नखेन गजमेकेन कूर्ममेकेन चाक्षिपत्। सधुत्पपात चाकाशं तत उच्चैर्विहङ्गमः
With one talon he seized the elephant, with another the tortoise, and then the great bird swiftly soared high into the sky.
सोऽलम्बं तीर्थणासाद्य देववृक्षानुपागमत्। ते भीताः समकम्पन्त तस्य पक्षानिलाहताः
He reached a support and approached the divine trees; struck by the wind of his wings, they trembled in fear.
न नो भञ्ज्यादिति तदा दिव्याः कनकशाखिनः। प्रचलाङ्गान्स तान्दृष्ट्वा मनोरथफलद्रुमान्
Seeing those wish-fulfilling trees with golden branches and moving limbs, they thought, 'Let us not be broken.'
अन्यानतुलरूपाङ्गानुपचक्राम खेचरः। काञ्चनै राजतैश्चैव फलैर्वैदूर्यशाखिनः। सागराम्बुपरिक्षिप्तान्भ्राजमानान्महाद्रुमान्
The sky-roaming bird then approached other trees of incomparable form, with fruits of gold, silver, and beryl, great trees shining and encircled by the waters of the ocean.
तेषां मध्ये महानासीत्पादपः सुमनोहरः। सहस्रयोजनोत्सेधो बहुशाखासमन्वितः
Among them stood a great and most beautiful tree, a thousand yojanas tall, with many branches.
खगानामालयो दिव्यो नाम्ना रौहिणपादपः। यस्य छायां समाश्रित्य सद्यो भवति निर्वृतः;
It was the divine abode of birds, named the Rauhina tree; whoever rests in its shade is instantly content.
तमुवाच खगश्रेष्ठं तत्र रौहिणपादपः। अतिप्रवृद्धः समुहानापतन्तं मनोजवम्
There, the Rauhina tree spoke to the best of birds, who was rushing upon it with tremendous force:
यैषा मम महाशाखा शतयोजनमायता। एतामास्थाय शाखां त्वं खादेमौ गजकच्छपौ
'This great branch of mine, a hundred yojanas long—rest upon this branch and eat the elephant and tortoise.'
ततो द्रुमं पतगसहस्रसेवितं महीधरप्रतिमवपुः प्रकम्पयन्। खगोत्तमो द्रुतमभिपत्य वेगवा- न्बभञ्ज तामविरलपत्रसंचयाम्
Then the best of birds, swift and powerful as a mountain, shook the tree, which was frequented by thousands of birds, and quickly broke that branch with its dense mass of leaves.
स्पष्टमात्रा तु पद्भ्यां सा गरुडेन बलीयसा। अभज्यत तरोः शाखा भग्नां चैकामधारयत्
With the force of Garuda's feet, the branch was clearly broken off from the tree, and he held one broken branch.
तां भङ्क्त्वा स महाशाखां स्मयमानो विलोकयन्। अथात्रं लम्बतोऽपश्यद्वालखिल्यानधोमुखान्
Breaking off that great branch, he looked around with a smile and saw the Valakhilya sages hanging upside down from it.
ऋषयो ह्यत्र लम्बन्ते न हन्यामिति तानृषीन्। तपोरतांल्लम्बमानान्ब्रह्मर्षीनभिवीक्ष्य सः
Seeing those ascetic Brahmarshis hanging there, he thought, 'The sages are hanging here; I must not harm them.'
हन्यादेतान्संपतन्ती शाखेत्यथ विचिन्त्य सः। नखैर्दृढतरं वीरः संगृह्य गजकच्छपौ
Thinking, 'I will kill these as they fall,' the hero firmly grasped the elephant and tortoise with his strong claws.
स तद्विनाशसंत्रासादभिपत्य स्वगाधिपः। शाखामास्येन जग्राह तेषामेवान्ववेक्षया
Then, out of fear for their destruction, the lord himself leapt and seized the branch with his mouth, observing their condition.
अतिदैवं तु तत्तस्य कर्म दृष्ट्वा महर्षयः। विस्मयोत्कम्पहृदया नाम चक्रुर्महाखगे
Seeing that act, which was beyond ordinary power, the great sages were amazed and their hearts trembled; they spoke of the mighty bird.
