अत्र विद्युत्प्रभा नाम जझिरेऽप्सरसो दश। अत्र विष्णुपदं नाम क्रमता विष्णुना कृतम्
Here, ten Apsaras named Vidyutprabha were born; here, the place called Vishnu's Footstep was made by Vishnu as he strode.
त्रिलोकविक्रमे ब्रह्मन्नुत्तरां दिशमाश्रितम् । अत्र राज्ञा मरुतेन यज्ञेनेष्टं द्विजोत्तम
In his stride across the three worlds, O Brahman, he reached the northern direction; here, O best of Brahmins, King Maruta performed sacrifice.
उशीरबीजे विप्रर्षे यत्र जाम्बूनदं सरः। जीमूतस्यात्र विप्रर्षेरुपतस्थे महात्मनः
O sage, at the source of the Ushira grass, where lies the lake of Jambunada, there the great-souled sage Jimuta stood.
साक्षाद्धैमवतः पुण्यो विमलः कनकाकरः । ब्राह्मणेषु च यत्कृत्स्नं स्वन्तं कृत्वा धनं महत्
That sacred, pure, golden-hued place belongs directly to Himavat; and all the great wealth there, having made it his own among the Brahmanas—
वव्रे धनं महर्षिः स जैमूतं तद्धनं ततः। अत्र नित्यं दिशांपालाः सायंप्रातर्द्विजर्षभ
The great sage chose that wealth, the wealth of Jimuta; and there, O best of twice-born, the guardians of the directions always gather, evening and morning.
कस्य कार्यं किमिति वै परिक्रोशान्ति गालव । एवमेषा द्विजश्रेष्ठ गुणैरन्यैर्दिगुत्तरा
They call out, 'Whose task is this? What is to be done?' O Galava; in this way, O best of Brahmanas, this direction surpasses the others in virtues.
उत्तरेति परिख्याता सर्वकर्मस्तु चोत्तरा । एता विस्तरशस्तात तव शङ्गीर्तिता दिशः
It is known as the 'Uttara' (northern), and in all actions it is indeed superior; thus, dear one, I have described these directions to you in detail.
चतस्रः क्रमयोगेन कामाशां गन्तुमिच्छसि। उद्यतोऽहं द्विजश्रेष्ठ तव दर्शयितुं दिशः। पृथिवीं चाखिलां ब्रह्मंस्तस्मादारोह मां द्विज
You wish to visit the four directions in order, desiring their fulfillment; I am ready, O best of Brahmanas, to show you the directions and the entire earth—therefore, ascend upon me, O Brahmana.
गरुत्मन्भुजगेन्द्रारे सुपर्ण विनतात्मज । नय मां तार्क्ष्य पूर्वेण यत्र धर्मस्य चक्षुषी
O Garuda, enemy of serpent kings, Suparna, son of Vinata, carry me, O Tarkshya, to the east, where the eyes of Dharma are found.
पूर्वमेतां दिशं गच्छ या पूर्वं परिकीर्तिता । देवतानां हि सान्निध्यमत्र कीर्तितवानसि
Go to this eastern direction, the one previously described; for you have declared that the presence of the gods is here.
अत्र सत्यं च धर्मश्च त्वया सम्यक्प्रकीर्तितः। इच्छेयं तु समागन्तुं समस्तैर्दैवतैरहम्। भूयश्च तान्सुरान्द्रष्टुमिच्छेयमरुणानुज
Here, truth and righteousness have been rightly proclaimed by you; but I wish to meet all the deities together, and again, O younger brother of Aruna, I desire to see those gods.
तमाह विनतासूनुरारोहस्वेति वै द्विजम्। आरुरोहाथ स मुनिर्गरुडं गालवस्तदा
Then the son of Vinata said to the Brahmana, 'Climb up!' And at that time, the sage Galava mounted Garuda.
क्रममाणस्य ते रूपं दृश्यते पन्नगाशन। भास्करस्येव पूर्वाह्णे सहस्रांशोर्विवस्वतः
As you move, O devourer of serpents, your form appears like the sun with a thousand rays at dawn.
पक्षवातप्रणुन्नानां वृक्षाणामनुगामिनाम् । प्रस्थितानामिव समं पश्यामीह गतिं खग
I see the movement here of trees, driven by the wind of your wings, as if they are all journeying together, O bird.
