तीर्थमुत्सादयंति स्म तीर्थकाका दुरासदाः। विना विप्रं निषादेषु भक्षय त्वमलक्षितं
The difficult-to-approach crows of the holy place have been polluting the sacred site; except for the brāhmaṇa, consume the Niṣādas unnoticed.
इत्युक्तः प्रययौ पक्षी भक्षयामास तांस्ततः। अलक्ष्यभावो विप्रोपि गिलितस्तेन पक्षिणा
Thus instructed, the bird departed and began to devour them; the brāhmaṇa, being unnoticed, was swallowed by the bird.
स तस्य गलके गाढं लालगीति द्विजस्तदा। वमितुं गिलितुं चापि न शशाक द्विजोत्तमः
The brāhmaṇa was tightly lodged in its throat, unable to vomit or swallow, the foremost of twice-born unable to act.
गत्वाथ पितरं प्राह किमेतदिति मे पितः। लग्नं मे गलके सत्वं प्रतिकर्तुं न शक्नुयां
Then, going to his father, he said: 'Father, what is this? Something is stuck in my throat and I am unable to expel it.'
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कश्यपस्तमुवाच ह। मयोक्तं ते पुरा वत्स ब्राह्मणोयं न बुध्यसे
Hearing these words, Kaśyapa replied: 'I told you before, child, this is a brāhmaṇa, but you did not understand.'
इत्युक्त्वा च मुनिर्धीमान्द्विजं प्राह स धार्मिकः। आगच्छ त्वं ममासन्नं हितं ते प्रवदाम्यहं
Having said this, the wise sage addressed the righteous brāhmaṇa: 'Come near to me; I will tell you what is beneficial for you.'
तमुवाच तदा विप्रः कश्यपं मुनिपुंगवम्। ममैते सुहृदो नित्यं सर्वे संबंधिनः प्रियाः
Then the brāhmaṇa spoke to Kaśyapa, the foremost sage: 'All these are my constant friends and dear relatives.'
श्वशुराः स्यालकाश्चाप्तास्सबालाश्च तथापरे। एतैः सह प्रयास्यामि निरयं चापि वा शिवम्
Fathers-in-law, brothers-in-law, close associates, children, and others—together with them I will go, whether to hell or to auspiciousness.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विस्मितः कश्यपोऽब्रवीत्। द्विजानां च कुले जातश्चांडालैः पतितो भवान्
Hearing these words, Kaśyapa, astonished, said: 'Though born in the family of brāhmaṇas, you have fallen among the cāṇḍālas.'
पुरुषास्ते प्रतिष्ठंते घोरे च निरये ध्रुवम्। चिराय निष्कृतिस्तेषां नैवास्तीह कथंचन
Those people remain in dreadful hell, certainly; for a long time, there is no expiation for them at all.
सर्वांश्चैव दुराचारांश्चांडालान्पापकारिणः। दोषांस्त्यक्त्वा नरः पश्चात्सुखी भवति नान्यथा
Only by abandoning all wicked conduct and sinful cāṇḍālas does a man become happy afterwards; not otherwise.
अज्ञानाद्यदि वा मोहात्कृत्वा पापं सुदारुणं। ततो धर्मं चरेद्यस्तु स गच्छेत्परमां गतिं
If, out of ignorance or delusion, one commits terrible sin, then, by practicing righteousness, he attains the highest state.
पापकृन्न चरेद्धर्मं पापे कुर्यान्मतिं पुनः। शिलानावं यथारूढः सागरे संनिमज्जति
If a sinner does not practice righteousness and again directs his mind toward sin, he sinks as one mounted on a stone in the ocean.
कृत्वा सर्वाणि पापानि तथा दुर्गतिसंचयं। उपशांतो भवेत्पश्चात्तं दोषं शमयिष्यति
Having committed all sins and accumulated misfortune, one who becomes tranquil afterwards will pacify that fault.
तमुवाच महाप्राज्ञं द्विजं मुनिवरोत्तमम्। यदिमां न जहातीह खगः सर्वांश्च बांधवान्
He spoke to the wise brāhmaṇa, the foremost among sages: 'If you do not abandon me here, O bird, and all my relatives—'
ततः प्राणं च त्यक्ष्यामि खगे मर्मावघातिनि। नोचेत्त्यजतु मे बंधून्प्रतिज्ञा मे दृढात्मनः
Then I will give up my life, O bird, destroyer of vital points; otherwise, let me abandon my kin, for my resolve is firm.
