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THE SÜRYASATAKA OF MAYŪRA
117
Incarnation' (cf. below, note 4). For example, the rays, on first appear-
ing above the horizon, are short, just as Vişnu was at first a dwarf; later
in the day, the rays are long-extended, just as Vişņu later extended his
dwarfish form into the person of a giant; the rays pervade the universe,
and fill the ten quarters [of the sky] (cf. stanza 4, note 3), just as Vișņu
did with the second of his three steps'; and the rays snatch the universe
from darkness, as Vişņu rescued it from Bali (cf. note 4). The rays,
however, mock Vişņu, because they mount higher in the heavens than even
that god went when taking his 'three steps.' 2. Lit. 'bear dwarfishness.
3. The commentary makes tato 'pi, 'then also,' connect padas (b) and
(c)-'fill the ten regions, and then also quickly pervade.' 4. The story
runs that heaven, earth and sky were once in the power of the demon
Bali. The gods appealed to Vişnu for aid. That deity assumed the form
of a dwarf, and, pretending to be a Brāhman, went to Bali, and asked,
as an alms, for as much territory as he could cross over in three steps.
This request was readily granted by Bali. Thereupon the dwarf at once
became a giant; his first step covered the earth; his second, heaven; and
not knowing where to place the third, the god planted it on the head of
Bali and sent him to Pātāla; cf. Mahabharata, 3. 272. 62-69; Rāmāyaṇa,
1. 29. 4-21; Harivamśa (ed. by Vināyakarāya, Bombay, 1891), 1. 41. 79-80,
99-103 (cf. transl. by M. N. Dutt, p. 173-175, Calcutta, 1897); see also
the illustration in Musée Guimet, Annales, Bibliothèque d'Etudes, vol. 18,
p. 101, Paris, 1905. 5. The commentary says that balitas is equivalent
to balavatas (abl.), 'from the mighty,' and that it also denotes from Bali'
(bali with ablative suffix -tas); hence the double rendering in my transla-
tion. 6. The position of vaḥ, 'of you,' in the first päda, so far removed
from kṛcchrany, on which it depends, is noteworthy.
V.L. (b) J omits diśaḥ. (c) K devadruhaḥ iva; V afruvanaḥ, B
aśrubānaḥ. (d) HB kṛcchrany (with dental nasal); VJHB -helävahasita-.
8
udgāḍhenā 'ruņimnā vidadhati bahulam ye 'ruṇasyā 'ruṇatvam
mūrdhoddhūtāu khalīnakṣatarudhiraruco ye rathāśvānaneşu
śäilānām sekharatvam śritaśikhariśikhās tanvate ye disantu
prenkhantaḥ khe kharāmśoḥ khacitadinamukhās te mayükhāḥ
sukham vaḥ
The rays of the Hot-rayed (Sürya), by their intense redness, pro-
duce the deep red of Aruna,¹ (the Dawn),
And have the color of the blood from the wounds [caused] by
the bits in the mouths of the chariot-horses, when they toss
their heads,
117
Incarnation' (cf. below, note 4). For example, the rays, on first appear-
ing above the horizon, are short, just as Vişnu was at first a dwarf; later
in the day, the rays are long-extended, just as Vişņu later extended his
dwarfish form into the person of a giant; the rays pervade the universe,
and fill the ten quarters [of the sky] (cf. stanza 4, note 3), just as Vișņu
did with the second of his three steps'; and the rays snatch the universe
from darkness, as Vişņu rescued it from Bali (cf. note 4). The rays,
however, mock Vişņu, because they mount higher in the heavens than even
that god went when taking his 'three steps.' 2. Lit. 'bear dwarfishness.
3. The commentary makes tato 'pi, 'then also,' connect padas (b) and
(c)-'fill the ten regions, and then also quickly pervade.' 4. The story
runs that heaven, earth and sky were once in the power of the demon
Bali. The gods appealed to Vişnu for aid. That deity assumed the form
of a dwarf, and, pretending to be a Brāhman, went to Bali, and asked,
as an alms, for as much territory as he could cross over in three steps.
This request was readily granted by Bali. Thereupon the dwarf at once
became a giant; his first step covered the earth; his second, heaven; and
not knowing where to place the third, the god planted it on the head of
Bali and sent him to Pātāla; cf. Mahabharata, 3. 272. 62-69; Rāmāyaṇa,
1. 29. 4-21; Harivamśa (ed. by Vināyakarāya, Bombay, 1891), 1. 41. 79-80,
99-103 (cf. transl. by M. N. Dutt, p. 173-175, Calcutta, 1897); see also
the illustration in Musée Guimet, Annales, Bibliothèque d'Etudes, vol. 18,
p. 101, Paris, 1905. 5. The commentary says that balitas is equivalent
to balavatas (abl.), 'from the mighty,' and that it also denotes from Bali'
(bali with ablative suffix -tas); hence the double rendering in my transla-
tion. 6. The position of vaḥ, 'of you,' in the first päda, so far removed
from kṛcchrany, on which it depends, is noteworthy.
V.L. (b) J omits diśaḥ. (c) K devadruhaḥ iva; V afruvanaḥ, B
aśrubānaḥ. (d) HB kṛcchrany (with dental nasal); VJHB -helävahasita-.
8
udgāḍhenā 'ruņimnā vidadhati bahulam ye 'ruṇasyā 'ruṇatvam
mūrdhoddhūtāu khalīnakṣatarudhiraruco ye rathāśvānaneşu
śäilānām sekharatvam śritaśikhariśikhās tanvate ye disantu
prenkhantaḥ khe kharāmśoḥ khacitadinamukhās te mayükhāḥ
sukham vaḥ
The rays of the Hot-rayed (Sürya), by their intense redness, pro-
duce the deep red of Aruna,¹ (the Dawn),
And have the color of the blood from the wounds [caused] by
the bits in the mouths of the chariot-horses, when they toss
their heads,