Vasu Uparichara Falls from the Sky

Verse 1 (12.345.1)

यदा भक्तो भगवति आसीद्राजा महान्वसुः । किमर्थं स परिभ्रष्टो विवेश विवरं भुवः ॥

yadā bhakto bhagavati āsīdrājā mahānvasuḥ | kimarthaṃ sa paribhraṣṭo viveśa vivaraṃ bhuvaḥ

When King Vasu, the great, was a devotee of the Blessed Lord, why did he fall from his state and enter a cleft in the earth?

Verse 2 (12.345.2)

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । ऋषीणां चैव संवादं त्रिदशानां च भारत ॥

atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | ṛṣīṇāṃ caiva saṃvādaṃ tridaśānāṃ ca bhārata

On this point they recite an ancient tale, O Bharata: a dialogue between the sages and the gods.

Verse 3 (12.345.3)

इयं वै कर्मभूमिः स्यात्स्वर्गो भोगाय कल्पितः । तस्मादिन्द्रो महीं प्राप्य यजमानस्तु दीक्षितः ॥

iyaṃ vai karmabhūmiḥ syātsvargo bhogāya kalpitaḥ | tasmādindro mahīṃ prāpya yajamānastu dīkṣitaḥ

This earth is the world of action, while heaven is ordained for enjoyment. Therefore Indra, having come to the earth, was consecrated as the sacrificer.

Note on the text: Removed a stray backtick opening the verse. Corrected यजनाप तु → यजमानस्तु (misprint in Wikisource; not a word here; the CE star line reads yajamānas tu dīkṣitaḥ). Not in the critical edition's constituted text: both lines are the CE star lines 12.324.2d*0816_01-02 (found in the vulgate recension); Wikisource कर्मभूमिः स्यात् where the star reads karmabhūmir hi is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 4 (12.345.4)

सवनीयपशोः काल आगते तु बृहस्पतिः । पिष्टमानीयतामत्र पश्वर्थमिति भाषत ॥

savanīyapaśoḥ kāla āgate tu bṛhaspatiḥ | piṣṭamānīyatāmatra paśvarthamiti bhāṣata

When the time came for the animal of the soma-pressing, Brihaspati said, "Let flour be brought here for the sacrificial animal."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: both lines are the CE star lines 12.324.2d*0816_03-04 (found in the vulgate recension), identical.

Verse 5 (12.345.5)

तच्छ्रुत्वा देवताः सर्वा इदमूचुर्द्विजोत्तमम् । बृहस्पतिं मांसगृद्धाः पृथक्पृथगिदं पुनः ॥

tacchrutvā devatāḥ sarvā idamūcurdvijottamam | bṛhaspatiṃ māṃsagṛddhāḥ pṛthakpṛthagidaṃ punaḥ

Hearing this, all the gods, greedy for meat, spoke again, one after another, to that best of brahmins, Brihaspati:

Note on the text: Removed the closing quote mark and the doubled daṇḍa printed after the second line. Not in the critical edition's constituted text: both lines are the CE star lines 12.324.2d*0816_05-06 (found in the vulgate recension); Wikisource मांसगृद्धाः and पुनः against the star's māṃsagṛdhnāḥ and ariṃdama are recension variants, kept.

Verse 6 (12.345.6)

अजेन यष्टव्यमिति प्राहुर्देवा द्विजोत्तमान् । स च छागोप्यजो ज्ञेयो नान्यः पशुरिति स्थितिः ॥

ajena yaṣṭavyamiti prāhurdevā dvijottamān | sa ca chāgopyajo jñeyo nānyaḥ paśuriti sthitiḥ

The gods told the brahmins, "The sacrifice must be made with an aja"; and that aja is to be understood as the goat, not any other animal: so the rule stands.

