अत्र राक्षसराजेन पौलस्त्येन महात्मना । रावणेन तपः कृत्वा सुरेभ्योऽमरता वृता
Here, the king of the Rākṣasas, the great-souled son of Pulastya, Rāvaṇa, performed austerities and obtained immortality from the gods.
अत्र वृत्तेन वृत्रोऽपि शक्रशत्रुत्वमेयिवान् । अत्र सर्वासवः प्राप्ताः पुनर्गच्छन्ति पञ्चधा
Here, by his conduct, even Vṛtra became the enemy of Indra; here, all the vital energies are attained and then return in fivefold ways.
अत्र दुष्कृतकर्माणो नराः पच्यन्ति गालव । अत्र वैतरणी नाम नदी वैतरणैर्वृता
Here, O Gālava, men who have committed evil deeds are tormented; here flows the river called Vaitaraṇī, surrounded by Vaitaraṇas.
अत्र गत्वा सुखस्यान्तं दुःखस्यान्तं प्रपद्यते। अत्रावृत्तो दिनकरः सुरसं क्षरते पयः
Here, having arrived, one reaches the end of pleasure and attains the end of suffering; here, the sun, having turned back, pours forth the nectar for the gods.
काष्ठां चासाद्य वासिष्ठीं हिममुत्सृजते पुनः। अत्राहं गालव पुरा क्षुधाऽऽर्तः परिचिन्तयन्
Having reached the Vasiṣṭhī boundary, he again releases the frost; here, O Gālava, I once, tormented by hunger, reflected deeply.
लब्धवान्युध्यमानौ द्वौ बृहन्तौ गजकच्छपौ । अत्र चक्रधनुर्नाम सूर्याञ्जातो महानृषिः
I obtained, while striving, two great beings—an elephant and a tortoise; here, the great sage named Cakradhanvan was born from the sun.
विदुर्यं कपिलं देवं येनार्ताः सगरात्मजाः । अत्र सिद्धाः शिवा नाम ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः
Here, the afflicted sons of Sagara recognized the god Kapila, the son of Vidura; here, the accomplished and auspicious Brahmins, masters of the Vedas, dwell.
अधीत्य सकलान्वेदाँल्लेभिरे मोक्षमक्षयम्। अत्र भोगवती नाम पुरी वासुकिपालिता
Having studied all the Vedas, they attained imperishable liberation; here is the city called Bhogavatī, ruled by Vāsuki.
तक्षकेण च नागेन तथैवैरावतेन च। अत्र निर्याणकालेऽपि तमः संप्राप्यते महत्
Here, the serpent Takṣaka and also Airāvata reside; even at the time of departure, a great darkness is encountered here.
अभेद्यं भास्करेणापि स्वयं वा कृष्णवर्त्मना । एष तस्यापि ते मार्गः परिचारस्य गालव । ब्रूहि मे यदि गन्तव्यं प्रतीचीं शृणु चापराम्
This path cannot be pierced even by the sun, nor by Kṛṣṇa's own course; this, O Gālava, is the way of your journey as well. Tell me if you wish to go, and hear also of the western direction.
इयं दिग्दियिता राज्ञो वरुणस्य तु गोपतेः । सदा सलिलराजस्य प्रतिष्ठा चादिरेव च
This is the direction of the king Varuṇa, the lord of waters; it is always the domain and foundation of the king of the waters.
अत्र पश्चादहः सूर्यो विसर्जयति गाः स्वयम् । पश्चिमेत्यभिविख्याता दिगियं द्विजसत्तम
Here, at day's end, the sun himself sets his rays; this direction is renowned as the west, O best of twice-born.
यादसामत्र राज्येन सलिलस्य च गुप्तये । कश्यपो भगवान्देवो वरुणं स्माभ्यषेचयत्
Here, for the sake of the kingdom of the aquatic beings and the protection of the waters, the revered sage Kaśyapa anointed Varuṇa as king.
अत्र पीत्वा समस्तान्वै वरुणस्य रसांस्तु षट् । जायते तरुणः सोमः शुक्लस्यादौ तमिस्रहा
Here, having drunk all six streams of Varuṇa, the young Soma is born at the beginning of the bright fortnight, dispelling darkness.