ततस्तार्क्ष्यमुवाचेदं मुनि र्ब्रह्मवधे भयात्। उद्वमैतान्सविप्रांश्च म्लेछानेतान्समंततः
Then, out of fear of the sin of killing a Brahmin, the sage spoke to Garuḍa, saying: 'Expel these, along with the Brahmins and the foreigners, all together.'
वनेषु पर्वतान्तेषु दिक्षु तान्पतगेश्वर। उद्ववाम ततः शीघ्रं दोषज्ञः पितुराज्ञया
O Lord of Birds, by his father's command, the one who knows right and wrong swiftly expelled them into the forests, the mountain slopes, and the directions.
ततः सर्वेऽभवन्व्यक्ता अकेशाः श्मश्रुवर्जिताः। यवना भोजनप्रीताः किंचिच्छ्मश्रुयुताश्च ये
Then all of them became manifest—those without hair, those without beards, the Yavanas who delight in food, and those with only a little facial hair.
अग्नौ च नग्नकाः पापा दक्षिणस्यामवाचकाः। घोराः प्राणिवधे प्रीता दुरात्मानो गवाशिनः
In the south, there are the naked sinners, the silent ones, fierce and fond of killing living beings, wicked, and eaters of cows.
नैर्ऋते कुवदाः पापा गोब्राह्मणवधोद्यताः। खर्पराः पश्चिमे पूर्वे निवसंति च दारुणाः
In the southwest are the wicked, evil-doers, intent on killing cows and Brahmins; the skull-bearers dwell in the west and east, and they are cruel.
वायव्यां च तुरुष्काश्च श्मश्रुपूर्णा गवाशिनः। अश्वपृष्ठसमारूढाः प्रयुद्धेष्वनिवर्तिनः
In the northwest are the Turuskas, full-bearded, eaters of cows, mounted on horseback, who do not turn back in battle.
उत्तरस्यां च गिरयो म्लेच्छाः पर्वतवासिनः। सर्वभक्षा दुराचाराः वधबंधरताः किल
In the north are the mountain-dwelling foreigners, eaters of everything, of evil conduct, and indeed devoted to killing and binding.
ऐशान्यां निरयास्संति कर्तॄणां वृक्षवासिनः। एते म्लेच्छा स्थिता दिक्षु घोरास्ते शस्त्रपाणयः
In the northeast are the Nirayas, tree-dwellers among the executioners; these fierce foreigners stand in the directions, weapons in hand.
येषां च स्पर्शमात्रेण सचेलो जलमाविशेत्। एतेषां च कलौ देशेप्यकाले धर्मवर्जिते
By merely touching them, even one who is clothed must enter water; in the age of Kali, in lands and times devoid of righteousness, these are found.
संस्पर्शं च प्रकुर्वंति वित्तलोभात्समंततः। म्लेच्छांस्तान्मोचयित्वा तु क्षुधया परिपीडितः
Out of greed for wealth, people everywhere come into contact with them; having released those foreigners, afflicted by hunger,
पुनराह द्विजस्तात क्षुधा मे बाधतेतराम्। अवदद्गरुडं तत्र कश्यपः कृपया द्रुतम्
Again the twice-born said, 'Father, hunger torments me even more.' Then Kaśyapa quickly spoke to Garuḍa out of compassion.
तिष्ठंतौ विपुलौ तत्र जिघांसू गजकच्छपौ। अप्रमेयौ महासत्वौ सागरस्यैकदेशतः
There, two great beings, an elephant and a tortoise, both of immense strength and immeasurable, stood together by a part of the ocean, intent on killing each other.
तावप्सु च द्रुतं वत्स क्षुधां ते वारयिष्यतः। स पितुर्वचनं श्रुत्वा तत्र गत्वाभिपद्य तौ
Child, go quickly to those two in the water; they will satisfy your hunger. Hearing his father's words, he went there and approached them.
नखैर्भित्वा कूर्मगजौ महासत्वौ महाजवः। खमुत्पपात तौ धृत्वा विद्युद्वेगो महाबलः
With his claws, the mighty and swift one struck the elephant and tortoise, seized them, and, with the speed of lightning, soared into the sky, powerful as he was.