तस्मिन् निवसति श्रीमान् भुसुण्डो नाम वायसः । वीतरागो बृहत्कोशे ब्रह्मेव निजपङ्कजे
There resides the illustrious Bhusuṇḍa, a crow by name, free from passion, possessing vast knowledge, like Brahmā in his own lotus.
स यथा जगतः कोशे जीवतीह सुराश् चिरम् । चिरजीवी तथा स्वर्गे न भूतो न भविष्यति
Just as the gods live long in the cosmic egg, so too does he live for ages in heaven; there has never been, nor will there be, another so long-lived.
स दीर्घायुस् स नीरोगस् स श्रीमान् स महामतिः । स विश्रान्तमतिश् शान्तस् स कान्तः कालकोविदः
He is long-lived, free from disease, prosperous, of great intelligence, with a mind at rest, peaceful, charming, and wise in the ways of time.
स यथा जीवति खगस् तथेह यदि जीव्यते । तद् भवेज् जीवितं पुंसां दीर्घं चादेयम् एव च
If one were to live in this world as that bird lives, then human life would be both long and truly worthy.
इति तेन भुसुण्डो ऽसौ भूयःपृष्टेन वर्णितः । यथावद् एव देवानां सभायां सत्यमूर्तिना
Thus, Bhusuṇḍa was described in detail by Satyamūrti, when asked again, in the assembly of the gods.
कथावसरसंशान्ताव् अथ याते सुरव्रजे । भुसुण्डविहगं द्रष्टुम् अहं यातः कुतूहलात्
Then, when the gathering of gods had dispersed at the end of the story, I went out of curiosity to see Bhusuṇḍa the bird.
भुसुण्डस् संस्थितो यत्र मेरोश् शृङ्गं तद् उन्नतम् । सम्प्राप्तवान् क्षणेनाहं पद्मरागमयं बृहत्
There, where Bhusunda resides, I swiftly reached the lofty peak of Meru, vast and made of padmarāga gem.
द्रुतगैरिककान्तेन तेजसा वह्निवर्चसा । मध्वासवरसेनेव रञ्जयन् ककुभां गणम्
With a brilliance like quicklime, radiant as fire, it colored the quarters as if with the finest honey-wine.
कल्पान्तज्वलनज्वालापिण्डाद्रिम् इव सञ्चितम् । इन्द्रनीलशिलाधूमम् आलोकारुणिताम्बरम्
It was gathered like a mountain of flames at the end of an age, its sky reddened by the smoke of sapphire stones.
सर्वेषाम् एव रागाणां राशिम् अद्राव् इव स्थितम् । सर्वसन्ध्याभ्रजालानां घनम् एकम् इवाकरम्
It stood as if it were the heap of all red hues, like the single source of all the clouds of every twilight.
उत्क्रान्तिं कुर्वतो मेरोर् ब्रह्मनाड्येव निर्गतम् । मूर्धानम् आगतं कान्तं वाडवं जठरानलम्
Like the upward surge of Meru, as if the fire of the submarine volcano had emerged through its summit, beautiful and bright.
सुमेरुवनदेव्येव नवालक्तकरञ्जितम् । लीलयादातुम् इन्दुं खे नीतं हस्तं शिखाङ्गुलिम्
As if the goddess of Sumeru forest had playfully dipped her finger in fresh red dye to seize the moon in the sky.
ज्वालाभिर् इव मालाभिर् अरुणाभिः पयोमुचाम् । खं गन्तुम् इव सस्पन्दं शैलस्थम् इव वाडवम्
Like a wreath of crimson flames, or the fiery submarine blaze poised on the mountain, trembling as if to ascend the sky.
तारास् स्प्रष्टुम् इवाकाशम् अङ्गुलीभिर् इवाश्रिभिः । कचदंशुनखाग्राभिः परिचुम्बद् इवोन्नतम्
As if the stars, with their shining fingers, were reaching to touch the sky, caressing the lofty peak with the tips of their hair and nails.
कचद्रत्नशिलाश्वभ्रं भास्वत्कनककन्दरम् । सरत्कुसुमरेण्वभ्रं भ्रमद्विद्याधरामरम्
There were crystal rocks, jewel-studded caves, radiant golden grottos, mountain streams veiled in flower pollen, and celestial beings wandering about.
क्वणद्वंशलसद्वातं नृत्यद्रत्नलताङ्गनम् । गर्जज्जीमूतमुरजं भूभृतो नाट्यमण्डपम्
There was the gentle wind playing through bamboo reeds, jewel-creeper maidens dancing, thunderclouds resounding like drums, and the mountain itself like a stage for divine performance.