Note on the text: Wikisource छागोप्यजो (the avagraha of छागोऽप्यजो is not printed) against CE chāgo hy ajo is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 7 (12.345.7)

बीजैर्यज्ञेषु यष्टव्यमिति वै वैदिकी श्रुतिः । अजसंज्ञानि बीजानि च्छागं नो हन्तुमर्हथ ॥

bījairyajñeṣu yaṣṭavyamiti vai vaidikī śrutiḥ | ajasaṃjñāni bījāni cchāgaṃ no hantumarhatha

The Vedic scripture says that in sacrifices one should sacrifice with seeds. "Aja" is the name for seeds; you ought not to kill the goat.

Note on the text: Wikisource छागं नो हन्तुमर्हथ against CE chāgaṃ na ghnantum arhatha is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 8 (12.345.8)

नैष धर्मः सतां देवा यत्र बध्येत वै पशुः । इदं कृतयुगं श्रेष्ठं कथं वध्येत वै पशुः ॥

naiṣa dharmaḥ satāṃ devā yatra badhyeta vai paśuḥ | idaṃ kṛtayugaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ kathaṃ vadhyeta vai paśuḥ

This is not the dharma of the good, O gods, where an animal is slain. This is the Krita age, the best of ages; how could an animal be killed in it?

Note on the text: The CE star line 12.324.5d*0817_01 (yuṣmākam ajabuddhir hi ajo bījaṃ tad ucyate) is not in Wikisource.

Verse 9 (12.345.9)

तेषां संवदतामेवमृषीणां विबुधैः सह । मार्गागतो नृपश्रेष्ठस्तं देशं प्राप्तवान्वसुः ॥

teṣāṃ saṃvadatāmevamṛṣīṇāṃ vibudhaiḥ saha | mārgāgato nṛpaśreṣṭhastaṃ deśaṃ prāptavānvasuḥ

While the sages and the gods were thus disputing, King Vasu, the best of kings, travelling along his way, arrived at that place.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.324.6a, 6c.

Verse 10 (12.345.10)

अन्तरिक्षचरः श्रीमान्सहस्रबलवाहनः । तं दृष्ट्वा सहसाऽऽयान्तं वसुं ते त्वन्तरिक्षगम् ॥

antarikṣacaraḥ śrīmānsahasrabalavāhanaḥ | taṃ dṛṣṭvā sahasā''yāntaṃ vasuṃ te tvantarikṣagam

He travelled the sky, glorious, with his army and vehicles in their thousands. Seeing Vasu, who moved in the air, suddenly approaching, the brahmins

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 12.324.6e (Wikisource सहस्रबलवाहनः for CE samagrabalavāhanaḥ is a recension variant, kept); line 2 = CE 7a. The sentence runs on into the next verse.

Verse 11 (12.345.11)

ऊचुर्द्विजातयो देवानेष च्छेत्स्यति संशयम् । यज्वा दानपतिः श्रेष्ठः सर्वभूतहितप्रियः । कथंस्विदन्यथा ब्रूयादेष वाक्यं महान्वसुः ॥

ūcurdvijātayo devāneṣa cchetsyati saṃśayam | yajvā dānapatiḥ śreṣṭhaḥ sarvabhūtahitapriyaḥ | kathaṃsvidanyathā brūyādeṣa vākyaṃ mahānvasuḥ

said to the gods, "He will cut away our doubt. A sacrificer, a lord of gifts, the best, fond of the good of all beings: how could this great Vasu say anything else?"

Note on the text: Three-line verse as printed (12-345-11a/b/c). Lines = CE 12.324.7c, 8a, 8c. The first line is narration; lines 2-3 are the brahmins' words to the gods, with no heading of their own, so the verse stays with the narrator.

