The Glory of Suparna: The Vision of Vishnu

Verse 1 (skanda.6.80.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः॥ यदेतद्भवता प्रोक्तं तेजोवीर्यसमन्वितः॥ गरुडस्तेन संजज्ञे मुनीनां होमकर्मणा

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ yadetadbhavatā proktaṁ tejovīryasamanvitaḥ garuḍastena saṁjajñe munīnāṁ homakarmaṇā

The sages said: "What you have told us — that Garuda, endowed with splendor and might, was born through that fire-rite of the sages —"

Verse 2 (skanda.6.80.2)

स कथं तत्र संभूत एतन्नो विस्तराद्वद॥ विनतायाः समुद्भूत इत्येषा श्रूयते श्रुतिः

sa kathaṁ tatra saṁbhūta etanno vistarādvada vinatāyāḥ samudbhūta ityeṣā śrūyate śrutiḥ

"how did he come to be born there? Tell us this in detail. We have also heard the tradition that he was born of Vinata."

Verse 3 (skanda.6.80.3)

सूत उवाच॥ योऽसावाथर्वणैर्मंत्रैः कलशश्चाभिमन्त्रितः॥ तैर्मंत्रैर्वालखिल्यैश्च महाऽमर्षसमन्वितैः

sūta uvāca yo'sāvātharvaṇairmaṁtraiḥ kalaśaścābhimantritaḥ tairmaṁtrairvālakhilyaiśca mahā'marṣasamanvitaiḥ

Suta said: That vessel which had been consecrated with Atharvan mantras, by those very mantras of the Valakhilyas, filled with great indignation,

Verse 4 (skanda.6.80.4)

निवारितैश्च दक्षेण सूचिते विहगाधिपे॥ कश्यपस्तं समादाय कलशं प्रययौ गृहम्

nivāritaiśca dakṣeṇa sūcite vihagādhipe kaśyapastaṁ samādāya kalaśaṁ prayayau gṛham

but restrained by Daksha, once it had been indicated that it would instead become the future lord of birds — Kashyapa, taking that vessel, went to his home.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.80.5)

ततः प्रोवाच संहृष्टो विनतां दयितां निजाम्॥ एतत्पिब जलं भद्रे मन्त्रपूतं महत्तरम्

tataḥ provāca saṁhṛṣṭo vinatāṁ dayitāṁ nijām etatpiba jalaṁ bhadre mantrapūtaṁ mahattaram

Then, delighted, he said to his own beloved wife Vinata: "Drink this water, my dear, purified and made most powerful by mantra,"

Verse 6 (skanda.6.80.6)

येन ते जायते पुत्रः सहस्राक्षाधिको बली॥ तेजस्वी च यशस्वी च अजेयः सर्वदानवैः

yena te jāyate putraḥ sahasrākṣādhiko balī tejasvī ca yaśasvī ca ajeyaḥ sarvadānavaiḥ

"by which a son shall be born to you, mightier than the thousand-eyed one, radiant and glorious, invincible to all the demons."

Verse 7 (skanda.6.80.7)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा तत्क्षणादेव संपपौ॥ तत्तोयं सा वरारोहा सद्यो गर्भं ततो दधे

tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā tatkṣaṇādeva saṁpapau tattoyaṁ sā varārohā sadyo garbhaṁ tato dadhe

Hearing his words, that fair-hipped woman drank that water at once, and immediately thereupon conceived.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.80.8)

एवं तज्जलपानेन तेजोवीर्यसमन्वितः॥ कश्यपाद्गरुडो जज्ञे सर्वसर्पभयावहः

evaṁ tajjalapānena tejovīryasamanvitaḥ kaśyapādgaruḍo jajñe sarvasarpabhayāvahaḥ

Thus, by the drinking of that water, from Kashyapa was born Garuda, endowed with splendor and might, a terror to all serpents,

Verse 9 (skanda.6.80.9)

येनामृतं हृतं वीर्यात्परिभूय पुरंदरम्॥ मातृभक्तिपरीतेन सर्पाणां संनिवेदितम्

yenāmṛtaṁ hṛtaṁ vīryātparibhūya puraṁdaram mātṛbhaktiparītena sarpāṇāṁ saṁniveditam

who, by his own valor, overcoming Indra, stole the nectar of immortality, and, devoted to his mother, delivered it to the serpents,

Verse 10 (skanda.6.80.10)

यो जज्ञे दयितो विष्णोर्वाहनत्वमुपागतः॥ ध्वजाग्रे तु रथस्यापि यः सदैव व्यवस्थितः

yo jajñe dayito viṣṇorvāhanatvamupāgataḥ dhvajāgre tu rathasyāpi yaḥ sadaiva vyavasthitaḥ

who became beloved of Vishnu, taking up the office of his mount, and who ever stands, too, at the top of the banner of his chariot,

Verse 11 (skanda.6.80.11)

येन पूर्वं तपस्तप्त्वा क्षेत्रेऽत्रैव महात्मना॥ त्रिनेत्रस्तुष्टिमानीतो गतपक्षेण धीमता

yena pūrvaṁ tapastaptvā kṣetre'traiva mahātmanā trinetrastuṣṭimānīto gatapakṣeṇa dhīmatā

who, that wise, great-souled one, having lost his wings and having performed austerity formerly right here in this sacred field, brought the three-eyed one to satisfaction,

Verse 12 (skanda.6.80.12)

पक्षाप्तिर्येन संजाता यस्य भूयोऽपि तादृशी॥ देवदेवप्रसादेन विशिष्टा चाऽथ निर्मिता

pakṣāptiryena saṁjātā yasya bhūyo'pi tādṛśī devadevaprasādena viśiṣṭā cā'tha nirmitā

by which he regained his wings, and by the grace of the god of gods they became once again just as before — indeed, even more excellent — and thus were fashioned anew.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.80.13)

