तं पर्वतं महाकुक्षिमुद्दिश्य स महाखगः। जवेनाभ्यपतत्तार्क्ष्यः सशाखागजकच्छपः
Aiming for that mountain with its vast interior, the great bird, swift as thought, flew toward it, carrying the branch with the elephant and tortoise.
न तां वध्री परिणहेच्छतचर्मा महातनुम्। शाखिनो महतीं शाखां यां प्रगृह्य ययौ खगः
No strong man could have lifted that immense branch, nor the hide of that great-bodied animal; yet the bird, grasping the huge bough, soared away.
स ततः शतसाहस्रं योजनान्तरमागतः। कालेन नातिमहता गरुडः पतगेश्वरः
Then Garuḍa, lord of birds, traveled a hundred thousand yojanas in not too long a time.
स तं गत्वा क्षणेनैव पर्वतं वचनात्पितुः। अमुञ्चन्महतीं शाखां सस्वनं तत्र खेचरः
Arriving at that mountain in a moment, as his father had instructed, the sky-roaming bird released the great branch with a resounding crash.
पक्षानिलहतश्चास्य प्राकम्पत स शैलराट्। मुमोच पुष्पवर्षं च समागलितपादप
Struck by the wind from his wings, the king of mountains trembled, and as the trees collided, a rain of flowers fell.
शृङ्गाणि च व्यशीर्यन्त गिरेस्तस्य समन्ततः। मणिकाञ्चनचित्राणि शोभयन्ति महागिरिम्
All around, the peaks of that mountain shattered, adorned with gems and gold, beautifying the great mountain.
शाखिनो बहवश्चापि शाखयाऽभिहतास्तया। काञ्चनैः कुसुमैर्भान्ति विद्युत्वन्त इवाम्बुदाः
Many trees struck by that branch shone with golden blossoms, like clouds lit by lightning.
ते हेमविकचा भूमौ युताः पर्वतधातुभिः। व्यराजञ्छाखिनस्तत्र सूर्यांशुप्रतिरञ्जिताः
Those trees, blooming with gold and mingled with the mountain's minerals, gleamed there, tinged by the rays of the sun.
ततस्तस्य गिरेः शृङ्गमास्थाय स खगोत्तमः। भक्षयामास गरुडस्तावुभौ गजकच्छपौ
Then, taking his place atop the mountain peak, Garuḍa, the best of birds, began to eat both the elephant and the tortoise.
तावुभौ भक्षयित्वा तु स तार्क्ष्यः कूर्मकुञ्जरौ। ततः पर्वतकूटाग्रादुत्पपात महाजवः
Having devoured both the tortoise and the elephant, that swift Tārkṣya leapt up from the summit of the mountain.
प्रावर्तन्ताथ देवानामुत्पाता भयशंसिनः। इन्द्रस्य वज्रं दयितं प्रजज्वाल भयात्ततः
Then, ominous portents appeared among the gods, foretelling danger; Indra's beloved thunderbolt blazed forth in fear.
सधूमा न्यपतत्सार्चिर्दिवोल्का नभसश्च्युता। तथा वसूनां रुद्राणामादित्यानां च सर्वशः
A fiery meteor, trailing smoke, fell from the sky; likewise, among the Vasus, Rudras, and all the Ādityas.
साध्यानां मरुतां चैव ये चान्ये देवतागणाः। स्वं स्वं प्रहरणं तेषां परस्परमुपाद्रवत्
Among the Sādhyas, Maruts, and all the other hosts of gods, each seized their own weapon and rushed against one another.
अभूतपूर्वं संग्रामे तदा देवासुरेऽपि च। ववुर्वाताः सनिर्घाताः पेतुरुल्काः सहस्रशः
In that battle between gods and asuras, the like of which had never been seen, winds howled with thunder, and thousands of meteors fell.
निरभ्रमेव चाकाशं प्रजगर्ज महास्वनम्। देवानामपि यो देवः सोऽप्यवर्षत शोणितम्
The sky, though cloudless, roared with a mighty sound; even the god of gods among the deities rained down blood.
मम्लुर्माल्यानि देवानां नेशुस्तेजांसि चैव हि। उत्पातमेघा रौद्राश्च ववृषुः शोणितं बहु
The garlands of the gods withered, and their brilliance faded; ominous, dreadful clouds poured much blood.
