Garuda Swallows the Nishadas

Verse 1 (1.28.1)

इत्युक्तो गरुडः सर्पैस्ततो मातरमब्रवीत् । गच्छाम्यमृतमाहर्तुं भक्ष्यमिच्छामि वेदितुम् ॥

ityukto garuḍaḥ sarpaistato mātaramabravīt | gacchāmyamṛtamāhartuṃ bhakṣyamicchāmi veditum

Thus addressed by the serpents, Garuda then said to his mother: "I am going to fetch the amrita. I wish to know what I may eat."

Verse 2 (1.28.2)

समुद्रकुक्षावेकान्ते निषादालयमुत्तमम् । भवनानि निषादानां तत्र सन्ति द्विजोत्तम ॥

samudrakukṣāvekānte niṣādālayamuttamam | bhavanāni niṣādānāṃ tatra santi dvijottama

In a lonely spot in the belly of the ocean lies the great dwelling place of the Nishadas. The homes of the Nishadas are there, O best of birds,

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (`). The first line = 1.24.2ab of the critical edition (aligned by hand); the second line is not in it (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 3 (1.28.3)

पापिनां नष्टलोकानां निर्घृणानां दुरात्मनाम् । निषादानां सहस्राणि तान्भुक्त्वाऽमृतमानय ॥

pāpināṃ naṣṭalokānāṃ nirghṛṇānāṃ durātmanām | niṣādānāṃ sahasrāṇi tānbhuktvā'mṛtamānaya

homes of sinful, pitiless, wicked men who have lost their worlds. Eat those thousands of Nishadas and bring back the amrita.

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark ('). The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the second line corresponds to 1.24.2cd, which reads differently there (aligned by hand).

Verse 4 (1.28.4)

न च ते ब्राह्मणं हन्तुं कार्या बुद्धिः कथंचन । अवध्यः सर्वभूतानां ब्राह्मणो ह्यनलोपमः ॥

na ca te brāhmaṇaṃ hantuṃ kāryā buddhiḥ kathaṃcana | avadhyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ brāhmaṇo hyanalopamaḥ

But you must never in any way set your mind on killing a brahmin. A brahmin, who is like fire, may not be slain by any creature.

Verse 5 (1.28.5)

अग्निरर्को विषं शस्त्रं विप्रो भवति कोपितः । गुरुर्हि सर्वभूतानां ब्राह्मणः परिकीर्तितः ॥

agnirarko viṣaṃ śastraṃ vipro bhavati kopitaḥ | gururhi sarvabhūtānāṃ brāhmaṇaḥ parikīrtitaḥ

Fire, the sun, poison, a weapon: that is what a brahmin becomes when he is angered. The brahmin is declared to be the teacher of all beings.

Note on the text: The first line = 1.24.4ab of the critical edition (aligned by hand); the second line is not in it (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 6 (1.28.6)

एवमादिस्वरूपैस्तु सतां वै ब्राह्मणो मतः । स ते तात न हन्तव्यः संक्रुद्धेनापि सर्वथा ॥

evamādisvarūpaistu satāṃ vai brāhmaṇo mataḥ | sa te tāta na hantavyaḥ saṃkruddhenāpi sarvathā

It is in forms such as these that the good regard the brahmin. So, my child, you must never kill him, however angry you may be.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 7 (1.28.7)

ब्राह्मणानामभिद्रोहो न कर्तव्यः कथंचन । न ह्येवमग्निर्नादित्यो भस्म कुर्यात्तथानघ ॥

brāhmaṇānāmabhidroho na kartavyaḥ kathaṃcana | na hyevamagnirnādityo bhasma kuryāttathānagha

No harm must ever be done to brahmins. For neither fire nor the sun can burn to ashes, O sinless one,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 8 (1.28.8)

यथा कुर्यादभिक्रुद्धो ब्राह्मणः संशितव्रतः । तदेतैर्विविधैर्लिङ्गैस्त्वं विद्यास्तं द्विजोत्तमम् ॥

yathā kuryādabhikruddho brāhmaṇaḥ saṃśitavrataḥ | tadetairvividhairliṅgaistvaṃ vidyāstaṃ dvijottamam

as a brahmin of strict vows does when he is enraged. By these various signs you should know that best of the twice-born.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 9 (1.28.9)

भूतानामग्रभूर्विप्रो वर्णश्रेष्ठः पिता गुरुः ॥

bhūtānāmagrabhūrvipro varṇaśreṣṭhaḥ pitā guruḥ

The brahmin is the first-born of beings, the highest of the classes, a father and a teacher.

Note on the text: Split: Wikisource prints the heading गरुड उवाच inside its verse 9, after this line; the line is Vinata's and the next is Garuda's, so each is given as a verse of its own. This line = 1.24.4cd of the critical edition, which reads agrabhug for अग्रभूर्.

Verse 10 (1.28.10)

किंरूपो ब्राह्मणो मातः किंशीलः किंपराक्रमः ॥

kiṃrūpo brāhmaṇo mātaḥ kiṃśīlaḥ kiṃparākramaḥ

Mother, what is a brahmin like in form? What is his conduct, and what his power?