Verse 12 (12.345.12)

एवं ते संविदं कृत्वा विबुधा ऋषयस्तथा । अपृच्छन्सहिताऽभ्येत्य वसुं राजानमन्तिकात् ॥

evaṃ te saṃvidaṃ kṛtvā vibudhā ṛṣayastathā | apṛcchansahitā'bhyetya vasuṃ rājānamantikāt

Having made this agreement, the gods and the sages came together, approached King Vasu, and asked him,

Verse 13 (12.345.13)

भो राजन्केन यष्टव्यमजेनाहोस्विदौषधैः । एतन्नः संशयं छिन्धि प्रमाणं नो भवान्मतः ॥

bho rājankena yaṣṭavyamajenāhosvidauṣadhaiḥ | etannaḥ saṃśayaṃ chindhi pramāṇaṃ no bhavānmataḥ

"O king, with what should one sacrifice: with a goat, or with herbs and grains? Resolve this doubt for us; you are held to be our authority."

Note on the text: The question fills the whole verse and has no printed heading (the heading above is Bhishma's, carried over); given to the gods and sages who put it to Vasu in verse 12.

Verse 14 (12.345.14)

स तान्कृताञ्जलिर्भूत्वा परिपप्रच्छ वै वसुः । कस्य वै को मतः पक्षो ब्रूत सत्यं द्विजोत्तमाः ॥

sa tānkṛtāñjalirbhūtvā paripapraccha vai vasuḥ | kasya vai ko mataḥ pakṣo brūta satyaṃ dvijottamāḥ

With folded hands Vasu asked them, "Tell me the truth, O best of the twice-born: what is the view of each of you?"

Note on the text: Line 1 is narration, line 2 is Vasu's question; the verse stays with the narrator.

Verse 15 (12.345.15)

धान्यैर्यष्टव्यमित्येव पक्षोऽस्माकं नराधिप । देवानां तु पशुः पक्षो मतो राजन्वदस्व नः ॥

dhānyairyaṣṭavyamityeva pakṣo'smākaṃ narādhipa | devānāṃ tu paśuḥ pakṣo mato rājanvadasva naḥ

"Our side, O lord of men, is that one should sacrifice with grains. The gods' view is that an animal is meant. Tell us your judgment, O king."

Verse 16 (12.345.16)

देवानां तु मतं ज्ञात्वा वसुना पक्षसंश्रयात् । छागेनाजेन यष्टव्यमेवमुक्तं वचस्तदा ॥

devānāṃ tu mataṃ jñātvā vasunā pakṣasaṃśrayāt | chāgenājena yaṣṭavyamevamuktaṃ vacastadā

Having learned the view of the gods, Vasu, taking their side, then declared that one should sacrifice with the goat, the aja.

Verse 17 (12.345.17)

कुपितास्ते ततः सर्वे मुनयः सूर्यवर्चसः । ऊचुर्वसुं विमानस्थं देवपक्षार्थवादिनम् ॥

kupitāste tataḥ sarve munayaḥ sūryavarcasaḥ | ūcurvasuṃ vimānasthaṃ devapakṣārthavādinam

At that, all those sages, radiant as the sun, grew angry and said to Vasu, who sat in his celestial car and spoke for the gods' cause:

Verse 18 (12.345.18)

सुरपक्षो गृहीतस्ते यस्मात्तस्माद्दिवः पत । अद्यप्रभृति ते राजन्नाकाशे विहता गतिः ॥

surapakṣo gṛhītaste yasmāttasmāddivaḥ pata | adyaprabhṛti te rājannākāśe vihatā gatiḥ

"Since you have taken the side of the gods, fall from heaven! From this day, O king, your course through the sky is blocked."

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.324.15a, 15c. The sages' curse fills the whole verse and has no printed heading (the heading above is Bhishma's); given to the Sages.

Verse 19 (12.345.19)

अस्माच्छापाभिघातेन महीं भित्त्वा प्रवेक्ष्यसि । विरुद्धं वेदसूत्राणामुक्तं यदि भवेन्नृप । वयं विरुद्धवचना यदि तत्र पतामहे ॥

asmācchāpābhighātena mahīṃ bhittvā pravekṣyasi | viruddhaṃ vedasūtrāṇāmuktaṃ yadi bhavennṛpa | vayaṃ viruddhavacanā yadi tatra patāmahe

"By the force of our curse you shall split the earth and enter it. And if what we have said should prove contrary to the Vedic aphorisms, O king, and our words be at fault, then let us too fall there."

