलाहरितायितं

  पवनभिन्नरवदारुणनिर्हृदत्कम् ।

मधुमथनस्य निद्रासमये विश्रामदं

  प्रलयदग्धविध्माततलोर्वीश्यामकम् ॥]

The boulders in the ocean had a green color due the moss that had grown over a long time; The waters of the ocean roared harshly broken by the speeding wind; It was the resting place for Vishnu, the slayer of Madhu , at the time of his sleep; the ocean had dark land (island ?) puffed up and burnt at the time of Pralaya.

असुरोवडणविहट्टि‍अजलविवरिट्ठि‍अरसा‍अलुम्हाणिवहम् ।

महणवसभिण्णभामि‍अदीवन्तरलग्गमन्दर‍अडक्खण्डम् ॥ २-३२ ॥

[ असुरावपतनविघटितजलविवरोत्थितरसातलोष्मनिवहम् ।

  मथनवशभिन्नभ्रामितद्वीपान्तरलग्नमन्दरतटखण्डम् ॥]

Steam was forthcoming from the netherworld through the fissures(islands) caused by the fall of demons (Hiranyaksha and others); the small islands looked as though they were  pieces of Mandara stuck in a distant island at the time of churning (of the ocean).

एस अम‍अरससंभवो त्ति संभावि‍अं

णहणिहतमॆण व च‍उद्दिसं भावि‍अम् ।

गुणमहग्घसारं वसुहारक्खाणि‍अं

णिअ‍अजसणिहाणं मिव स‍अरक्खा‍णिअम् ॥ २-३३ ॥

[ एषोऽमृतसंभव इति संभावितं

  नभोनिभतमसेव चतुर्दिशं भावितम् ।

  गुणमहार्घसारं  वसुधारक्षानीतं

  निजकयशोनिधानमिव सगरखानितम् ॥]

This ocean is respected as the originator of ambrosia; it is dark like sky as if generated by darkness on all four directions; it is enriched by excellent qualities; it protects the earth (as it surrounds the earth); It was dug by Sagara as if he was searching for his fame (Sagara became famous because of his digging the ocean).

पवणुग्गाहिअजललवणिवहपहम्मन्तमुहलतीरलवणम् ।

ससिसेलमऊहोज्झरपरिवड्डि‍असलिलमलिअपवणुच्छङ्घम् ॥ २-३४ ॥

[ पवनोद्ग्राहितजललवनिवहप्रहन्यमानमुखरतीरतलवनम् ।

  शशिशैलमयूखनिर्झरपरिवर्धितसलिलमृदितपुलिनोत्सङ्गम् ॥]

The forests on the shores were whining as the water particles carried by the wind pounded them. The sandy beaches were pounded by waters of the ocean, rising due to the stream- like rays of the mountain-like moon.

मन्दरमेहक्खोहिअससिकलहंसपरिमुक्कसलिलुच्छङ्गम् ।

मरग‍असेवालोवरि णिसण्णतुह्णिक्कमीणचक्क‍अजुअम् ॥ ३-३५ ॥

[ मन्दरमेघक्षोभितशशिकलहंसपरिमुक्तसलिलोत्सङ्गम् ।

  मरकतशेवालोपरि निषण्णतूष्णीकमीनचक्रवाकयुगम् ॥]

The swan-like moon rises out of the waters of the ocean due to the disturbance caused by the cloud-like Mandara  mountain. The pair of fish-like chakravaka birds sits still on the emerald-like moss. [The poet with a touch of exaggeration attributes moon rising from the ocean to the disturbance caused by Mandara mountain.]

- - - - 

Setubandham-14

सेतुबन्धम्-१४

मरग‍अमणिप्पहाह‍अहरि‍आऽअन्तजरढप्पवालकिसल‍अम् ।

सुरग‍अगन्धुद्धा‍इअकरिमकरासण्णदिण्णमेहमुहवडम् ॥ २-२२ ॥

[ मरकतमणिप्रभाहतहरितायमानजरठप्रवालकिसलयम् ।

  सुरगजगन्धोद्धावितकरिमकरासन्नदत्तमेघमुखपटम् ॥]

The old sprouts of corals were looking green because of the presence of emeralds and gems. The clouds looked like veils while the sea elephants were chased  by the fragrance of the ichor of celestial elephants. [What the poet wants to convey is not clear.]

