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146
 
THE SŪRYASATAKA OF MAYŪRA
 
The¹ dawn-splendor of Arka (Sürya), like an antidote, rouses the
universe which, bitten by <Time>, [as if by] a <black>
serpent, [lies], fallen and unconscious,³
 
With its eye closed, its sense of hearing dulled, deprived of the
sense of taste, the function of its nose suspended,
 
Its skin insensible to touch,' bereft of the power of reason, its
limbs limp, having only breath left.
 
May the dawn-splendor proceeding from Arka (Sürya) dispel
your misfortune!
 
Notes. 1. We have here a simile. The sleeping world is likened to a
man who has been bitten by a snake and lies unconscious. The rising of
Sürya is the antidote that rouses to life. For a list of the more note-
worthy similes in the Süryaśataka, see stanza 14, note 1. 2. The com-
mentary glosses avalidham, 'touched,' by grastam, 'devoured.' I have
rendered as 'bitten.' The commentary implies that both Time and ser-
pents cause death. 3. Lit. 'sleeping.' 4. Lit. possessing a closing
eye.' 5. Lit. 'with crooked ear.' 6. Or, 'its tongue paralyzed.' 7.
Lit. 'its skin incapable of its own function.'
 
V.L. (a) VJHB vijihvaśruti; VJH vighnitaghränavrtti. (b) V fyāma-
matrāvaseşam. (c) H visrastadgam, B visrastadgam; JK apaharatād
apriyam.
 
32
 
nihśeşam nāiśam ambhaḥ prasabham apanudann aśruleśānu-
kāri
 
stokastokāpanītāruṇarucir acirād astadoṣānuṣaṁgaḥ
 
dātā dṛṣṭim prasannām tribhuvananayanasyä "su yuşmad-
viruddham
 
vadhyād bradhnasya siddhāñjanavidhir aparaḥ prāktano 'rciḥ-
pracāraḥ
 
The eastern¹ appearing of the rays of Bradhna (Sürya), the eye
of the three worlds,
 
Is <the action of divine fire>, and [is also] another <application
of magical eye-salve>, for it «bestows pure wisdom> as eye-
salve <makes bright the pupil of the eye>,"
 
It <removes perforce® all the dew that resembles tear-drops>, as
eye-salve <quickly dries up the water, resembling tear-drops,
[that seeps from between the eyelids] at night>,