उत्पपात महावीर्यः पक्षिराट् परवीरहा। समुत्पत्यान्तरिक्षस्थं देवानामुपरि स्थितम्
The great and valiant king of birds, destroyer of enemies, soared up and stood above the gods, stationed in the sky.
वर्मिमो विबुधाः सर्वे नानाशस्त्रैरवाकिरन्। पट्टिशैः परिधैः शूलैर्गदाभिश्च सवासवाः
All the gods, together with Indra, showered him with various weapons—lances, clubs, spears, and maces.
क्षुरप्रैर्ज्वलितैश्चापि चक्रैरादित्यरूपिभिः। नानाशस्त्रविसर्गैस्तैर्वध्यमानः समन्ततः
With razor-edged, blazing, sun-like discs and a multitude of weapons, they struck him from all sides.
कुर्वन्सुतुमुलं युद्धं पक्षिराण्ण व्यकम्पत। निर्दहन्निव चाकाशे वैनतेयः प्रतापवान्। पक्षाभ्यामुरसा चैव समन्ताद्व्यक्षिपत्सुरान्
The king of birds waged a most terrible battle, unshaken; the mighty son of Vinata, as if burning the sky, scattered the gods all around with his wings, chest, and beak.
ते विक्षिप्तास्ततो देवा दुद्रुवुर्गरुडार्दिताः। नखतुण्डक्षताश्चैव सुस्रुवुः शोणितं बहु
Then, struck and scattered by Garuda, the gods fled; wounded by his claws and beak, they shed much blood.
साध्याः प्राचीं सगन्धर्वा वसवो दक्षिणां दिशम्। प्रजग्मुः सहिता रुद्राः पतगेन्द्रप्रधर्षिताः
The Sadhyas with the Gandharvas went east, the Vasus south, and the Rudras together, all routed by the king of birds.
दिशं प्रतीचीमादित्या नासत्यावुत्तरां दिशम्। मुहुर्मुहुः प्रेक्षमाणा युध्यमानं महौजसः
The Adityas went west, the Ashvins north, repeatedly looking back at the mighty one fighting.
अश्वक्रन्देन वीरेण रेणुकेन च पक्षिराट्। क्रथनेन च शूरेण तपनेन च खेचरः
The king of birds fought in battle with the hero Ashvakranda, with Renuka, with the valiant Krathana, and with Tapana, the sky-roamer.
उलूकश्वसनाभ्यां च निमेषेण च पक्षिराट्। प्ररुजेन च संग्रामं चकार पुलिनेन च
The king of birds engaged in combat with Uluka and Svasana, with Nimesha, with Praruja, and with Pulina.
तान्पक्षनखतुण्डाग्रैरभिनद्विनतासुतः। युगान्तकाले संक्रुद्धः पिनाकीव परंतप
The son of Vinata, enraged like Shiva at the end of an age, struck them with the tips of his wings, claws, and beak, scorching his foes.
महाबला महोत्साहास्तेन ते बहुधा क्षताः। रेजुरभ्रघनप्रख्या रुधिरौघप्रवर्षिणः
Of great strength and mighty energy, by him they were wounded in many ways; they roared like thunderclouds, pouring forth streams of blood.
तान्कृत्वा पतगश्रेष्ठः सर्वानुत्क्रान्तजीवितान्। अतिक्रान्तोऽमृतस्यार्थे सर्वतोऽग्निमपश्यत
Having slain them all, the foremost of birds, after all their lives had departed, pressed on in search of the nectar and beheld fire on every side.
आवृण्वानं महाज्वालमर्चिर्भिः सर्वतोऽम्बरम्। दहन्तमिव तीक्ष्णांशुं चण्डवायुसमीरितम्
He saw a great blazing fire, its flames enveloping the sky on all sides, burning fiercely, fanned by a violent wind, with sharp rays.
ज्वलन्तमग्निं तममित्रतापनः समास्तरत्पत्ररथो नदीभिः। ततः प्रचक्रे वपुरन्यदल्पं प्रवेष्टुकामोऽग्निमभिप्रशाम्य
That enemy-burner, with his chariot of wings, crossed over the blazing fire by means of rivers; then, wishing to enter, he made his form small, having subdued the fire.
सुशीघ्रमागम्य पुनर्जवेन
Very swiftly, he returned again with speed.
