स तस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा मुनिः प्राह खगेश्वरम्। सत्यलोकस्य वै चोर्ध्वे विश्वकर्मविनिर्मिता
Hearing his words, the sage spoke to the lord of birds: 'Above Satyaloka, there is a city constructed by Viśvakarman.'
पुरी चास्ति सभा रम्या देवानां हित हेतवे। वह्निप्राकारदुर्लभ्या दुर्धर्षा चासुरैः सुरैः
There is a delightful assembly hall in that city, made for the welfare of the gods, difficult to approach because of its fiery ramparts, unassailable by gods or demons.
रक्षार्थं निर्मितो देवः सुरैस्तत्र महाबलः। यं यं पश्यति वीरः स स एव भस्मतां व्रजेत्
For its protection, a mighty god was created there by the gods; whoever that hero sees is instantly reduced to ashes.
एममुक्त्वा गरुत्मान्स उद्धृत्य सागराज्जलम्। जगामाकाशमाविश्य खगश्चोर्ध्वं मनोजवः
Having said this, Garuḍa, drawing up water from the ocean, entered the sky and, swift as thought, ascended upward.
पक्षवातेन तस्यैव रजः समुद्गतं बहु। तस्यांतिकं न च त्यक्तमगमत्तस्य तच्च यः
By the wind of his wings, much dust was stirred up; and whoever came near him was not able to approach.
गत्वा चंचूजलेनापि वह्निं निर्वापयद्बली। रजोभिः परिपूर्णाक्षो न सुरस्तं च पश्यति
Having reached there, the powerful one extinguished the fire with water from his beak; his eyes filled with dust, the gods could not see him.
जघान रक्षिवर्गांस्तानमृतं चाहरद्बली। आनयंतं च पीयूषं खगं गत्वा शतक्रतुः
He struck down those groups of guardians and seized the nectar; as he was carrying the ambrosia, Indra approached the bird.
ऐरावतं समारूढो वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह। खगरूपधरः कस्त्वं पीयूषं हरसे बलात्
Mounted on Airāvata, he spoke these words: 'Who are you, taking the form of a bird, who seizes the nectar by force?
अप्रियं सर्वदेवानां कृत्वा जीवे रतिः कथम्। विशिखैरग्निसंकाशैर्नयामि यममंदिरम्1.47.
Having done what is displeasing to all the gods, how can you delight in life? With arrows blazing like fire, I will send you to Yama's abode.'
श्रुत्वा वाक्यं हरेः कोपादुवाच स महाबलः। नयामि तव पीयूषं दर्शयस्व पराक्रमम्
Hearing Hari's words, Garuḍa, filled with anger, replied: 'I am taking your nectar; show me your strength.'
एतच्छ्रुत्वा महाबाहुर्जघान विशिखैः शितैः। यथामेरुगिरेः शृंगं तोयवर्षेण तोयदः
Hearing this, the mighty-armed one struck with sharp arrows, as a rain cloud strikes the peak of Mount Meru with a shower of water.
नखैरशनिसंकाशैर्बिभेद गरुडो गजम्। मातलि च रथं चक्रं तथा देवान्पुरस्सरान्
Garuḍa pierced the elephant with his claws, which were like thunderbolts; he also attacked Mātali, the chariot, the wheel, and the gods who led the host.
व्यथितोसौ महाबाहुर्मातलिर्गजपुंगवः। विमुखाः पक्षवातेन सर्वे देवगणास्तदा
Then Mātali, the great-armed and foremost elephant, was afflicted; all the hosts of gods were turned back by the wind of his wings.
ततस्तु कोपितो जिष्णुर्जघानकुलिशेन तम्। कुलिशस्यावपातेन न च क्षुब्धो महाखगः
Then, enraged, Indra struck him with the thunderbolt; but even with the blow of the thunderbolt, the great bird was not shaken.
स्वं मोघं भिदुरं दृष्ट्वा हरिर्भीतोऽभवत्तदा। संनिवृत्य ततो युद्धात्तत्रैवांतरधीयत
Seeing his own weapon fail and become useless, Hari became afraid; withdrawing from the battle, he vanished there.
