43. The orb of the earth being shattered to pieces, with all its contents of islands &c., was rolling in large masses together with the fragments of the infernal worlds. 44. Now the seven regions of heaven and those of the infernal worlds, being mixed up in one mass with the shattered mass of the earth and its mountains, filled up the universal space with the chaotic waters and diluvian winds. 45. Then the universal ocean, was swollen with the waters of all its tributary seas and rivers; and there was a loud uproar of the rolling waters, resembling the clamour of the enraged madman. 46. The rain fell at first in the form of fountains and cascades, and then it assumed the shape of falling columns or water spouts; at last it took the figure of a palm tree, and then it poured down its showers in torrents. 47. Then it ran as the current of a river, and flooded and overflowed on all sides; and the raining clouds made the surface of the earth one extended sheet of water. 48. The flamefire was seen to subside at last, just as some very great danger in human life, is averted by observance of the precautions given in the sástras, and advice of the wise. 49. At last the vast vault of the mundane world, became as desolate of all its contents and submerged in water; as a goodly _bel_ fruit loses its substance by being tossed about in playful mood from the hands of boys. CHAPTER LXXVIII. DESCRIPTION OF THE UNIVERSAL OCEAN. Argument:—Rain waters running as rivers, and these meeting together and making an universal ocean. Vasishtha continued:—The rain storm and falling hails and snows, shattered the surface of the earth to parts and parcels; and the violence of the waters was increasing, like the oppression of kings in Kali or last days of the world. 2. The rain water falling upon the stream of the etherial Ganges, make it run in a thousand streamlets, flowing with huge torrents, higher than the mountains of Meru and Mandara. 3. Here the waves rose to the path of the sun, and there the waters sank down and lay dull in the mountain caves; and then the dull element made the universal ocean, as when a fool is made the soveran lord of earth. 4. The great mountains were hurled down as straws, in the deep and broad whirlpools of water; and the tops of the huge surges, reached to the far distant sphere of the sun. 5. The great mountains of Meru and Mandara of Vindhya, Sahya and Kailása, dived and moved in as fishes and sea monsters; the melted earth set as its soil, and large snakes floated thereon like stalks of plant with their lotus like hoods. 6. The half burnt woods and floating plants, were as its moss and bushes, and the wet ashes of the burnt world, were as the dirty mud underneath the waters.