ससागरवनामुर्वी सशैलवनकाननाम् । आकर्षन्निव चाभासि पक्षवातेन खेचर
The earth, with its oceans, forests, mountains, and groves, seems to be drawn along by the wind of your wings, O sky-roamer.
समीननागनक्रं च खमिवारोप्यते जलम्। वायुना चैव महता पक्षवातेन चानिशम्
The water, with its fishes, serpents, and crocodiles, seems to be lifted into the sky, by the great wind and the constant beating of your wings.
तुल्यरूपाननान्मत्स्यांस्तथा तिमितिमिङ्गिलान् । नागाश्वनरवक्रांश्च पश्याम्युन्मथितानिव
I see fishes of equal form, as well as whales and huge sea-creatures, and serpents, horses, and crooked beings, as if they are being tossed about.
महार्णवस्य च रवैः श्रोत्रे मे बधिरे कृते। न श्रृणोमि न पश्यामि नात्मनो वेद्मि कारणम्
The roar of the great ocean has made my ears deaf; I neither hear nor see, nor do I know the cause of myself.
शनैः स तु भवात्यातु ब्रह्मवध्यामनुस्मरन् । न दृश्यते रविस्तात न दिशो न च खं खग
Slowly, as he proceeds, remembering the slaying of Brahman, O dear one, neither the sun, nor the directions, nor the sky is visible, O bird.
तम एव तु पश्यामि शरीरं ते न लक्षये । मणी व जात्यौ पश्यामि चक्षुषी तेऽहमण्डज
I see only darkness; I cannot discern your body. I see only your two jewel-like eyes, O egg-born one.
शरीरं तु न पश्यामि तव चैवात्मनश्च ह। पदेपदे तु पश्यामि शरीरादग्निमुत्थितम्
I do not see your body, nor my own; at every step, I see fire arising from the body.
स मे निर्वाप्य सहसा चक्षुषी शाम्यते पुनः। तन्नियच्छ महावेगं गमने विनतात्मज
That fire suddenly extinguishes my sight again; restrain your great speed, O son of Vinatā.
न मे प्रयोजनं किंचिद्गमने पन्नगाशन । संनिवर्त महाभाग न वेगं विषहामि ते
I have no purpose in this journey, O eater of serpents; turn back, O great one, for I cannot endure your speed.
गुरवे संश्रुतानीह शतान्यष्टौ हि वाजिनाम् । एकतःश्यामकर्णानां शुभ्राणां चन्द्रवर्चसाम्
Here, for my teacher, I have pledged hundreds and eight horses—dark-eared, bright, shining like the moon.
तेषां चैवापवर्गाय मार्गं पश्यामि नाण्डज। ततोऽयं जीवितत्यागे दृष्टो मार्गोमयाऽऽत्मनः
But, O egg-born one, I see no path for their release; therefore, I perceive the path of self-sacrifice before me.
नैव मेऽस्ति धनं किंचिन्न धनेनान्वितः सुहृत् । न चार्थेनापि महता शक्यमेतद्व्यपोहितुम्
I have no wealth at all, nor a friend endowed with wealth; nor can this be resolved even with great riches.
एवं बहु च दीनं च ब्रुवाणं गालवं तदा। प्रत्युवाच व्रजन्नेव प्रहसन्विनतात्मजः
Thus, as Gālava spoke much and in distress, the son of Vinatā, smiling, replied as he journeyed on.
नातिप्रज्ञोऽसि विप्रर्षे योत्मानं त्युक्तुमिच्छसि । न चापि कृत्रिमः कालः कालो हि परमेश्वरः
You are not very wise, O best of seers, if you wish to abandon yourself; nor is time artificial—time is indeed the supreme lord.
किमहं पूर्वमेवेह भवता नाभिचोदितः। उपायोऽत्र महानस्ति येनैतदुपपद्यते
Why did you not urge me earlier here? There is a great means by which this can be accomplished.
तदेष ऋषभो नाम पर्वतः सागरान्तिके। अत्र विश्रम्य भुक्त्वा च निवर्तिष्याव गालव
This is the mountain called Ṛṣabha, near the ocean; here, let us rest and eat, O Gālava, and then we shall return.