गुरुं भारं समासाद्योड्डीन एष विहङ्गमः। गरुडस्तु खगश्रेष्ठस्तस्मात्पन्नगभोजनः
Having taken up a heavy burden, this bird soared; Garuda, the foremost of birds, is thus the eater of serpents.
ततः शनैः पर्यपतत्पक्षैः शैलान्प्रकम्पयन्। एवं सोऽभ्यपतद्देशान्बहून्सगजकच्छपः
Then, slowly he flew, shaking the mountains with his wings; thus he traveled to many lands, carrying the elephant and tortoise.
दयार्थं वालखिल्यानां न च स्थानमविन्दत। स गत्वा पर्वतश्रेष्ठं गन्धमादनमञ्जसा
For the sake of compassion toward the Vālakhilyas, he found no suitable place; so he went swiftly to Gandhamādana, the greatest mountain.
ददर्श कश्यपं तत्र पितरं तपसि स्थितम्। ददर्श तं पिता चापि दिव्यरूपं विहङ्गमम्
There he saw Kaśyapa, his father, engaged in austerity; and his father also beheld him, the divine-formed bird.
तेजोवीर्यबलोपेतं मनोमारुतरंहसम्। शैलशृङ्गप्रतीकाशं ब्रह्मदण्डमिवोद्यतम्
Endowed with brilliance, strength, and power, swift as mind and wind, resembling a mountain peak, like an uplifted staff of Brahma.
अचिन्त्यमनभिध्येयं सर्वभूतभयंकरम्। महावीर्यधरं रौद्रं साक्षादग्निमिवोद्यतम्
Unthinkable, indescribable, terrifying to all beings, bearing great might, fierce, like fire raised before one's eyes.
अप्रधृष्यमजेयं च देवदानवराक्षसैः। भेत्तारं गिरिशृङ्गाणां समुद्रजलशोषणम्
Unassailable and unconquerable by gods, demons, and rākṣasas, destroyer of mountain peaks, and one who dries up ocean waters.
लोकसंलोडनं घोरं कृतान्तसमदर्शनम्। तमागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य भगवान्कश्यपस्तदा। विदित्वा चास्यं संकल्पमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
A dreadful mover of worlds, resembling Death himself; seeing him approach, the venerable Kaśyapa, knowing his intent, spoke these words.
पुत्र मा साहसं कार्षीर्मा सद्यो लप्स्यसे व्यथाम्। मा त्वां दहेयुः संक्रुद्धा वालखिल्या मरीचिपाः
Son, do not act rashly; do not bring suffering upon yourself at once; let not the angry Vālakhilyas and Marīcis burn you.
ततः प्रसादयामास कश्यपः पुत्रकारणात्। वालखिल्यान्महाभागांस्तपसा हतकल्मषान्
Then Kaśyapa, for the sake of his son, sought to appease the illustrious Vālakhilyas, purified by austerity.
प्रजाहितार्थमारम्भो गरुडस्य तपोधनाः। चिकीर्षति महत्कर्म तदनुज्ञातुमर्हथ
For the welfare of creatures, Garuda wishes to undertake a great deed; O ascetics, you ought to grant him permission.
एवमुक्ता भगवता मुनयस्ते समभ्ययुः। मुक्त्वा शाखां गिरिं पुण्यं हिमवन्त तपोऽर्थिनः
Thus addressed by the venerable one, the sages departed, leaving the branch, for the sacred mountain Himavat, seeking austerity.
ततस्तेष्वपयातेषु पितरं विनतासुतः। शाखाव्याक्षिप्तवदनः पर्यपृच्छत कश्यपम्
When they had departed, the son of Vinatā, his face obstructed by the branch, questioned his father Kaśyapa.
भगवन्क्व विमुञ्चामि तरोः शाखामिमामहम्। वर्जितं मानुषैर्देशमाख्यातु भगवान्मम
Lord, where shall I release this branch of the tree? Please tell me a place devoid of humans.
ततो निःपुरुषं शैलं हिमसंरुद्धकन्दरम्। अगम्यं मनसाप्यन्यैस्तस्याचख्यौ स कश्यपः
Then Kaśyapa told him of a mountain without people, its caves blocked by snow, inaccessible even to the mind.