मनःसंहर्षजं दिव्यं गन्धर्वाप्सरसां प्रियम्। मत्तभ्रमस्संघुष्टं मनोज्ञाकृतिदर्शनम्
It was delightful to the mind, beloved of Gandharvas and Apsarases, resounding with the humming of intoxicated bees, and pleasing to behold.
रमणीयं शिवं पुण्यं सर्वैर्जनमनोहरैः। नानापक्षिरुतं रम्यं कद्रूपुत्रप्रहर्षणम्
Charming, auspicious, and holy, captivating to all people, filled with the songs of various birds, it brought joy to the sons of Kadru.
तत्ते वनं समासाद्य विजह्रुः पन्नगास्तदा। अब्रुवंश्च महावीर्यं सुपर्णं पतगेश्वरम्
Having reached that forest, the serpents then rejoiced; they spoke to Suparṇa, the mighty lord of birds.
वहास्मानपरं द्वीपं सुरम्यं विमलोदकम्। त्वं हि देशान्बहून्रम्यान्व्रजन्पश्यसि खेचर
"Carry us to another island, most delightful, with pure waters; for you, O sky-roamer, see many beautiful lands as you travel."
स विचिन्त्याब्रवीत्पक्षी मातरं विनतो तदा। किं कारणं मया मातः कर्तव्यं सर्पभाषितम्
Then the bird, reflecting, spoke to his mother Vinatā: "Mother, what is the reason I must do as the serpents say?"
दासीभूतास्मि दुर्योगात्सपत्न्याः पतगोत्तम। पणं वितथमास्थाय सर्पैरुपधिना कृतम्
"I have become a slave, O best of birds, through misfortune and the deceit of my co-wife; the serpents tricked me with a false wager."
तस्मिंस्तु कथिते मात्रा कारणे गगनेतरः। उवाच वचनं सर्पांस्तेन दुःखेन दुःखितः
When his mother had told him the reason, the one who moves through the sky, saddened by that sorrow, spoke these words to the serpents.
किमाहृत्य विदित्वा वा किं वा कृत्वेह पौरुषम्। दास्याद्वो विप्रमुच्येयं तथ्यं वदत लेलिहाः
"By bringing or knowing what, or by what act of valor, could I free my mother from slavery? Speak truly, O licking ones."
श्रुत्वा समब्रुवन्सर्पा आहरामृतमोजसा। ततो दास्याद्विप्रमोक्षो भविता तव खेचर
Hearing this, the serpents replied: "Bring us amṛta by your power; then your mother will be freed from slavery, O sky-roamer."
इत्युक्तो गरुडः सर्पैस्ततो मातरमब्रवीत्। गच्छाम्यमृतमाहर्तुं भक्ष्यमिच्छामि वेदितुम्
Thus addressed by the serpents, Garuḍa then spoke to his mother: "I will go to bring the amṛta; I wish to know what food I may eat."
समुद्रकुक्षावेकान्ते निषादालयमुत्तमम्। `भवनानि निषादानां तत्र सन्ति द्विजोत्तम
At the edge of the ocean’s depths lies the finest abode of the Nishadas; there, O best of twice-born, are the dwellings of the Nishadas.
पापिनां नष्टलोकानां निर्घृणानां दुरात्मनाम्'। निषादानां सहस्राणि तान्भुक्त्वाऽमृतमानय
Thousands of Nishadas, sinful, lost to the world, merciless, and wicked—consume them and bring back the nectar.
न च ते ब्राह्मणं हन्तुं कार्या बुद्धिः कथंचन। अवध्यः सर्वभूतानां ब्राह्मणो ह्यनलोपमः
You must never, under any circumstance, resolve to kill a Brahmana; for the Brahmana is inviolable among all beings, and without blemish.
अग्निरर्को विषं शस्त्रं विप्रो भवति कोपितः। गुरुर्हि सर्वभूतानां ब्राह्मणः परिकीर्तितः
Fire, the sun, poison, and weapons—all become as a Brahmana when angered; the Brahmana is proclaimed as the teacher of all creatures.
एवमादिस्वरूपैस्तु सतां वै ब्राह्मणो मतः। स ते तात न हन्तव्यः संक्रुद्धेनापि सर्वथा
In this way, by such qualities, the Brahmana is regarded by the virtuous; therefore, dear one, he must not be slain, even in anger, under any circumstances.