हसत्कुसुमगुच्छाढ्यं ध्वनत्षट्पदपेटकम् । दन्ततालं दलावल्या परिहासाद् इव स्फुटम्
Clusters of laughing flowers adorned the place, bees hummed melodiously, and the leaves clapped together as if in playful applause.
दोलालोलाप्सरोवृन्दम् उद्दाममदमन्मथम् । शिलाविश्रान्तविबुधं मिथुनाश्रितकन्दरम्
Groups of apsarases swung on vines, intoxicated with love and passion; gods rested on rocks, and couples sought shelter in the caves.
वराम्बराजिनं शुभ्रं गङ्गायज्ञोपवीति च । तापसं पिङ्गलम् इव वेणुदण्डधरं स्थितम्
There stood a sage, clad in fine bark and white deerskin, with the Ganges as his sacred thread—tawny, staff in hand, as if he were an ascetic himself.
गङ्गानिर्झरनिर्ह्रादि लतागृहगतामरम् । गन्धर्वगीतसुभगम् आमोदिमधुरानिलम्
Celestials dwelled in leafy bowers, with the roar of Ganges waterfalls, sweet with the songs of gandharvas and fragrant, delightful breezes.
फुल्लहेमाम्बुजोत्तंसं तारारत्नविभूषितम् । व्योम्नः पारम् इव प्राप्तं पिङ्गलं मैरवं शिरः
Golden lotuses bloomed as ornaments, stars and jewels adorned the scene, and the tawny Meru peak rose as if it had reached the farthest edge of the sky.
सितहरितपीतपाटलधवलैर् मणिकुसुमराशिनवरङ्गैः । विधिविहितामलचित्रं लीलाचलम् अमरयुवतिलोकस्य
With terraces of crystal, green, yellow, red, and white, decked with heaps of jewels and flowers, the mountain appeared as a wondrous, pure creation—like the playful realm of the celestial maidens.
कुसुमापूर्णकल्पाभ्रकुन्तले तस्य मूर्धनि । कल्पागम् अहम् अद्राक्षं शिखाचक्रम् इव स्थितम्
Upon his head, crowned with clouds full of blossoms, I beheld the circle of ages, poised like a crest-jewel.
पुष्परेण्वभ्रवलितं रत्नस्तबकदन्तुरम् । उत्सेधनिर्जिताकाशं शृङ्गे शृङ्गम् इवार्पितम्
It was adorned with sprays of flowers, streaked with cloud-like hues, studded with clusters of gems, towering above the sky, set peak upon peak.
ताराद्विगुणपुष्पौघं मेघद्विगुणपल्लवम् । रश्मिद्विगुणरेण्वभ्रं तडिद्द्विगुणपिञ्जरम्
It bore a multitude of flowers surpassing the stars, foliage denser than clouds, dust brighter than rays, and a golden glow more vivid than lightning.
स्कन्धेषु किन्नरीगीतद्विगुणभ्रमरीस्वनम् । दोलालोलाप्सरोलोकद्विगुणीकृतसल्लतम्
On its slopes, the hum of bees doubled the songs of Kinnara maidens, and the swinging groves of Apsaras seemed twice as lush.
सिद्धगन्धर्वसङ्घातद्विगुणाग्र्यविहङ्गमम् । रत्नकान्त्यच्छनीहारद्विगुणत्वग्वृतांशुकम्
There, flocks of Siddhas and Gandharvas were outnumbered by the choicest birds, and the brilliance of gems outshone the finest silken garments.
चन्द्रबिम्बसमाश्लेषद्विगुणाग्र्यबृहत्फलम् । मूकसंलीनकल्पाभ्रद्विगुणीकृतपर्वकम्
Its great fruits, embracing the moon's orb, were twice as splendid, and its peaks, veiled in silent clouds, appeared doubled in majesty.
सुरसंवलितस्कन्धं पत्त्रविश्रान्तकिन्नरम् । निकुञ्जकूजज्जीमूतं कच्छसुप्तसुरार्भकम्
Its slopes were embraced by divine beings, Kinnaras rested on its leaves, clouds echoed in its groves, and young gods slept in its hollows.
स्वाकारविपुलान् भृङ्गान् उत्सार्य वलयस्वनैः । अप्सरोभ्रमरीभिश् च गृहीतकुसुमान्तरम्
The bees, vast as themselves, were driven away by the ringing of bangles, while Apsaras-bees seized the flowers within.