Note on the text: Removed the stray backtick and apostrophe and the doubled daṇḍa printed inside the last line. Three-line verse as printed (12-345-19a/b/c). Line 1 = CE 12.324.15e (Wikisource अस्माच्छापाभिघातेन against CE asmacchāpābhighātena is a recension variant, kept); lines 2-3 are the CE star lines 12.324.15f*0818_01-02 (found in the vulgate recension). Given to the Sages: the curse fills the whole verse, which has no heading of its own.

Verse 20 (12.345.20)

ततस्तस्मिन्मुहूर्तेऽथ राजोपरिचरस्तदा । अधो वै संबभूवाशु भूमेर्विवरगो नृप ॥

tatastasminmuhūrte'tha rājoparicarastadā | adho vai saṃbabhūvāśu bhūmervivarago nṛpa

At that very moment King Uparichara dropped swiftly down and was within a cleft of the earth.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.324.16a, 16c.

Verse 21 (12.345.21)

स्मृतिस्त्वेवं न विजहौ तदा नारायणाज्ञया ॥

smṛtistvevaṃ na vijahau tadā nārāyaṇājñayā

Even so, by Narayana's command, his memory did not leave him.

Note on the text: Single line as printed (12-345-21a): CE 12.324.16e (smṛtis tv enaṃ na prajahau tadā nārāyaṇājñayā); Wikisource स्मृतिस्त्वेवं न विजहौ is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 22 (12.345.22)

देवास्तु सहिताः सर्वे वसोः शापविमोक्षणम् । चिन्तयामासुरव्यग्राः सुकृतं हि नृपस्य तत् ॥

devāstu sahitāḥ sarve vasoḥ śāpavimokṣaṇam | cintayāmāsuravyagrāḥ sukṛtaṃ hi nṛpasya tat

Then all the gods, together and undisturbed, thought about how to free Vasu from the curse, for what the king had done was a good deed.

Note on the text: Corrected वमोः → वसोः (misprint in Wikisource; not a word; CE vasoḥ).

Verse 23 (12.345.23)

अनेनास्मत्कृते राज्ञा शापः प्राप्तो महात्मना । अस्य प्रतिप्रियं कार्यं सहितैर्नो दिवौकसः ॥

anenāsmatkṛte rājñā śāpaḥ prāpto mahātmanā | asya pratipriyaṃ kāryaṃ sahitairno divaukasaḥ

"This great-souled king has received a curse on our account. We gods, all together, must do him a kindness in return."

Note on the text: The gods' unspoken thoughts (verse 24 says they reached a resolve and then spoke); they stay with the narrator.

Verse 24 (12.345.24)

इति बुद्ध्या व्यवस्याशु गत्वा निश्चयमीश्वराः । ऊचुः संहृष्टमनसो राजोपरिचरं तदा ॥

iti buddhyā vyavasyāśu gatvā niścayamīśvarāḥ | ūcuḥ saṃhṛṣṭamanaso rājoparicaraṃ tadā

Having resolved this in their minds and come to a decision, the lords, glad at heart, then spoke to King Uparichara:

Verse 25 (12.345.25)

ब्रह्मण्य देवभक्तस्त्वं सुरासुरगुरुर्हरिः । कामं स तव तुष्टात्मा कुर्याच्छापविमोक्षणम् ॥

brahmaṇya devabhaktastvaṃ surāsuragururhariḥ | kāmaṃ sa tava tuṣṭātmā kuryācchāpavimokṣaṇam

"You are devoted to brahmins and to the gods, and Hari is the teacher of gods and asuras. May he, pleased in spirit, free you from the curse as he wills."

