42. Flames of fire with their smoky tails, resembling the train of a comet, danced about on the stage of the world, in the manner of dancing actresses, with the loosened and flouncing hair. 43. The burning fire burst the parched ground, and flung its sparkling particles all around, like the fried rice flying all about the frying pan in various colours. 44. Then the burning rocks and woods exhibited a golden hue on the breast of the earth, with their bursting and splitting noise (as if the earth was beating her breast at her impending destruction). 45. All lands were crushed together with the cry of their inhabitants, and all the seas dashed against one another, with foaming froths in their mouths. 46. The waves shone in their faces, with the reflexion of the shining sun upon them; they clashed against each other, as if they were clapping their hands; and dashed with such force against the land, that they beat and broke down the rocks on the sea shore. 47. The raging sea with his billowy arms, grasped the earth and stone, as foolish men do in their anger; and devoured them in his hollow cell with a gurgling noise, as fools swallow their false hopes with vain bawling. 48. The all destroying fire with a hoarse sound, melted down the rivers with their banks, and the regents of the sphere fell before the geysers. 49. The ten sides of the compass, were out of order and confounded together; and all the mountains were reduced to the form of liquid gold (fire), with their woods and abodes and caves and caverns. 50. By degrees the prodigious mountain Meru, was dissolved to snow by the heat of fire; and soon after the great mount of Himálaya, was melted down as lac-dye by the same fire. 51. All things were cold and pinched in themselves, as good people are thawed by the awe of the wicked; except the Malaya mountain, which yielded its fragrance even in that state (of its tribulation). 52. The noble minded man never forsakes his nobleness, though he is exposed to troubles; because the great never afflict another, though they are deprived of their own joy and happiness. 53. Burn the sandal wood, yet it will diffuse its fragrance to all living beings; because the intrinsic nature of a thing, is never lost or changed into another state. 54. Gold is never consumed nor disfigured, though it is burnt in the fire of a conflagration; thus there are two things, namely, _aura_ and _vacuum_, that cannot be consumed by the all destroying fire. 55. Those bodies are above all praise, which do not perish at the perdition of all others; such as the vacuum is indestructible on account of its omnipresence, and gold is not subject to any loss owing to its purity. 56. The property of goodness (_sattwa_) alone is true happiness, and neither _rajas nor_ ostentation or passion. Then the fiery clouds moved aloft as a moving forest, ashed showers of vivid flame.