रजांसि मुकुटान्येषामुत्थितानि व्यधर्षयन्। ततस्त्राससमुद्विग्नः सह देवैः शतक्रतुः। उत्पातान्दारुणान्पश्यन्नित्युवाच बृहस्पतिम्
Dust rose up and struck their crowns; then, terrified and disturbed, Indra, with the gods, seeing these dreadful omens, spoke to Bṛhaspati.
किमर्थं भगवन्घोरा उत्पाताः सहसोत्थिताः। न च शत्रुं प्रपश्यामि युधि यो नः प्रधर्षयेत्
"O blessed one, why have these terrible omens suddenly arisen? I see no enemy in battle who could overpower us."
तवापराधाद्देवेन्द्र प्रमादाच्च शतक्रतो। तपसा वालखिल्यानां महर्षीणां महात्मनाम्
Because of your fault, O Indra, and your negligence, O wielder of the thunderbolt, by the austerity of the great-souled Vālakhilya sages—
कश्यपस्य मुनेः पुत्रो विनतायाश्च खेचरः। हर्तुं सोममभिप्राप्तो बलवान्कामरूपधृक्
The son of the sage Kaśyapa, the sky-roaming child of Vinatā, strong and able to assume any form at will, has set out to seize the Soma.
समर्थो बलिनां श्रेष्ठो हर्तुं सोमं विहंगमः। सर्वं संभावयाम्यस्मिन्नसाध्यमपि साधयेत्
That bird, supreme among the mighty, is capable of taking the Soma; I believe he could accomplish anything, even what seems impossible.
श्रुत्वैतद्वचनं शक्रः प्रोवाचामृतरक्षिणः। महावीर्यबलः पक्षी हर्तुं सोममिहोद्यतः
Hearing these words, Śakra spoke to the guardians of the nectar: 'A bird of immense strength and power is now preparing to take the Soma.'
युष्मान्संबोधयाम्येष `गृहीत्वावरणायुधान्। परिवार्यामृतं सर्वे यूयं मद्वचनादिह
'I am alerting you all—take up your defensive weapons and surround the nectar on every side, following my command here.'
रक्षध्वं विबुधा वीरा' यथा न स हरेद्बलात्। अतुलं हि बलं तस्य बृहस्पतिरुवाच ह
'Guard it, O heroic gods, so that he does not seize it by force; for his strength is unmatched,' said Bṛhaspati.
तच्छ्रुत्वा विबुधा वाक्यं विस्मिता यत्नमास्थिताः। परिवार्यामृतं तस्थूर्वज्री चेन्द्रः प्रतापवान्
Hearing these words, the gods, astonished, took up their positions with determination, surrounding the nectar, while Indra the thunderer stood there, radiant.
धारयन्तो विचित्राणि काञ्चनानि मनस्विनः। कवचानि महार्हाणि वैदूर्यविकृतानि च
They wore splendid golden armor, adorned with precious gems and inlaid with beryl, their minds resolute.
चर्माण्यपि च गात्रेषु भानुमन्ति दृढानि च। विविधानि च शस्त्राणि घोररूपाण्यनेकशः
They also donned shining, sturdy coats of mail on their bodies, and wielded many kinds of terrifying weapons of various forms.
शिततीक्ष्णाग्रधाराणि समुद्यम्य सुरोत्तमः। सविस्फुलिङ्गज्वालानि सधूमानि च सर्वशः
The best of the gods raised weapons with sharp, keen edges, blazing with sparks and smoke on every side.
चक्राणि परघांश्चैव त्रिशूलानि परश्वधान्। शक्तीश्च विविधास्तीक्ष्णाः करवालांश्च निर्मलान्। स्वदेहरूपाण्यादाय गदाश्चोग्रप्रदर्शनाः
They took up discus, iron clubs, tridents, battle-axes, many sharp spears, spotless swords, and maces of fearsome appearance, each suited to their own form.
तैः शस्त्रैर्भानुमद्भिस्ते दिव्याभरणभूषिताः। भानुमन्तः सुरगणास्तस्थुर्विगतकल्मषाः
Adorned with divine ornaments and bearing radiant weapons, the hosts of gods stood shining, free from all stain.