Note on the text: Corrected -च्छापविभोक्षणम् → -च्छापविमोक्षणम् (misprint in Wikisource; CE śāpavimokṣaṇam). Wikisource ब्रह्मण्य देवभक्तस्त्वं सुरासुरगुरुर्हरिः is a recension variant of CE brahmaṇyadevaṃ tvaṃ bhaktaḥ surāsuraguruṃ harim, kept. The gods' words fill the verse and have no printed heading (the heading above is Bhishma's); given to the Gods.

Verse 26 (12.345.26)

मानना तु द्विजातीनां कर्तव्या वै महात्मनाम् । अवश्यं तपसा तेषां फलितव्यं नृपोत्तम ॥

mānanā tu dvijātīnāṃ kartavyā vai mahātmanām | avaśyaṃ tapasā teṣāṃ phalitavyaṃ nṛpottama

"Honour is due to the twice-born, the great-souled. Their austerity must surely bear fruit, O best of kings."

Note on the text: Continuation of the gods' speech (no heading printed).

Verse 27 (12.345.27)

यतस्त्वं सहसा भ्रष्ट आकाशान्मेदिनीतलम् । विरुद्धं वेदसूत्राणां न वक्तव्यं हितार्थिना ॥

yatastvaṃ sahasā bhraṣṭa ākāśānmedinītalam | viruddhaṃ vedasūtrāṇāṃ na vaktavyaṃ hitārthinā

"Because you have suddenly fallen from the sky to the surface of the earth (one who seeks his own good should not speak against the Vedic aphorisms)"

Note on the text: Removed a stray backtick opening line 2. Line 1 = CE 12.324.22a; line 2 is the CE star line 12.324.21d*0819_01 (viruddhaṃ vedaśāstrāṇāṃ na vaktavyaṃ hitārthinā), with वेदसूत्राणां for the star's vedaśāstrāṇāṃ (found in the vulgate recension). Continuation of the gods' speech.

Verse 28 (12.345.28)

अस्मत्पक्षनिमित्तेन व्यसनं प्राप्तमीदृशम् । एकं त्वनुग्रहं तुभ्यं दद्मो वै नृपसत्तम । यावत्त्वं शापदोषेण कालमासिष्यसेऽनघ ॥

asmatpakṣanimittena vyasanaṃ prāptamīdṛśam | ekaṃ tvanugrahaṃ tubhyaṃ dadmo vai nṛpasattama | yāvattvaṃ śāpadoṣeṇa kālamāsiṣyase'nagha

"This misfortune has come upon you on account of our side. But we grant you one favour, O best of kings: for as long as you must pass your time under the fault of the curse, O sinless one,"

Note on the text: Removed the stray apostrophe and doubled stop after line 1. Corrected नृप्रसत्तम → नृपसत्तम and कालमासिप्यसे → कालमासिष्यसे (misprints in Wikisource; CE nṛpasattama, kālam āsiṣyase). Three-line verse as printed (12-345-28a/b/c): line 1 is the CE star line 12.324.22b*0820_01 (asmatpakṣanimittaṃ te vyasanaṃ prāptam īdṛśam; Wikisource has -निमित्तेन, without ते); lines 2-3 = CE 22c and 23a.

Verse 29 (12.345.29)

भूमेर्विवरगो भूत्वा तावत्त्वं कालमाप्स्यसि । यज्ञेषु सुहुतां विप्रैर्वसोर्धारां समाहितैः ॥

bhūmervivarago bhūtvā tāvattvaṃ kālamāpsyasi | yajñeṣu suhutāṃ viprairvasordhārāṃ samāhitaiḥ

"for so long, living in a cleft of the earth, you shall pass the time; and you shall receive the Vasordhara, the stream of ghee well offered in sacrifices by attentive brahmins."

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.324.23c, 23e (Wikisource तावत्त्वं where CE has tāvantaṃ: recension variant, kept).