Note on the text: Split from the preceding verse at the heading गरुड उवाच, which Wikisource prints inside its verse 9. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 11 (1.28.11)

किंस्विदग्निनिभो भाति किंस्वित्सौम्यप्रदर्शनः । यथाहमभिजानीयां ब्राह्मणं लक्षणैः शुभैः ॥

kiṃsvidagninibho bhāti kiṃsvitsaumyapradarśanaḥ | yathāhamabhijānīyāṃ brāhmaṇaṃ lakṣaṇaiḥ śubhaiḥ

Does he shine like fire, or is he gentle to look upon? Tell me, so that I may recognise a brahmin by his auspicious marks.

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the second line = 1.24.5ab (aligned by hand).

Verse 12 (1.28.12)

तन्मे कारणतो मातः पृच्छतो वक्तुमर्हसि ॥

tanme kāraṇato mātaḥ pṛcchato vaktumarhasi

I am asking you, mother: explain this to me with its reasons.

Note on the text: Split: Wikisource prints the heading विनतोवाच inside its verse 11, after this line; the line is Garuda's and the next is Vinata's, so each is given as a verse of its own. This line = 1.24.5cd of the critical edition (aligned by hand).

Verse 13 (1.28.13)

यस्ते कण्ठमनुप्राप्तो निगीर्णं बडिशं यथा ॥

yaste kaṇṭhamanuprāpto nigīrṇaṃ baḍiśaṃ yathā

He who, on reaching your throat, sticks there like a swallowed fish-hook

Note on the text: Split from the preceding verse at the heading विनतोवाच, which Wikisource prints inside its verse 11. This line = 1.24.6ab of the critical edition (aligned by hand).

Verse 14 (1.28.14)

दहेदङ्गारवत्पुत्रं तं विद्याद्ब्राह्मणर्षभम् । विप्रस्त्वया न हन्तव्यः संक्रुद्धेनापि सर्वदा ॥

dahedaṅgāravatputraṃ taṃ vidyādbrāhmaṇarṣabham | viprastvayā na hantavyaḥ saṃkruddhenāpi sarvadā

and burns you, my son, like a live coal: know him to be a bull among brahmins. You must never kill a brahmin, however angry you may be.

Note on the text: The first line = 1.24.6cd of the critical edition (aligned by hand), which reads putra for पुत्रं; the second line is not in it (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 15 (1.28.15)

प्रोवाच चैनं विनता पुत्रहार्दादिदं वचः । जठरे न च जीर्येद्यस्तं जानीहि द्विजोत्तमम् ॥

provāca cainaṃ vinatā putrahārdādidaṃ vacaḥ | jaṭhare na ca jīryedyastaṃ jānīhi dvijottamam

And out of love for her son Vinata told him this as well: "He who is not digested in your belly, know him to be the best of the twice-born."

Note on the text: Corrected चैन → चैनं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvara, as in the critical edition's cainaṃ). Speaker set to Sauti: Wikisource prints no heading here and the first line is narration. The first line resembles 1.24.7ab of the critical edition, which recurs in the next verse; the second line is not in it (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 16 (1.28.16)

पुनः प्रोवाच विनता पुत्रहार्दादिदं वचः । जानन्त्यप्यतुलं वीर्यमाशीर्वादपरायणा ॥

punaḥ provāca vinatā putrahārdādidaṃ vacaḥ | jānantyapyatulaṃ vīryamāśīrvādaparāyaṇā

Once more Vinata spoke to him out of love for her son; though she knew his matchless strength, she was intent on blessing him.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Sauti: this verse is narration. Aligned with 1.24.7 of the critical edition, which reads provāca cainaṃ in the first line and āśīrvādasamanvitam in the second.

Verse 17 (1.28.17)

प्रीता परमदुःखार्ता नागैर्विप्रकृता सती ॥

prītā paramaduḥkhārtā nāgairviprakṛtā satī

Loving, yet sorely grieved, for she had been wronged by the serpents, she said:

Note on the text: Split: Wikisource prints the heading विनतोवाच inside its verse 15, after this line; this line is narration and the next is Vinata's, so each is given as a verse of its own. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 18 (1.28.18)

पक्षौ ते मारुतः पातु चन्द्रसूर्यौ च पृष्ठतः ॥

pakṣau te mārutaḥ pātu candrasūryau ca pṛṣṭhataḥ

May the wind protect your wings, and the moon and the sun your back.

Note on the text: Split from the preceding verse at the heading विनतोवाच, which Wikisource prints inside its verse 15. This line corresponds to 1.24.8ab of the critical edition, which reads differently (candraḥ pṛṣṭhaṃ tu putraka).