जाम्बूनदमयो भूत्वा मरीचिनिकरोज्ज्वलः। प्रविवेश बलात्पक्षी वारिवेग इवार्णवम्
Becoming golden as jambū-nada and shining with a multitude of rays, the bird forcefully entered, like the rush of water into the ocean.
स चक्रं क्षुरपर्यन्तमपश्यदमृतान्तिके। परिभ्रमन्तमनिशं तीक्ष्णधारमयस्मयम्
There, near the nectar, he saw a wheel with razor-sharp edges, spinning ceaselessly, its blade made of iron and extremely keen.
ज्वलनार्कप्रभं घोरं छेदनं सोमहारिणाम्। घोररूपं तदत्यर्थं यन्त्रं देवैः सुनिर्मितम्
He saw that dreadful device, blazing with the radiance of fire and sun, a destroyer, terrifying in form, well-constructed by the gods to guard the nectar.
तस्यान्तरं स दृष्ट्वै पर्यवर्तत खेचरः। अरान्तरेणाभ्यपतत्संक्षिप्याङ्गं क्षणेन ह
Seeing a gap in it, the sky-roaming one turned back; in a moment, compressing his body, he darted through the space between the spokes.
अधश्चक्रस्य चैवात्र दीप्तानलसमद्व्युती। विद्युज्जिह्वौ महावीर्यौ दीप्तास्यौ दीप्तलोचनौ
Beneath that wheel, there were two serpents, their brilliance like blazing fire, with tongues like lightning, great in might, with shining mouths and glowing eyes.
चक्षुर्विषौ महाघोरौ नित्यं क्रुद्धौ तरस्विनौ। अमृतस्यैव रक्षार्थं ददर्श भुजगोत्तमौ
Their eyes were venomous, exceedingly fierce, ever wrathful and swift; he saw those two foremost serpents, set there to guard the nectar.
सदा संरब्धनयनौ सदा चानिमिषेक्षणौ। तयोरेकोऽपि यं पश्येत्स तूर्णं भस्मसाद्भवेत्
Their eyes were always enraged, ever unblinking; whoever was seen by either of them would instantly be reduced to ashes.
तौ दृष्ट्वा सहसा खेदं जगाम विनतात्मजः। कथमेतौ महावीर्यौ जेतव्यौ हरिभोजिनौ
Seeing them, the son of Vinatā was suddenly dismayed: 'How can these two of great might, devourers of the tawny, be overcome?'
इति संचिन्त्य गरुडस्तयोस्तूर्णं निराकरः।' तयोश्चक्षूंषि रजसा सुपर्णः सहसाऽऽवृणोत्। ताभ्यामदृष्टरूपोऽसौ सर्वतः समताडयत्
Thus pondering, Garuḍa quickly shook off his fear; with dust, the Suparṇa suddenly covered their eyes, and, unseen by them, struck them from all sides.
तयोरङ्गे समाक्रम्य वैनतेयोऽन्तरिक्षगः। आच्छिनत्तरसा मध्ये सोममभ्यद्रवत्ततः
Mounting their bodies, the son of Vinatā, who moves in the sky, swiftly cut them in the middle and then rushed toward the soma.
समुत्पाट्यामृतं तत्र वैनतेयस्ततो बली। उत्पपात जवेनैव यन्त्रमुन्मथ्य वीर्यवान्
There, the mighty son of Vinatā seized the nectar and, with strength, tore apart the device and soared up with speed.
अपीत्वैवामृतं पक्षी परिगृह्याशु निःसृतः। आगच्छदपरिश्रान्त आवार्यार्कप्रभां ततः
Without drinking the nectar, the bird swiftly took it and departed, coming away unwearied, blocking the brilliance of the sun as he went.
विष्णुना च तदाकाशे वैनतेयः समेयिवान्। तस्य नारायणस्तुष्टस्तेनालौल्येन कर्मणा
There in the sky, Garuḍa met Viṣṇu; Nārāyaṇa was pleased with his deed, performed without greed.
तमुवाचाव्ययो देवो वरदोऽस्मीति खेचरम्। स वव्रे तव तिष्ठेयमुपरीत्यन्तरिक्षगः
The imperishable god spoke to the sky-roaming one, 'I am a granter of boons.' He, moving through the air, asked, 'Let me remain above you.'
उवाच चैनं भूयोऽपि नारायणमिदं वचः। अजरश्चामरश्च स्याममृतेन विनाऽप्यहम्
He again addressed Nārāyaṇa with these words: 'May I be ageless and immortal, even without drinking the nectar.'