Verse 30 (12.345.30)

प्राप्स्यसेऽस्मदनुध्यानान्मा च त्वां ग्लानिराविशेत् । न क्षुत्पिपासे राजेन्द्र भूमेश्छिद्रे भविष्यतः ॥

prāpsyase'smadanudhyānānmā ca tvāṃ glānirāviśet | na kṣutpipāse rājendra bhūmeśchidre bhaviṣyataḥ

"By our meditation you shall receive it, and weariness shall not take hold of you. In the hollow of the earth, O king of kings, neither hunger nor thirst will touch you."

Verse 31 (12.345.31)

वसोर्धारानुपीतत्वात्तेजसाऽऽप्यायितेन च । स देवोऽस्मद्वरात्प्रीतो ब्रह्मलोकं हि नेष्यति ॥

vasordhārānupītatvāttejasā''pyāyitena ca | sa devo'smadvarātprīto brahmalokaṃ hi neṣyati

"Having drunk the stream of Vasu and been strengthened by its radiance, you will be led to the world of Brahma by that god, pleased by our boon."

Note on the text: Corrected वसोर्धारामिपीतत्वात् → वसोर्धारानुपीतत्वात् (misprint in Wikisource; not a word; CE vasor dhārānupītatvāt). The CE star line 12.324.25b*0821_01 is not in Wikisource.

Verse 32 (12.345.32)

एवं दत्त्वा वरं राज्ञे सर्वे ते च दिवौकसः । क्रतुं समाप्य पिष्टेन मुनीनां वचनात्तदा ॥

evaṃ dattvā varaṃ rājñe sarve te ca divaukasaḥ | kratuṃ samāpya piṣṭena munīnāṃ vacanāttadā

Having thus granted the boon to the king, all those dwellers in heaven, at the sages' word completing the sacrifice with an offering of flour,

Note on the text: Corrected ऋतुं → क्रतुं (misprint in Wikisource; "season" makes no sense here; CE kratuṃ). Removed the closing quote mark and the doubled daṇḍa. Line 1 = CE 12.324.26a; line 2 is the CE star line 12.324.26b*0822_01 (kratuṃ samāpya piṣṭena munīnāṃ vacanāt tadā; found in the vulgate recension). The sentence runs on into the next verse.

Verse 33 (12.345.33)

गताः स्वभवनं देवा ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः । गृहीत्वा दक्षिणां सर्वे गताः स्वानाश्रमान्पुनः ॥

gatāḥ svabhavanaṃ devā ṛṣayaśca tapodhanāḥ | gṛhītvā dakṣiṇāṃ sarve gatāḥ svānāśramānpunaḥ

went to their own abodes: the gods, and the sages rich in austerity, all taking their sacrificial fees, went back to their own hermitages.

Note on the text: Removed a stray backtick opening line 2. Corrected धमवनं → स्वभवनं, ऋषगश्च → ऋषयश्च and गतः → गताः (misprints in Wikisource; CE svabhavanaṃ, ṛṣayaś ca, gatāḥ). Line 1 = CE 12.324.26c; line 2 is the CE star line 12.324.26d*0823_01 (gṛhītvā dakṣiṇāṃ sarve gatāḥ svān āśramān punaḥ; found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 34 (12.345.34)

वसुं विचिन्त्य शक्रश्च प्रविवेशामरावतीम् । वसुर्विवरगस्तत्र व्यलीकस्य फलं गुरोः ॥

vasuṃ vicintya śakraśca praviveśāmarāvatīm | vasurvivaragastatra vyalīkasya phalaṃ guroḥ

Indra, thinking of Vasu, entered Amaravati; and Vasu stayed there in the cleft of the earth, reaping the fruit of his offence against the venerable ones.