मणिवाल‍अं तीरल‍आहरप्पहोहासि‍अरम्मणिवाल‍अम् ।

घणवारि‍अं वेलालिङ्गणेण चडुलं महिलङ्घणवारि‍अम् ॥ २-२३ ॥

[ मणिपालयं तीरलतागृहप्रभावभासितरम्यनृपालयम् ।

  घनवारिदं वेलालिङ्गनेन चटुलं महिलङ्घनवारितम् ॥]

The ocean was an abode for serpents, which protect gems. The bowered enclosures on the shore looked more beautiful than palaces because of their glow. The ocean was the source of water (to all) through clouds. The fickle ocean embraced the shore which was obstructed by the earth. [ “ocean” is masculine, “shore” (वेला) is feminine and earth (मही) is feminine. There is a suggestion of a man embracing a mistress while being restrained by his wife]

ससिमऊहपडिपेल्लणपक्खुब्भन्त‍अं

संचरन्तधरणीहरपक्खुब्भन्त‍अम् ।

धीर‍अं स‍इमुहलघणप‍अविज्जन्त‍अं

अट्ठि‍अं च वलवाणलप‍अविज्जन्त‍अम् ॥ २-२४ ॥

[ शशिमयूखपरिप्रेरणप्रक्षुभ्यत्कं

संचर्द्धरणीधरप्रक्षोभ्यमाणम् ।

 धैर्यकं सदामुखरघनपीयमान-

मस्थितं च वडवानलप्रताप्यमानम् ॥]

The ocean was getting disturbed by the rays of the moon; it was in tumult due to the movements of the mountains; it was being drunk by the clouds which were continuously roaring; it was being burnt within due to the Vadava fire; (despite all this) the brave ocean just became unsteady.

णि‍अ‍अविसाणलप‍अवि‍अमुत्ताणि‍अरपरिघोलमाणविसहरम् ।

मीणग‍इमग्गपा‍अडसे‍आलोम‍इलमणिसिलासंघा‍अम् ॥ २-२५ ॥

[ निजकविषानलप्रतापितमुक्तानिकरपरिघूर्णमानविषधरम् ।

  मीनगतिमार्गप्रकटशेवालावमलिनमणिशिलासंघातम् ॥]

There were snakes which were twisting around the groups of pearls which had been affected by the poisonous exhalations of the snakes. There were groups of gem stones which had become soiled due to the moss which could be seen on the routes taken by the fishes.

A description of the back flow of rivers joining the ocean:

सरिसंकुलं महुमहवल्लहा‍इ लच्छी‍अ सारसरिसं कुलम् ।

महीला‍इ‍अं णि‍इमुहपत्थि‍ओणि‍अत्ति‍अवेलामहिला‍इअम् ॥ २-२६ ॥

[ सरित्संकुलं मधुमथनवल्लभाया लक्ष्म्याः सारसदृशं कुलम् ।

महीलालितं नदीमुखप्रस्थितापनिवृत्तवेलामहिलायितम् ॥]

As the rivers poured onto the ocean which was a fit heritage for goddess Lakshmi, consort of Vishnu, the slayer of Madhu demon and which was being fondled by the earth, it looked as though like women the streams after having embraced the ocean returned swiftly.

ण‍इसहस्सपडिउम्वणणा‍अरसन्त‍अं

पलहमेहसमदूसहणाअरसन्त‍अम् ।

पेलवेण पवणेण महुरसंचारि‍अं

म‍उ‍अम‍अखलन्तं व महुरसं चारि‍अम् ॥ २-२७ ॥

[ नदीसहस्रपरिचुम्बनज्ञातरसान्तरं

  प्रलयमेघसमदुःसहनादरसन्तम् ।

  पेलवेन पवनेन मधुरसंचारितं

मृदुमदस्खलन्तमिव मधुरसं चारितम् ॥]

The ocean having kissed thousands of rivers was aware of the pleasures of enjoying other women. It was making a sound that equaled the roar of the clouds at the time of pralaya. It was pleasantly unsteady as the soft winds blew. It looked like a drunken man with misplaced steps due to the liquor imbibed.

कसणमणिच्छा‍आरसेरज्जन्तोवरिपरिप्पवन्तप्फेणम् ।

हरिणाहिपङ्क‍अक्खलि‍असेणीसास‍अणिअविअडावत्तम् ॥ २-२८ ॥

[ कृष्णमणिच्छायारसरज्यमानोपरिप्लवमानफेनम् ।

  हरिनाभिपङ्कजस्खलितशेषनिःश्वासजनितविकटावर्तम् ॥]

The floating foam above had the colors of dark gems (as the transparent foam took the colour of the gems below them.) The ocean had hideous whirl pools due to the movement of the lotus in the navel of Vishnu and due to the exhalations of the serpent Shesha.
- - - -

Setubandham-13

सेतुबन्धम्-१३

 पा‍आलोअरगहिरे महिप‍इरिक्कविअडे णहणिरालम्बे ।

तेल्लोक्के व्व महुमहं अप्पाण च्चि‍अं  ग‍आग‍आई करेन्तम् ॥ २.१५ ॥

[ पातालोदरगभीरे महीप्रतिरिक्तविकटे नभोनिरालम्बे ।

  त्रैलोक्य इव मधुमथनमात्मन्येव गतागतानि कुर्वन्तम् ]

Extending  deep into the bowels of the nether world and touching the sky with no support,  the ocean resembled Vishnu who (during Trivikrama incarnation) traversed within himself. [ The ocean which extended to the netherworld due to its depth and which touched the sky through its waves extended to all the three worlds like Trivikrama and its movements were restricted to within itself as a consequence.]