Verse 19 (1.28.19)

शिरश्च पातु वह्निस्ते वसवः सर्वतस्तनुम् । विष्णुः सर्वगतः सर्वमङ्गानि तव चैव ह । अहं च ते सदा पुत्र शान्तिस्वस्तिपरायणा ॥

śiraśca pātu vahniste vasavaḥ sarvatastanum | viṣṇuḥ sarvagataḥ sarvamaṅgāni tava caiva ha | ahaṃ ca te sadā putra śāntisvastiparāyaṇā

May fire protect your head, and the Vasus your body on every side. May all-pervading Vishnu protect all of you, and every one of your limbs. And I, my son, shall be ever intent on prayers for your peace and well-being.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and ') and a stray danda. Corrected सर्वमह्गानि → सर्वमङ्गानि (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct for ङ्ग). The first line corresponds to 1.24.8cd of the critical edition, which reads differently; the second line is not in it (found in the vulgate recension); the third line = 1.24.9ab.

Verse 20 (1.28.20)

इहासीना भविष्यामि स्वस्तिकारे रता सदा । अरिष्टं व्रज पन्थानं पुत्र कार्यार्थसिद्धये ॥

ihāsīnā bhaviṣyāmi svastikāre ratā sadā | ariṣṭaṃ vraja panthānaṃ putra kāryārthasiddhaye

I shall stay seated here, always devoted to rites for your welfare. Go your way unharmed, my son, and accomplish your purpose.

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the second line = 1.24.9cd, which reads vatsa for पुत्र (aligned by hand).

Verse 21 (1.28.21)

ततः स मातुर्वचनं निशम्य । वितत्य पक्षौ नभ उत्पपात । ततो निषादान्बलवानुपागतो । बुभुक्षितः काल इवान्तकोऽपरः ॥

tataḥ sa māturvacanaṃ niśamya | vitatya pakṣau nabha utpapāta | tato niṣādānbalavānupāgato | bubhukṣitaḥ kāla ivāntako'paraḥ

Hearing his mother's words, he spread his wings and flew up into the sky. Then the mighty one, hungry, fell upon the Nishadas like a second Death come at the appointed hour.

Verse 22 (1.28.22)

स तान्निषादानुपसंहरंस्तदा । रजः समुद्धूय नभःस्पृशं महत् । समुद्रकुक्षौ च विशोषयन्पयः । समीपजान्भूधरजान्विचालयन् ॥

sa tānniṣādānupasaṃharaṃstadā | rajaḥ samuddhūya nabhaḥspṛśaṃ mahat | samudrakukṣau ca viśoṣayanpayaḥ | samīpajānbhūdharajānvicālayan

As he set about destroying the Nishadas, he raised a vast cloud of dust that touched the sky, drained the waters in the belly of the ocean, and shook the trees that grew on the nearby mountains.

Verse 23 (1.28.23)

ततः स चक्रे महदाननं तदा । निषादमार्गं प्रतिरुध्य पक्षिराट् । ततो निषादास्त्वरिताः प्रवव्रजु- । र्यतो मुखं तस्य भुजंगभोजिनः ॥

tataḥ sa cakre mahadānanaṃ tadā | niṣādamārgaṃ pratirudhya pakṣirāṭ | tato niṣādāstvaritāḥ pravavraju- | ryato mukhaṃ tasya bhujaṃgabhojinaḥ

Then the king of birds opened his mouth wide, blocking the path of the Nishadas, and the Nishadas rushed headlong towards the place where the mouth of the serpent-eater lay.

Verse 24 (1.28.24)

तदाननं विवृतमतिप्रमाणव- । त्समभ्ययुर्गगनमिवार्दिताः खगाः । सहस्रशः पवनरजोविमोहिता । यथाऽनिलप्रचलितपादपे वने ॥

tadānanaṃ vivṛtamatipramāṇava- | tsamabhyayurgaganamivārditāḥ khagāḥ | sahasraśaḥ pavanarajovimohitā | yathā'nilapracalitapādape vane

Into that gaping, immeasurably vast mouth they poured in their thousands, bewildered by wind and dust, like distressed birds flying up into the sky in a forest whose trees are tossed by the wind.

Note on the text: Corrected पवनजोविमोहिता → पवनरजोविमोहिता (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara, as in the critical edition's pavanarajo-; the metre needs it) and यथा।ञनिल → यथाऽनिल (misprint in Wikisource; garbled avagraha). The critical edition reads mahānila- for यथाऽनिल-.

Verse 25 (1.28.25)

ततः खगो वदनममित्रतापनः । समाहरत्परिचपलो महाबलः । निषूदयन्बहुविधमत्स्यजीविनो । बुभुक्षितो गगनचरेश्वरस्तदा ॥

tataḥ khago vadanamamitratāpanaḥ | samāharatparicapalo mahābalaḥ | niṣūdayanbahuvidhamatsyajīvino | bubhukṣito gaganacareśvarastadā

Then the hungry bird, lord of the sky-rangers, scourge of his foes, mighty and darting this way and that, closed his beak, destroying the fisherfolk of every kind.

Note on the text: Corrected मत्बलाः → महाबलः and बभुक्षितो → बुभुक्षितो (misprints in Wikisource; a garbled word and a wrong vowel sign, as in the critical edition).