Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/136

102 'O thou illustrious one, where am I to throw this arm of the tree? Illustrious one, indicate to me some region that is without human beings.' And then Kasyapa spoke of a mountain without human beings, with caves and dales always covered with snow and incapable of approach by ordinary creatures even in thought. And the great bird bearing that branch, the elephant, and the tortoise, then proceeded with great speed towards that mountain of broad waist. And the great arm of the tree with which that bird of huge body flew away could not be girt round with a cord made of a hundred (cow) hides. And Gadura, the lord of birds, then flew away for hundred thousands of yojanas within the shortest time. And going according to the directions of his father to that mountain almost in a moment, the ranger of the skies let fall the gigantic branch. And it fell with a great noise. And that king of rocks shook, struck with the storm raised by Gadura's wings. And the trees thereon dropped showers of flowers. And the cliffs of that mountain decked with gems and gold and adorning that great mountain itself, were loosened and fell down on all sides. And the falling branch struck down numerous trees which with their golden flowers amid their dark foliage shone there like clouds charged with lightning. And those trees, bright as gold, falling down upon the ground and becoming dyed with mountain metals, shone as if they were bathed in the rays of the sun.

"And the best of birds, Gadura, perching on the summit of that mountain then ate both the elephant and the tortoise. And he the son of Tarkhya, endued with great speed, having eat of the tortoise and the elephant, then rose on his wings from the top of the mountain summit.

"And various omens began to appear among the gods foreboding feat. Indra's favorite thunder-bolt blazed up in a fright. And meteors with flames and smoke, loosened from the welkin, shot down during the day. And the respective weapons of the Vasus, the Rudras, the Adityas, of all of them, of the Sadhyas, the Marutas, and of all the other tribes of the gods, began to spend their force against each other. And such things had never happened even in the war of the gods and the