Note on the text: Removed the closing quote mark and the doubled daṇḍa. Corrected प्रविनेश → प्रविवेश (misprint in Wikisource; CE praviveśa). Not in the critical edition's constituted text: both lines are the CE star lines 12.324.26d*0823_02-03 (vasuṃ vicintya śakraś ca praviveśāmarāvatīm / vasur vivaragas tatra vyalīkasya phalād guroḥ; found in the vulgate recension); Wikisource फलं against the star's phalād is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 35 (12.345.35)

चक्रे वसुस्ततः पूजां विष्वक्सेनाय भारत । जप्यं जगौ च सततं नारायणमुखोद्गवम् ॥

cakre vasustataḥ pūjāṃ viṣvaksenāya bhārata | japyaṃ jagau ca satataṃ nārāyaṇamukhodgavam

Then, O Bharata, Vasu worshipped Vishvaksena and ceaselessly murmured the prayer that had issued from Narayana's mouth.

Verse 36 (12.345.36)

तत्रापि पञ्चभिर्यज्ञैः पञ्चकालानरिंदम । अयजद्धरिं सुरपतिं भूमेर्विवरगोऽपि सन् ॥

tatrāpi pañcabhiryajñaiḥ pañcakālānariṃdama | ayajaddhariṃ surapatiṃ bhūmervivarago'pi san

There too, though he was within the cleft of the earth, he worshipped Hari, the lord of the gods, with five sacrifices at the five times of the day, O subduer of foes.

Note on the text: Corrected पञ्चकालानरिंदम् → पञ्चकालानरिंदम (misprint in Wikisource; stray halanta on the vocative; CE ariṃdama).

Verse 37 (12.345.37)

ततोऽस्य तुष्टो भगवान्भक्त्या नारायणो हरिः । अनन्यभक्तस्य सतस्तत्परस्य जितात्मनः ॥

tato'sya tuṣṭo bhagavānbhaktyā nārāyaṇo hariḥ | ananyabhaktasya satastatparasya jitātmanaḥ

Then the Blessed Lord Narayana Hari was pleased with his devotion, for he was single-minded in devotion, intent on him, and master of himself;

Verse 38 (12.345.38)

वरदो भगवान्विष्णुः समीपस्थं द्विजोत्तमम् । गरुत्मन्तं महावेगमावभाषेऽप्सितं तदा ॥

varado bhagavānviṣṇuḥ samīpasthaṃ dvijottamam | garutmantaṃ mahāvegamāvabhāṣe'psitaṃ tadā

and the boon-giving Blessed Lord Vishnu then spoke to the best of birds, the swift Garuda, who stood near, of what was desired:

Note on the text: Wikisource आवभाषेऽप्सितं तदा against CE ābabhāṣe smayann iva is a recension variant, kept (read as आवभाषे + ईप्सितम्, "what was wished").

Verse 39 (12.345.39)

द्विजोत्तम महाभाग पश्यतां वचनान्मम । सम्राड्राजा वसुर्नाम धर्मात्मा संशितव्रतः ॥

dvijottama mahābhāga paśyatāṃ vacanānmama | samrāḍrājā vasurnāma dharmātmā saṃśitavrataḥ

"O best of birds, greatly blessed one, at my word behold: there is an emperor-king named Vasu, righteous in spirit, firm in his vows."

Note on the text: Wikisource पश्यतां वचनान्मम against CE gamyatāṃ vacanān mama (and धर्मात्मा संशितव्रतः against māṃ samāśritaḥ) is a recension variant, kept; the sense of पश्यताम् here is uncertain and is rendered as an imperative, "behold". Vishnu's words to Garuda fill the whole verse; no heading is printed (the heading above is Bhishma's).

Verse 40 (12.345.40)

ब्राह्मणानां प्रकोपेन प्रविष्टो वसुधातलम् । मानितास्ते तु विप्रेन्द्रास्त्वं तु गच्छ द्विजोत्तम ॥

brāhmaṇānāṃ prakopena praviṣṭo vasudhātalam | mānitāste tu viprendrāstvaṃ tu gaccha dvijottama

"Through the wrath of brahmins he has entered the surface of the earth. Those best of brahmins have been honoured; but you, O best of birds, go."

