इत्यूर्जस्वलमाकर्ण्य वचः सूनोर्गरुत्मतः
Hearing these powerful words from her son Garutmān,
अहं दास्यस्मि रे बाल कद्र्वाश्च क्रूरचेतसः
She said: 'O child, I will become a slave to the cruel-hearted Kadrū.'
कदाचिन्मंदरं यामि कदाचिन्मलयाचलम्
Sometimes I go to Mount Mandara, sometimes to Mount Malaya.
यत्रयत्र नयेयुस्ते काद्रवेयाः सुदुर्मदाः
Wherever those exceedingly arrogant sons of Kadru may lead you—
गरुड उवाच दासीत्वकारणं मातः किं ते जातं सुलक्षणे
Garuḍa said: Mother, what was the reason for your becoming a servant, O auspicious one?
विनतोवाच गरुडं पुरावृत्तमशेषतः
Vinata spoke to Garuḍa, recounting everything that had happened in the past.
श्रुत्वेति गरुडः प्राह मातरं सत्वरं व्रज
Hearing this, Garuḍa said: Mother, go at once.
यद्दुर्लभं हि भवतां यत्रात्यंतरुचिश्च वः
Wherever there is something difficult for you to obtain, and where your deepest desire lies—
तथाकरोच्च विनता तेपि श्रुत्वा तदीरितम्
Vinata did just as he said, and they too, having heard his words—
मातृशापविमोक्षाय यदि दास्यति नः सुधाम् 4.1.50.
If, for the sake of releasing our mother from her curse, they will give us the nectar—
इत्योंकृत्य समापृच्छ्य कद्रूं द्रुतगतिः खगी
So saying 'Om', the swift-moving bird, after taking leave, approached Kadru.
नागांतकस्ततः प्राह मातरं चिंतयातुराम्
Then the destroyer of serpents spoke to his mother, who was anxious with worry.
विनता प्राह तं पुत्रं संप्रहृष्टतनूरुहा
Vinata spoke to her son, her body thrilled with joy.
संति तत्रापि बहुशो निषादा मत्स्यघातिनः
There too, many times, are the Niṣādas, killers of fish.
परप्राणैर्निजप्राणान्ये पुष्णंतीह दुर्धियः
These people of perverse mind sustain their own lives by taking the lives of others.
बहुहिंसाकृतां हिंसा भवेत्स्वर्गस्य साधनम्
Violence committed against those who have committed much violence is said to be a means to heaven.
निषादेष्वपि चेद्विप्रः कश्चिद्भवति पुत्रक
But if, among the Niṣādas, there is a Brāhmaṇa, O son—
अभक्ष्यो यस्त्वया प्रोक्तस्तच्चिह्नं किं चनात्थ मे
You have said he is not to be eaten; tell me, what is his distinguishing mark?
यज्ञसूत्रं गले यस्य सोत्तरीयं सुनिर्मलम्
He who has a sacrificial thread around his neck, with a spotless upper garment—
सपवित्रौ करौ यस्य यन्नीवी कुशगर्भिणी 4.1.50.
Whose hands bear the sacred ring and water-pot, and whose loincloth contains sacred grass—
उच्चरेदृग्यजुःसाम्नामृचमेकामपीह यः
Whoever here recites even a single Ṛc from the Ṛg, Yajur, or Sāma Veda—
गरुड उवाच तस्यैतेष्वेकमप्येव न मन्ये लक्ष्मबोधकम्
Garuḍa said: Of these, I do not consider even one to be a sign of prosperity.
लक्ष्मांतरं समाचक्ष्व द्विजबोधकरं प्रसूः
Describe another sign of prosperity, O you who bring understanding to the twice-born.
तच्छ्रुत्वा विनता प्राह यस्ते कंठगतोंऽगज
Hearing this, Vinatā said: The one who is stuck in your throat, O mighty one—
द्विजमात्रेपि या हिंसा सा हिंसा कुशलाय न
Even the slightest harm to a Brāhmaṇa is not auspicious, nor does it lead to merit.
निशम्य काश्यपिरितिप्रसूपादौप्रणम्य च
Hearing the words of Kaśyapa’s wife, he bowed with respect.
दूरादालोकयांचक्रे निषादान्मत्स्यजीविनः
From afar, he observed the Niṣādas, fishers by livelihood.
अंधीकृत्य दिशोभागानब्धिरोधस्युपाविशत्
Blinding the directions, he sat down at the edge of the sea.
कांदिशीका निषादास्तु विविशुस्तत्र च स्वयम्
The Kāṃdiśīka Niṣādas themselves entered there.
जज्वालेंगलसंस्पर्शो द्विजस्तत्कंठकंदलीम् 4.1.50.
The touch of the twice-born’s neck-ornament blazed with fire.