The back waters of rivers as they join the ocean are described:

अहिलीअ परमुहीहिं छिविओसरिएहिञ् अणुस‍अविलोलाहि ।

अणुणिज्जमाणमग्गं वेवन्तणिअत्तपत्थिआहिञ् णईहि ॥ २.१६ ॥

[ अभिलीय पराङ्मुखीभिः स्पृष्टापसृताभिरनुशयविलोलाभिः ।

अनुगम्य(नीय)मार्गं वेपमाननिवृत्तप्रस्थिताभिर्नदीभिः ॥]

The rivers (joining the ocean) followed the ocean as if hesitatingly with repentance, first touching the ocean and then going back trembling. [The poet suggests a parallel of ladies following their lover hesitatingly but finally going his way. ]

The munificence of ocean is described:

जीअगरुईहि अज्ज वि इच्छापज्जत्तसुहरसाहि म‍एन्तम् ।

धणरिद्धी‍अ सिरिअ ‍अ सलिलुप्पण्णा‍इ वारुणीअ अ लोअम् ॥ २.१७ ॥

[ जीवगुर्वीभिरद्यापीच्छापर्याप्तसुखरसाभिर्मदयन्तम् ।

  धनऋद्ध्या श्रिया च सलिलोत्पन्नया वारुण्या च लोकम् ॥]

The ocean was making the whole world intoxicated by ( its munificence) in the form of wealth (gems) and liquor (which came out of churning of the ocean) which are considered more precious than life itself and which fulfill ones desires.

चडुलं पि पि‍ईअ थिरं तिअसिक्खित्तर‍अणं पि सारब्भहिअम् ।

महिअं पि अणोलुग्गं असाउसलिलं पि अम‍अरसणीसन्दम् ॥ २.१८ ॥

[ चटुलमपि स्थित्या स्थिरं त्रिदशोत्क्षिप्तरत्नमपि साराभ्यधिकम् ।

  मथितमप्यनवरुग्णमस्वादुसलिलमप्यमृतरसनिःस्यन्दम् ॥]

The ocean is steady and does not transgress its limits although continuously agitated; although its riches have been taken away by the divine beings it continues to be full of riches; although it was churned (at the time of churning of ocean) it remains unharmed; although its water is not sweet, it produces ambrosia.

पज्जत्तरअणगब्भे णह‍अरुपह्वत्थचन्द‍अरपारोहे ।

उअरब्भन्तरसेले सुरव‍इडिम्बाणिहिए णिहि व्व वहन्तम् ॥ २.१९ ॥

[ पर्याप्तरत्नगर्भान्नभस्तरुपर्यस्तचन्द्रकरप्ररोहान् ।

  उदराभ्यन्तरशैलान्सुरपतिडिम्बनिहितान्निधीनिव वहन्तम् ॥]

Ocean has, out of fear for Indra, hidden within it mountains full of gems with sky as the tree above whose roots are moon’s rays. [ The suggestion is that just as riches are hidden deep in the ground after covering it with a tree grown above for fear of the king, ocean has hidden mountains for fear of Indra, the sky itself being the tree above it. It also alludes to the story that Mainaka mountain hid itself in the ocean evading Indra.]

परिअब्भिअं उवग‍ए बोलीणम्मिअ णिअत्तचडुलसहावम् ।

णवजोव्वणे व्व कामं द‍इअसमागमसुहम्मि चन्दुज्जोए ॥ २.२० ॥

[ परिजृम्भितमुपगते व्यतिक्रान्ते निवृत्तचटुलस्वभावम् ।

नवयौवन इव कामं दयितसमागमसुखे चन्द्रोद्द्योते ॥]

(They saw) the ocean which swelled at the rise of the moon and which became tranquil at the setting of the moon like the desire of the youth at the joyful presence of the beloved.

दरफुडिअसिप्पिसंपुडपलोट्टसङ्घमुहभरिअमुत्ताणिअरम् ।

मारुअदूरुच्छालिअजलभरिअद्धवहपडिणिअत्तजलहरम् ॥ २.२१ ॥

[ दरस्फुटितशुक्तिसंपुटप्रलुठितशङ्खमुखभृतमुक्तानिकरम् ।

  मारुतदूरोच्छालितजलभृतार्धपथप्रतिनिवृत्तजलधरम् ॥]

The pearls which were held at the mouth of the conch-shells rolled out from the oyster shells slightly prised open looked like clouds which returned half way filled with water and carried far by the winds. [What the poet wants to convey is not clear and the learned commentator seems to gloss over.]

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