ब्राह्मणानामभिद्रोहो न कर्तव्यः कथंचन। न ह्येवमग्निर्नादित्यो भस्म कुर्यात्तथानघ
One must never commit an assault against Brahmanas; just as fire or the sun would not reduce to ashes the innocent, so too must you refrain.
यथा कुर्यादभिक्रुद्धो ब्राह्मणः संशितव्रतः। तदेतैर्विविधैर्लिङ्गैस्त्वं विद्यास्तं द्विजोत्तमम्
As a Brahmana of firm vows, when enraged, would act—by these various signs, you should recognize that excellent twice-born.
भूतानामग्रभूर्विप्रो वर्णश्रेष्ठः पिता गुरुः
The Brahmana is the foremost among beings, the highest among castes, the father, and the teacher.
किंस्विदग्निनिभो भाति किंस्वित्सौम्यप्रदर्शनः। यथाहमभिजानीयां ब्राह्मणं लक्षणैः शुभैः
Who shines like fire? Who displays gentle demeanor? By what auspicious marks may I recognize a Brahmana?
यस्ते कण्ठमनुप्राप्तो निगीर्णं बडिशं यथा
He who has reached your throat, as a hook is swallowed—
दहेदङ्गारवत्पुत्रं तं विद्याद्ब्राह्मणर्षभम्। विप्रस्त्वया न हन्तव्यः संक्रुद्धेनापि सर्वदा
If he burns like a live coal, know him to be a foremost Brahmana; a Brahmana must never be slain by you, even in anger, at any time.
प्रोवाच चैन विनता पुत्रहार्दादिदं वचः। जठरे न च जीर्येद्यस्तं जानीहि द्विजोत्तमम्
And Vinata spoke this word to her son from the heart: He who does not decay in your belly, know him to be an excellent twice-born.
पुनः प्रोवाच विनता पुत्रहार्दादिदं वचः। जानन्त्यप्यतुलं वीर्यमाशीर्वादपरायणा
Again Vinata spoke this word to her son from the heart: Even knowing his incomparable power, those devoted to blessings—
पक्षौ ते मारुतः पातु चन्द्रसूर्यौ च पृष्ठतः
May the wind protect your wings, and the moon and sun guard your back.
शिरश्च पातु वह्निस्ते वसवः सर्वतस्तनुम्। `विष्णुः सर्वगतः सर्वमह्गानि तव चैव ह।' अहं च ते सदा पुत्र शान्तिस्वस्तिपरायणा
May fire protect your head, the Vasus your whole body, and Vishnu, who is everywhere, all your limbs; and I, your mother, shall always be devoted to your peace and welfare.
इहासीना भविष्यामि स्वस्तिकारे रता सदा। अरिष्टं व्रज पन्थानं पुत्र कार्यार्थसिद्धये
I shall remain here, always engaged in auspicious rites; go, my son, along a safe path, for the accomplishment of your task.
ततः स मातुर्वचनं निशम्य वितत्य पक्षौ नभ उत्पपात। ततो निषादान्बलवानुपागतो बुभुक्षितः काल इवान्तकोऽपरः
Then, hearing his mother’s words, he spread his wings and soared into the sky; thereafter, powerful, he approached the Nishadas, hungry as the god of death at the appointed time.
स तान्निषादानुपसंहरंस्तदा रजः समुद्धूय नभःस्पृशं महत्। समुद्रकुक्षौ च विशोषयन्पयः समीपजान्भूधरजान्विचालयन्
He then consumed those Nishadas, raising a great cloud of dust that touched the sky; he dried up the waters in the ocean’s depths and shook the mountains nearby.
ततः स चक्रे महदाननं तदा निषादमार्गं प्रतिरुध्य पक्षिराट्। ततो निषादास्त्वरिताः प्रवव्रजु- र्यतो मुखं तस्य भुजंगभोजिनः
Then, at that time, the king of birds created a great mouth, blocking the path of the Nishadas; and so the Nishadas, in haste, rushed toward the mouth of the devourer of serpents.
तदाननं विवृतमतिप्रमाणव- त्समभ्ययुर्गगनमिवार्दिताः खगाः। सहस्रशः पवनजोविमोहिता यथा।ञनिलप्रचलितपादपे वने
That mouth, wide open and of immense size, was approached by the Nishadas, like birds struck down from the sky, thousands at a time, bewildered by the wind, as trees are shaken in the forest by a gust.