अत्र पञ्चात्कृता दैत्या वायुना संयतास्तदा । निश्चसन्तो महावातैरर्दिताः सुषुपुर्द्विज
Here, the Daityas were bound by the wind in five ways; struck by great gusts, they fell and slept, O Brahmin.
अत्र सूर्यं प्रणयिनं प्रतिगृह्णाति पर्वतः । अस्तो नाम यतः सन्ध्या पश्चिमा प्रतिसर्यति
Here, the mountain receives the sun, its beloved; from this place, called Asta, the western twilight proceeds.
अतो रात्रिश्च निद्रा च निर्गता दिवसक्षये। जायते जीवलोकस्य हर्तुमर्धमिवायुषः
From this, night and sleep arise at the end of the day, as if to take away half the lifespan of living beings.
अत्र देवीं दितिं सुप्तामात्मप्रसवधारिणीम् । विगर्भामकरोच्छक्रो यत्र जातो मरुद्गणः
Here, when Diti, the goddess, lay asleep, bearing her own offspring, Indra rendered her without child, and there the host of Maruts was born.
अत्र मूलं हिमवतो मन्दरं याति शाश्वतम् । अपि वर्षसहस्रेण न चास्यान्तोऽधिगम्यते
Here lies the eternal root of Himavat, Mandara; even in a thousand years of rain, its end cannot be reached.
अत्र काञ्चनशैलस्य काञ्चनाम्बुरुहस्य च। उदधेस्तीरमासाद्य सुरभिः क्षरते पयः
Here, at the shore of the ocean, near the golden mountain and the golden lotus, Surabhi pours forth her milk.
अत्र मध्ये समुद्रस्य कबन्धः प्रतिदृश्यते। स्वर्भानोः सूर्यकल्पस्य सोमसूर्यौ जिघांसतः
Here, in the midst of the ocean, Kabandha is seen, as Svarbhanu, desiring to seize the moon and sun, rivals their radiance.
सुवर्णशिरसोऽप्यत्र हरिरोम्णः प्रगायतः । अदृश्यस्याप्रमेयस्य श्रूयते विपुलो ध्वनिः
Here, too, is heard the mighty sound of the golden-headed Hariromā, who sings, though unseen and immeasurable.
अत्र ध्वजवती नाम कुमारी हरिमेधसः। आकाशे तिष्ठतिष्ठेति तस्थौ सूर्यस्य शासनात्
Here stands the maiden named Dhvajavatī, daughter of Harimedhas, remaining in the sky at the command of the sun.
अत्र वायुस्तथा वह्निरापः खं चापि गालव । आह्निकं चैव नैशं च दुःखं स्पर्शं विमुञ्चति
Here, O Gālava, wind, fire, water, and ether, as well as day and night, release their painful touch.
अतःप्रभृति सूर्यस्य तिर्यगावर्तते गतिः। अत्र ज्योतींषि सर्वाणि विशन्त्यादित्यमण्डलम्
From here, the sun's course turns obliquely; here, all the lights enter the solar orb.
अष्टाविंशतिरात्रं च क्रम्य सह भानुना। निष्पतन्ति पुनः सूर्यात्सोमसंयोगयोगतः
Having traversed twenty-eight nights together with the sun, they emerge again from the sun, due to conjunction with the moon.
अत्र नित्यं स्रवन्तीनां प्रभवः सागरोदयः । अत्र लोकत्रयस्यापस्तिष्ठन्ति वरुणालये
Here is the source and rising of the ever-flowing rivers; here, in Varuṇa's abode, the waters of the three worlds remain.
अत्र पन्नगराजस्याप्यनन्तस्य निवेशनम् । अनादिनिधनस्यात्र विष्णोः स्थानमनुत्तमम्
Here is the dwelling of Ananta, king of serpents; here is the supreme abode of Viṣṇu, without beginning or end.
अत्रानलसखस्यापि पवनस्य निवेशनम्। महर्षेः कश्यपस्यात्र मारीचस्य निवेशनम्
Here is the dwelling of Vāyu, friend of fire, and here also is the abode of the great sage Kaśyapa, son of Marīci.
एष ते पश्चिमो मार्गो दिग्द्वारेण प्रकीर्तितः। ब्रूहि गालव गच्छावो बुद्धिः का द्विजसत्तम
This, for you, is the western path, known as the gate of the directions; speak, O Gālava, let us go—what is your decision, best of twice-born?