Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story)
by Somadeva | 1924 | 1,023,469 words | ISBN-13: 9789350501351
This is the English translation of the Kathasaritsagara written by Somadeva around 1070. The principle story line revolves around prince Narav膩hanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the Vidhy膩dharas (鈥榗elestial beings鈥�). The work is one of the adoptations of the now lost B峁沨atkath膩, a great Indian epic tale said to have been composed by ...
Note on the bridge built by 搁腻尘补 (Adam鈥檚 bridge)
Note: this text is extracted from Book III, chapter 19.
鈥淲hen they heard that, his ministers approved of his performing austerities, as the chiefs of the monkeys did in the case of 搁腻尘补, when he was intent upon building a bridge over the ocean鈥�.
This well-known incident occurs in the sixth book of the 搁腻尘腻测补峁嘺, known as the Yuddha-办腻峁囜笉补 (鈥淏attle Section鈥�). 搁腻尘补, having concluded an alliance with 厂耻驳谤墨惫补, king of the monkeys, is advised by him to build a bridge from the mainland to 尝补峁卥腻 (Ceylon), where the 搁腻办峁蝉补, 搁腻惫补峁嘺, is holding 厂墨迟腻 (搁腻尘补鈥檚 wife) captive.
Accordingly a huge army of monkeys assembles on the seashore. 痴颈产丑墨峁峁嘺, 搁腻惫补峁嘺鈥檚 brother, advises the surrender of 厂墨迟腻, but is insulted by 搁腻惫补峁嘺. He thereupon joins 搁腻尘补 and advises him to propitiate the God of the Sea, before starting building the bridge. This is done, and then, tearing up rocks and trees, the multitude of monkeys construct a bridge across the straits. A fearful battle ensues, 搁腻惫补峁嘺 is killed, and after 厂墨迟腻 has proved her purity she is joyfully received back by 搁腻尘补.
Thus the Hindus have given the name 搁腻尘补鈥檚 Bridge (搁腻尘补setu) to the row of islands and sandbanks stretching from the island of Manaar, near the north-west coast of Ceylon, to the island of R膩me艣varman, just off the Indian mainland. It is a famous place of pilgrimage, and contains a wonderful carved temple, 700 ft. long, with pillared corridors.
The English name Adam's Bridge is in all probability adopted from the Arabs, who regard Ceylon as the place of Adam鈥檚 exile after he had been driven from Eden. The well-known depression on Adam鈥檚 Peak, the most prominent, though not the largest, mountain in Ceylon, is considered to be Adam鈥檚 footprint by the Mohammedans, Buddha鈥檚 footprint by the Buddhists, 艢颈惫补鈥檚 by the Br膩hmans, while the claims of the Portuguese Christians are divided between St Thomas and the eunuch of Candace, Queen of Ethiopia.
For further information on this subject reference should be made to T. W. Rhys Davids鈥� 鈥淎dam鈥檚 Peak,鈥� Hastings鈥� Ency. Rel. Eth., vol. i, pp. 87, 88, with the references given; Yule and Cordier, Marco Polo (1903), vol. ii, pp. 321, 322, 328n, and Cathay and the Way Thither, vol. i, pp. 171, 172, vol. iii, pp. 233, 242.鈥� n.m.p.