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.
आधारतां न गच्छंति नगाश्च मंदरादयः। ततो योजनलक्षे द्वे गत्वा मारुतरंहसा
Even the great mountains like Mandara could not bear his weight; then, traveling two hundred thousand yojanas with the speed of the wind,
महत्यां जंबुशाखायां निपपात महाबलः। भग्ना सा सहसा शाखा तां पतंतीं खगेश्वरः
The mighty one landed on a great branch of a Jambu tree; that branch suddenly broke, and as it fell, the Lord of Birds,
गोब्राह्मणवधाद्भीतो दधार तरसा बली। धृत्वा तां रुचिरं वेगाद्द्रवंतं खे महाबलम्
Fearing the sin of killing cows and Brahmins, the powerful one swiftly supported it; holding that beautiful, swiftly falling branch in the sky,
गत्वा विष्णुरुवाचेदं नररूपधरो हरिः। कस्त्वं भ्रमसि चाकाशे किमर्थं पतगेश्वर
Having gone there, Viṣṇu, taking the form of a man, spoke to him: 'Who are you, wandering in the sky, and for what purpose, O Lord of Birds?'
विधृत्य महतीं शाखां महांतौ गजकच्छपौ। तमुवाच द्विजस्तस्मिन्नररूपधरं हरिम्
Having seized a great branch, and the mighty elephant and tortoise, the twice-born addressed Hari, who had assumed a human form, at that place.
गरुडोहं महाबाहो खगरूपः स्वकर्मणा। कश्यपस्य मुनेस्सूनुर्विनतागर्भसंभवः
O mighty-armed one, I am Garuḍa, in the form of a bird by my own nature, the son of the sage Kaśyapa, born from the womb of Vinatā.
पश्यैतौ च महासत्वौ भक्षणार्थं मया धृतौ। न धरा च ममाधारो न वृक्षा न च पर्वताः
Behold these two great beings whom I have seized for food; neither the earth, nor trees, nor mountains can support me.
अनेकयोजनान्यूर्ध्वं दृष्ट्वा जंबूमहीरुहम्। अपतंतस्य शाखायां सहेमौ परिभक्षितुं
Having seen the great Jambū tree rising many yojanas high, I descended upon its branch to devour these two.
भग्ना सा सहसा शाखा तां च धृत्वा भ्रमाम्यहम्। कोटिकोटिसहस्राणां ब्राह्मणानां गवां वधात्
That branch suddenly broke, and holding it, I wander, fearing the destruction of millions upon millions of brāhmaṇas and cows.
भयं तत्र विषादो मे सहसा प्राविशद्बुध। किं करोमि कथं यामि को मे वेगं सहिष्यति
There, fear and despair suddenly entered me, O wise one; what shall I do, how shall I go, who will withstand my speed?
इत्युक्ते पतगश्रेष्ठं प्रोवाचेदं हरिस्तदा। अस्मद्बाहुं समारुह्य भक्षेमौ गजकच्छपौ
When this was said, Hari then spoke to the best of birds: 'Climb upon my arm, and let us eat the elephant and tortoise.'
गरुड उवाच-। ममाधारं न गच्छंति सागराश्च नगोत्तमाः। अथ चैवं महासत्वं कथं त्वं धारयिष्यसि
Garuḍa said: 'Neither the oceans nor the greatest mountains can support me; then, O great being, how will you bear me?'
ऋते नारायणादन्यः को मां धारयितुं क्षमः। त्रैलोक्ये कः पुमांस्तिष्ठेद्यो वेगं मे सहिष्यति
Except for Nārāyaṇa, who else is able to support me? In the three worlds, what man could stand and withstand my force?
हरिरुवाच-। स्वकार्यमुद्धरेत्प्राज्ञः स्वकार्यं कुरु सांप्रतम्। कृत्वा कार्यं खगश्रेष्ठ विजानीषे च मां ध्रुवम्
Hari said: 'A wise person should accomplish his own task; now do your own work. Having done it, O best of birds, you will surely know me.'
महासत्वं च तं दृष्ट्वा विमृश्य मनसा खगः। एवमस्त्विति चोक्त्वा स पपात ह महाभुजे
Seeing that great being, the bird reflected in his mind, and saying, 'So be it,' he descended upon the mighty arm.
न चचाल भुजस्तस्य सन्निपाते खगेशितुः। तत्र स्थित्वा स तां शाखां मुमोच पर्वतालये
The arm of the lord of birds did not tremble at the bird's landing; standing there, he released the branch upon the mountain abode.
शाखापतनमात्रेण सचराचरकानना। चचाल वसुधा चैव सागराः प्रचकंपिरे
At the mere fall of the branch, the earth with its moving and unmoving forests shook, and the oceans trembled.
ततश्च खादितौ सत्त्वौ सहसा गजकच्छपौ। तृप्तिं न प्राप्तवान्सोपि क्षुधा तस्य न शाम्यति
Then, suddenly, the elephant and tortoise were devoured, yet even so, he did not attain satisfaction; his hunger was not appeased.
एतज्ज्ञात्वा तु गोविंदस्तमुवाच खगेश्वरम्। भुजस्य मम मांसं तु भक्षयित्वा सुखी भव
Knowing this, Govinda spoke to the lord of birds: 'After eating the flesh of my arm, be content.'
इत्युक्ते प्रचुरं मांसं भुजस्य तस्य तेन हि। खादितं क्षुधया पुत्र व्रणं तस्य न विद्यते1.47.
Thus addressed, he ate much flesh from that arm out of hunger, O son, yet no wound appeared upon it.