2023-02-23 18:48:58 by ambuda-bot
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THE SÜRYAŚATAKA OF MAYÜRA
mūrdhany ävṛttilabdhadhruvagatir avatu bradhnavāhāvalir
vaḥ
163
Bradhna's (Sürya's) row of horses has acquired a fixed course¹
in their recurrent appearances on the summit of Sumeru,
And, as they see [their own] bodies [mirrored]² in the stones on
the crystal slopes, they believe other horses are by their side,
and runs [after them];
But their footsteps loiter over the jeweled [ledges of] ruby," for
they think: 'Day is now ended, and this is the twilight of
sunset";
And on the emerald' zone, their image is invisible by reason of
its similarity [of color].
May Bradhna's (Sürya's) row of horses, whose driver is dis-
tressed, protect you!
Notes. 1. Or, 'who have acquired a fixed gait.' 2. The commentary
supplies pratibimbita, 'reflected' or 'mirrored.' 3. The commentary re-
marks: This is the behavior of horses-when they see another horse,
they run.' 4. Lit. possessing a slow footstep.' 5. Lit. 'jewels of
ruby.'
6. The meaning is that they mistake the red of the ruby for
the red of sunset, and believing the day's work to be ended, they slacken
their speed. 7. For Meru and its composition of gold and precious
stones, cf. stanza I, note 4. 8. The commentary explains that no reflec-
tion of the horses can be seen in the emerald slopes, because the horses
are, like the emeralds, of a greenish (harit) color. This epithet (harit)
is applied to the horses of Sürya even in the Rig Veda; cf. stanza 8, note
2; cf. also stanzas 7, 47, 49, and Candiśataka, stanza 8, note 2.
driver was Aruna; the word 'distressed' (klista) may contain a reference
to his legless condition (cf. stanza 8, note 1), or perhaps the meaning is
that Aruna fretted because his steeds were inclined to loiter and to play
with the imaginary horses mirrored in the jeweled slopes of Meru. If
the latter view be accepted, we might render: 'The row of horses that tor-
ment their driver.' The commentary glosses klişta, 'distressed,' by kadar-
thita, 'despised,' 'teased.'
9. The
V.L. (a) VHB tatadṛśad- (with palatal sibilant); B deha dravamta.
(c) J marakatadrşadi. (d) H mürdvany; H durttiladhvadhruva-, V
avrttibaddhadhruva-, B durttivadhvadhruva-, K avrttilabdhadruta-; V
gativavatu; VJHB -avat vaḥ.
47
helālolam vahantī viṣadharadamanasyā 'grajenā 'vakṛṣṭā
svarvāhinyāḥ sudūram janitajavajayā syandanasya syadena
mūrdhany ävṛttilabdhadhruvagatir avatu bradhnavāhāvalir
vaḥ
163
Bradhna's (Sürya's) row of horses has acquired a fixed course¹
in their recurrent appearances on the summit of Sumeru,
And, as they see [their own] bodies [mirrored]² in the stones on
the crystal slopes, they believe other horses are by their side,
and runs [after them];
But their footsteps loiter over the jeweled [ledges of] ruby," for
they think: 'Day is now ended, and this is the twilight of
sunset";
And on the emerald' zone, their image is invisible by reason of
its similarity [of color].
May Bradhna's (Sürya's) row of horses, whose driver is dis-
tressed, protect you!
Notes. 1. Or, 'who have acquired a fixed gait.' 2. The commentary
supplies pratibimbita, 'reflected' or 'mirrored.' 3. The commentary re-
marks: This is the behavior of horses-when they see another horse,
they run.' 4. Lit. possessing a slow footstep.' 5. Lit. 'jewels of
ruby.'
6. The meaning is that they mistake the red of the ruby for
the red of sunset, and believing the day's work to be ended, they slacken
their speed. 7. For Meru and its composition of gold and precious
stones, cf. stanza I, note 4. 8. The commentary explains that no reflec-
tion of the horses can be seen in the emerald slopes, because the horses
are, like the emeralds, of a greenish (harit) color. This epithet (harit)
is applied to the horses of Sürya even in the Rig Veda; cf. stanza 8, note
2; cf. also stanzas 7, 47, 49, and Candiśataka, stanza 8, note 2.
driver was Aruna; the word 'distressed' (klista) may contain a reference
to his legless condition (cf. stanza 8, note 1), or perhaps the meaning is
that Aruna fretted because his steeds were inclined to loiter and to play
with the imaginary horses mirrored in the jeweled slopes of Meru. If
the latter view be accepted, we might render: 'The row of horses that tor-
ment their driver.' The commentary glosses klişta, 'distressed,' by kadar-
thita, 'despised,' 'teased.'
9. The
V.L. (a) VHB tatadṛśad- (with palatal sibilant); B deha dravamta.
(c) J marakatadrşadi. (d) H mürdvany; H durttiladhvadhruva-, V
avrttibaddhadhruva-, B durttivadhvadhruva-, K avrttilabdhadruta-; V
gativavatu; VJHB -avat vaḥ.
47
helālolam vahantī viṣadharadamanasyā 'grajenā 'vakṛṣṭā
svarvāhinyāḥ sudūram janitajavajayā syandanasya syadena