Note on the text: Corrected द्विजोत्तम् → द्विजोत्तम (misprint in Wikisource; stray halanta on the vocative; CE dvijottama). Continuation of Vishnu's speech.

Verse 41 (12.345.41)

भूमेर्विवरसंगुप्तं गरुडेह ममाज्ञया । अधश्चरं नृपश्रेष्ठं खेचरं कुरु माचिरम् ॥

bhūmervivarasaṃguptaṃ garuḍeha mamājñayā | adhaścaraṃ nṛpaśreṣṭhaṃ khecaraṃ kuru māciram

"O Garuda, by my command, make that best of kings, hidden in the cleft of the earth and now moving below, a ranger of the sky once more, without delay."

Note on the text: Continuation of Vishnu's speech.

Verse 42 (12.345.42)

गरुत्मानथ विक्षिप्य पक्षौ मारुतवेगवान् । विवेश विवरं भूमेर्यत्रास्ते वाग्यतो वसुः ॥

garutmānatha vikṣipya pakṣau mārutavegavān | viveśa vivaraṃ bhūmeryatrāste vāgyato vasuḥ

Then Garuda, swift as the wind, spread his wings and entered the cleft of the earth where Vasu sat in silence.

Verse 43 (12.345.43)

तत एनं समुत्क्षिप्य सहसा विनतासुतः । उत्पपात नभस्तूर्णं तत्र चैनममुञ्चत ॥

tata enaṃ samutkṣipya sahasā vinatāsutaḥ | utpapāta nabhastūrṇaṃ tatra cainamamuñcata

Then the son of Vinata suddenly lifted him up, shot swiftly into the sky, and set him free there.

Verse 44 (12.345.44)

अस्मिन्मुहूर्ते संजज्ञे राजोपरिचरः पुनः । सशरीरो गतश्चैव ब्रह्मलोकं नृपोत्तमः ॥

asminmuhūrte saṃjajñe rājoparicaraḥ punaḥ | saśarīro gataścaiva brahmalokaṃ nṛpottamaḥ

At that moment King Uparichara became himself again, and that best of kings went in his body to the world of Brahma.

Note on the text: Corrected अस्मिन्मुहुर्ते → अस्मिन्मुहूर्ते (misprint in Wikisource; not a word; CE tasmin muhūrte).

Verse 45 (12.345.45)

एवं तेनापि कौन्तेय वाग्दोषाद्देवताज्ञया । प्राप्ता गतिरधस्तात्तु द्विजशापान्महात्मना ॥

evaṃ tenāpi kaunteya vāgdoṣāddevatājñayā | prāptā gatiradhastāttu dvijaśāpānmahātmanā

Thus, O son of Kunti, that great-souled king too, through a fault of speech, by the gods' command and the brahmins' curse, received a downward course.

Note on the text: Line 2 differs from CE 12.324.37c (prāptā gatir ayajvārhā dvijaśāpān mahātmanā): recension variant, kept.

Verse 46 (12.345.46)

केवलं पुरुषस्तेन सेवितो हरिरीश्वरः । ततः शीघ्रं जहौ शापं ब्रह्मलोकमवाप च ॥

kevalaṃ puruṣastena sevito harirīśvaraḥ | tataḥ śīghraṃ jahau śāpaṃ brahmalokamavāpa ca

But only because he had served Hari, the Lord, the Purusha, he soon cast off the curse and reached the world of Brahma.

Verse 47 (12.345.47)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं संभूता मानवा यथा । नारदोऽपि यथा श्वेतं द्वीपं स गतवानृषिः । तत्ते सर्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणुष्वैकमना नृप ॥

etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ saṃbhūtā mānavā yathā | nārado'pi yathā śvetaṃ dvīpaṃ sa gatavānṛṣiḥ | tatte sarvaṃ pravakṣyāmi śṛṇuṣvaikamanā nṛpa

I have told you all this: how those men came into being, and how the sage Narada went to the White Island. I shall tell you all of that; listen with a single mind, O king.