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.
तमुवाच महाप्राज्ञश्चराचरगुरुं हरिम्। कस्त्वं किं वा प्रियं तेद्य करिष्यामि च सांप्रतम्
That most wise one addressed Hari, the teacher of all moving and unmoving beings: 'Who are you, and what favor shall I do for you now?'
नारायण उवाच-। विद्धि नारायणं मां हि त्वत्प्रियार्थं समागतम्। रूपं स्वं दर्शयामास प्रत्ययार्थं च तस्य वै
Nārāyaṇa said: 'Know me as Nārāyaṇa, who has come here for your sake.' He then revealed his true form to him, for his assurance.
पीतवस्त्रं घनश्यामं चतुर्भुजमनोहरम्। शंखचक्रगदापद्मधरं सर्वसुरेश्वरम्
Clad in yellow garments, dark as a rain cloud, four-armed and captivating, holding the conch, discus, mace, and lotus, the lord of all gods.
तं च दृष्ट्वा गरुत्मांश्च प्रणम्य शिरसा हरिम्। प्रियं किं ते करिष्यामि वद नः पुरुषोत्तम
Seeing him, Garuda bowed his head to Hari and said, 'O Supreme Person, tell me what dear thing I may do for you.'
तमब्रवीन्महातेजा देवदेवेश्वरो हरिः। भव मे वाहनं शूर सखे त्वं सार्वकालिकम्
Hari, the lord of gods and of great brilliance, spoke to him: 'Be my vehicle, O hero, my friend, at all times.'
तमुवाच खगश्रेष्ठो धन्योहं विबुधेश्वर। सफलं जन्म मे नाथ त्वां च दृष्ट्वाद्य मे प्रभो
The foremost among birds replied: 'I am blessed, O lord of the wise; my birth is fruitful, O master, for today I have seen you.'
प्रार्थयित्वा च पितरावागमिष्यामि तेऽन्तिकम्। प्रीतो विष्णुरुवाचेदं भव त्वमजरामरः
Having requested, 'Let me approach my parents,' he said, 'I will come to you.' Vishnu, pleased, replied, 'Become ageless and immortal.'
अवध्यः सर्वभूतेभ्यः कर्म तेजश्च मत्समम्। सर्वत्र ते गतिश्चास्तु निखिलं तु सुखं ध्रुवम्
You shall be inviolable by all beings; your actions and power shall equal mine. May you have freedom everywhere, and assured happiness in all things.
संमिलतु द्रुतं सर्वं यत्ते मनसि वर्तते। यथेष्टं प्रीतिमाहारमकष्टेन प्रलप्स्यसे
Let all that is in your mind swiftly come together; you will obtain whatever you desire, without hardship, and enjoy delight.
व्यसनान्मातरं सद्यो मोचयिष्यसि नान्यथा। एवमुक्त्वा हरिः सद्यस्तत्रैवांतरधीयत
You will immediately free your mother from distress; there is no other way. Having spoken thus, Hari at once vanished there.