अहं हि सर्पैः प्रहितः सोममाहर्तुमुत्तमम्। महातुर्दास्यविमोक्षार्थमाहरिष्ये तमद्य वै
'For I have been sent by the serpents to bring the best soma, in order to free our mighty mother from slavery; today I will bring it.'
मात्रा चात्र समादिष्टो निषादान्भक्षयेति ह। न च मे तृप्तिरभवद्भक्षयित्वा सहस्रशः
'And my mother instructed me here to eat the Nishadas; but even after devouring thousands, I have not been satisfied.'
तस्माद्भक्ष्यं त्वमपरं भगवन्प्रदिशस्व मे। यद्भुक्त्वाऽमृतमाहर्तुं समर्तः स्यामहं प्रभो
'Therefore, O lord, show me some other food, by eating which I may be able to fetch the nectar.'
क्षुत्पिपासाविघातार्थं भक्ष्यमाख्यातु मे भवान्
'Tell me, O revered one, some food to remove hunger and thirst.'
यत्र कूर्माग्रजं हस्ती सदा कर्षत्यवाङ्मुखः। तयोर्जन्मान्तरे वैरं संप्रवक्ष्याम्यसोषतः
'There is an elephant who always drags the elder brother of the tortoise, with his face turned downward; I will tell you, without delay, of the enmity between them from a previous birth.'
तन्मे तत्त्वं निबोधस्य यत्प्रमाणौ च तावुभौ। `शृणु त्वं वत्स भद्रं ते कथां वैराग्यवर्धिनीम्
'So listen to the truth of this, and the measure of both of them; hear, my child, a tale that increases detachment—may good be yours.'
पित्रोरर्थविभागे वै समुत्पन्नां पुराण्डज।' आसीद्विभावसुर्नाम महर्षिः कोपनो भृशम्
In the division of their father's wealth, there arose a dispute between two brothers; there was a great sage named Vibhavasu, who was exceedingly prone to anger.
भ्राता तस्यानुजश्चासीत्सुप्रतीको महातपाः। स नेच्छति धनं भ्रात्रा सहैकस्थं महामुनिः
He had a younger brother named Supratika, a great ascetic; that great sage did not wish to keep the wealth together with his brother.
विभागं कीर्तयत्येव सुप्रतीको हि नित्यशः। अथाब्रवीच्च तं भ्राता सुप्रतीकं विभावसुः
Supratika constantly insisted on dividing the wealth; then Vibhavasu spoke to his brother Supratika.
विभागे बहवो दोषा भविष्यन्ति महातपः।' विभागं बहवो मोहात्कर्तुमिच्छन्ति नित्यशः। ततो विभक्तास्त्वन्योन्यं नाद्रियन्तेऽर्थमोहिताः
In division, O great ascetic, many faults will arise; many, out of delusion, always wish to divide; then, once divided, blinded by greed for wealth, they no longer respect one another.
ततः स्वार्थपरान्मूढान्पृथग्भूतान्स्वकैर्धनैः। विदित्वा भेदयन्त्येतानमित्रा मित्ररूपिणः
Then, knowing that these separated, deluded, self-interested ones are attached to their own wealth, enemies in the guise of friends sow discord among them.
विदित्वा चापरे भिन्नानन्तरेषु पतन्त्यथ। भिन्नानामतुलो नाशः क्षिप्रमेव प्रवर्तते
And knowing that they are divided, others cause them to fall into mutual conflict; for those who are divided, utter destruction quickly ensues.
तस्माद्विभागं भ्रातॄणां न प्रशंसन्ति साधवः। `एवमुक्तः सुप्रतीको भागं कीर्तयतेऽनिशम्
Therefore, the virtuous do not praise the division of brothers; yet, though spoken to thus, Supratika kept insisting on the division day and night.
एवं निर्बध्यमानस्तु शशापैनं विभावसुः।' गुरुशास्त्रेऽनिबद्धानामन्योन्येनाभिशङ्किनाम्
Thus, being repeatedly pressed, Vibhavasu cursed him: 'For those not bound by the teachings of the elders, who suspect one another—'
नियन्तु न हि शक्यस्त्वं भेदतो धनमिच्छसि। यस्मात्तस्मात्सुप्रतीक हस्तित्वं समवाप्स्यसि
'You cannot be restrained, since you desire wealth through division; therefore, Supratika, you shall obtain the form of an elephant.'