सुतरामपिगच्छंतं वेगाद्भूतलमागतः। अब्रवीत्स सुरश्रेष्ठः सर्वदेवगणाग्रतः
As Garuḍa, moving with great speed, descended to earth, the best of the gods spoke before all the hosts of gods.
शक्र उवाच-। यदि दास्यसि पीयूषमिदानीं नागमातरि। भुजगाश्चामराः सर्वे क्रियंते हि ध्रुवं तया
Indra said: If you now give the nectar to the mother of the nāgas, then surely all the serpents will become immortal by it.
प्रतिज्ञा ते भवेन्नष्टा न फलं जीवितस्य ते। तस्मादिदं हरिष्यामि संमतेन तवानघ
Your promise will be lost, and your life will bear no fruit; therefore, O sinless one, I will take it with your consent.
गरुत्मानुवाच-। यस्मिन्काले ह्यदासी सा माता मे दुःखिता सती। विदिता सर्वलोकेषु हरेऽमृतं हरिष्यसि
Garuda said: At the time when my mother, suffering, gave it, it was known everywhere that you would take the nectar, O Hari.
एवमुक्त्वा महावीर्यो गत्वोवाच प्रसूं तदा। आनीतममृतं मातस्तस्या एव प्रदीयताम्
Having spoken thus, the mighty one went and said to his mother: The nectar has been brought, let it be given to her.
प्रोत्फुल्लहृदया सा च दृष्ट्वा पुत्रं सहामृतम्। तामाहूयामृतं दत्वा चादासीतां तदा गता
Seeing her son together with the nectar, her heart blossomed; she called for the nectar, gave it, and then departed.
तृणकाष्ठानि भूतानि पशवश्च सरीसृपाः। दृष्ट्वा सविस्मयास्सर्वे देवा महर्षयस्तदा
All beings—grass, wood, animals, and reptiles—saw with amazement, as did the gods and great sages at that time.
मोचयित्वा तु तामंबां गरुडः सुष्ठुतां गतः। एतस्मिन्नंतरे शक्रो जहार सहसा सुधाम्
Having freed his mother, Garuda attained great joy; meanwhile, Indra suddenly seized the nectar.
निधाय गरलं तत्र तया चानुपलक्षितः। प्रहृष्टहृदया कद्रूः पुत्रानाहूय संभ्रमात्
Kadru, unnoticed by her, placed poison there; her heart delighted, she called her sons in excitement.
तेषां मुखे ददौ हृष्टा क्ष्वेडं चामृतलक्षणम्। तानुवाच प्रसूः पुत्रान्युष्माकं च कुले सदा
Joyful, she put the poison, which resembled nectar, into their mouths; the mother addressed her sons: In your lineage always—
मुखे तिष्ठन्त्वमी दैवा बिंदवश्चस्तनिर्वृताः। महर्षयस्ततो देवाः सिद्धगंधर्वमानुषाः
These drops remain in your mouths, O gods, contented; then the great sages, gods, siddhas, gandharvas, and humans—
ऊचुःस्सन्तु कुले मातरस्माकं च प्रसादतः। नागैर्विसर्जिता देवाः ससिद्धा मुनयस्तथा
They said: Let it be so in our lineage, O mother, by your grace; the gods, siddhas, and sages were released by the nāgas.
जग्मुः स्वमालयं हृष्टा नागाः प्रमुदिताः स्थिताः। एतस्मिन्नंतरे नागांश्चखाद गरुडो बलात्
The gods, delighted, returned to their own abodes; the nāgas stood joyful; meanwhile, Garuda forcibly devoured the nāgas.
दिक्षु पलायिताः शेषाः पर्वतेषु वनेषु च। सागरेषु च पाताले बिलेषु तरुकोटरे
The rest fled in all directions—on mountains, in forests, in oceans, in the underworld, in caves, and in tree hollows.
निभृतेषु निकुञ्जेषु स्थिताः सर्पाश्च निर्वृताः। भुजगास्तस्य भक्ष्याश्च सदैव विधिनिर्मिताः
The serpents, content, stayed in secluded thickets; the serpents are always destined to be his food by decree.