शप्तस्त्वेवं सुप्रतीको विभावसुमथाब्रवीत्। त्वमप्यन्तर्जलचरः कच्छपः संभविष्यसि
Thus cursed, Supratika then said to Vibhavasu: 'You too shall become a turtle, dwelling in the water.'
एवमन्योन्यशापात्तौ सुप्रतीकविभावसू। गजकच्छपतां प्राप्तावर्थार्थं मूढचेतसौ
Thus, by mutually cursing each other, Supratika and Vibhavasu, their minds deluded by greed for wealth, attained the forms of an elephant and a turtle.
रोषदोषानुषङ्गेण तिर्यग्योनिगतावपि। परस्परद्वेषरतौ प्रमाणबलदर्पितौ
Due to the consequences of anger and fault, even though born among animals, they remained intent on mutual hatred, each proud of his own strength and power.
सरस्यस्मिन्महाकायौ पूर्ववैरानुसारिणौ। तयोरन्यतरः श्रीमान्समुपैति महागजः
In this lake, both of great size, following their ancient enmity, one of them, the illustrious one, approaches—the mighty elephant.
यस्य बृंहितशब्देन कूर्मोऽप्यन्तर्जलेशयः। उत्थितोऽसौ महाकायः कृत्स्नं विक्षोभयन्सरः
At the sound of his loud roar, the turtle, lying in the water, rises up; that great-bodied one, disturbing the entire lake.
तं दृष्ट्वाऽऽवेष्टितकरः पतत्येष गजो जलम्। दन्तहस्ताग्रलाङ्गूलपादवेगेन वीर्यवान्
Seeing him, the elephant, with his trunk coiled, leaps into the water, his tusks, trunk, tail, and feet moving with force and vigor.
विक्षोभयंस्ततो नागः सरो बहुझषाकुलम्। कूर्मोऽप्यभ्युद्यतशिरा युद्धायाभ्येति वीर्यवान्
Then the elephant, shaking the lake teeming with many fish, while the turtle, his head raised, comes forth for battle, full of might.
षडुच्छ्रितो योजनानि गजस्तद्द्विगुणायतः। कूर्मस्त्रियोजनोत्सेधो दशयोजनमण्डलः
The elephant was six yojanas tall and twice as long; the turtle was three yojanas high and ten yojanas in circumference.
तावुभौ युद्धसंमत्तौ परस्परवधैषिणौ। उपयुज्याशु कर्मेदं साधये हितमात्मनः
Both, maddened for battle and intent on each other's destruction, quickly employed their strength to accomplish what they thought best for themselves.
महाभ्रघनसंकाशं तं भुक्त्वामृतमानय। महागिरिसमप्रख्यं घोररूपं च हस्तिनम्
Bring that elephant, immense as a great mountain and terrifying in form, which resembles a massive thundercloud, and eat it along with the nectar.
इत्युक्त्वा गरुडं सोऽथ माङ्गल्यमकरोत्तदा। युध्यतः सह देवैस्ते युद्धे भवतु मङ्गलम्
Having said this to Garuda, he then performed auspicious rites, saying, 'May there be good fortune in your battle with the gods.'
पूर्णकुम्भो द्विजा गावो यच्चान्यत्किंचिदुत्तमम्। शुभं स्वस्त्ययनं चापि भविष्यति तवाण्डजा
A full vessel, brahmins, cows, and whatever else is excellent and auspicious—these, and blessings for your journey, will be yours, O egg-born one.
युध्यमानस्य सङ्ग्रामे देवैः सार्धं महाबल। ऋचो यजूंषि सामानि पवित्राणि हवींषि च
As you fight in battle with the mighty gods, the Rig, Yajur, and Sama hymns, the purifying mantras, and the sacrificial offerings,
रहस्यानि च सर्वाणि सर्वे वेदाश्च ते बलम्। `वर्धयिष्यन्ति समरे भविष्यति खगोत्तम।' इत्युक्तो गरुडः पित्रा गतस्तं ह्वदमन्तिकात्
and all the secret teachings, and the entire Veda—these will strengthen you in the conflict, O best of birds.' Thus addressed by his father, Garuda departed from his presence.
अपश्यन्निर्मलजलं नानापक्षिसमाकुलम्। स तत्स्मृत्वा पितुर्वाक्यं भीमवेगोऽन्तरिक्षगः
He saw pure water teeming with various birds; remembering his father's words, the swift one of the skies moved with tremendous speed.