मुनय ऊचुः॥ कथं तस्य गतौ पक्षौ गरुडस्य महात्मनः॥ पुनर्लब्धौ कथं तेन कथं तुष्टो महेश्वरः॥ एतन्नो विस्तराद्ब्रूहि सूतपुत्र यथातथम्

munaya ūcuḥ kathaṁ tasya gatau pakṣau garuḍasya mahātmanaḥ punarlabdhau kathaṁ tena kathaṁ tuṣṭo maheśvaraḥ etanno vistarādbrūhi sūtaputra yathātatham

The sages said: "How did the wings of the great-souled Garuda come to be lost? How did he regain them, and how did Maheshvara become pleased with him? Tell us this in detail, O son of Suta, exactly as it happened."

Verse 14 (skanda.6.80.14)

सूत उवाच॥ पुरासीद्ब्राह्मणो मित्रं भृगुवंशकुलोद्वहः॥ गरुडस्य द्विजश्रेष्ठा बालभावादपि प्रभो

sūta uvāca purāsīdbrāhmaṇo mitraṁ bhṛguvaṁśakulodvahaḥ garuḍasya dvijaśreṣṭhā bālabhāvādapi prabho

Suta said: Long ago there was a brahmin, born of the lineage of Bhrigu, O best of brahmins, who was Garuda's friend even from childhood, my lord.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.80.15)

तस्य कन्या पुरा जाता माधवी नाम संमता॥ रूपौदार्यसमोपेता सर्वलक्षणलक्षिता

tasya kanyā purā jātā mādhavī nāma saṁmatā rūpaudāryasamopetā sarvalakṣaṇalakṣitā

A daughter was born to him formerly, named Madhavi, well regarded, endowed with beauty and nobility, marked with every auspicious sign.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.80.16)

न देवी न च गन्धर्वी नासुरी न च पन्नगी॥ तादृग्रूपा महाभागा यादृशी सा सुमध्यमा

na devī na ca gandharvī nāsurī na ca pannagī tādṛgrūpā mahābhāgā yādṛśī sā sumadhyamā

Neither a goddess, nor a gandharvi, nor an asura woman, nor a serpent-woman was ever of such beauty as that fortunate, slender-waisted maiden.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.80.17)

अथ तस्या वरार्थाय गरुडं विहगाधिपम्॥ स प्रोवाच परं मित्रं विनयावनतः स्थितः

atha tasyā varārthāya garuḍaṁ vihagādhipam sa provāca paraṁ mitraṁ vinayāvanataḥ sthitaḥ

Then, for the sake of a bridegroom for her, he, standing humbly bowed, spoke to Garuda, the king of birds, his dearest friend:

Verse 18 (skanda.6.80.18)

एतस्या मम कन्याया वरं त्वं विहगाधिप॥ सदृशं वीक्षयस्वाद्य येन तस्मै ददाम्यहम्

etasyā mama kanyāyā varaṁ tvaṁ vihagādhipa sadṛśaṁ vīkṣayasvādya yena tasmai dadāmyaham

"O king of birds, find today for this daughter of mine a suitable bridegroom, to whom I may give her."

Verse 19 (skanda.6.80.19)

गरुड उवाच॥ मम पृष्ठं समारुह्य समस्तं क्षितिमंडलम्॥ त्वं भ्रमस्व द्विजश्रेष्ठ गृहीत्वेमां च कन्यकाम्

garuḍa uvāca mama pṛṣṭhaṁ samāruhya samastaṁ kṣitimaṁḍalam tvaṁ bhramasva dvijaśreṣṭha gṛhītvemāṁ ca kanyakām

Garuda said: Mount upon my back, O best of brahmins, and, taking this maiden with you, roam over the entire circle of the earth.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.80.20)

ततस्तस्याः कुमार्या वै अनुरूपं गुणान्वितम्॥ स्वयं चाहर भर्तारमेषा मैत्री ममोद्भवा

tatastasyāḥ kumāryā vai anurūpaṁ guṇānvitam svayaṁ cāhara bhartārameṣā maitrī mamodbhavā

"Then find for that maiden yourself a suitable, virtuous husband — this is the friendship that has arisen in me for you."

Verse 21 (skanda.6.80.21)

सूत उवाच॥ एवमुक्तोऽथ विप्रः स तत्क्षणात्कन्यया सह॥ आरूढो गारुडं पृष्ठं वरार्थाय द्विजोत्तमाः

sūta uvāca evamukto'tha vipraḥ sa tatkṣaṇātkanyayā saha ārūḍho gāruḍaṁ pṛṣṭhaṁ varārthāya dvijottamāḥ

Suta said: Thus addressed, that brahmin at once, together with the maiden, mounted upon Garuda's back, O best of brahmins, in search of a bridegroom.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.80.22)

यंयं पश्यति विप्रः स कुमारं तरुणाकृतिम्॥ स स नो तस्य चित्तांते वर्ततेस्म कथंचन

yaṁyaṁ paśyati vipraḥ sa kumāraṁ taruṇākṛtim sa sa no tasya cittāṁte vartatesma kathaṁcana

Whatever young man of pleasing form that brahmin saw, none of them at all satisfied his mind.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.80.23)

कस्यचिद्रूपमत्युग्रं न कुलं च सुनिर्मलम्॥ कुलं रूपं च यस्य स्यात्तस्य नो गुणसंचयः

kasyacidrūpamatyugraṁ na kulaṁ ca sunirmalam kulaṁ rūpaṁ ca yasya syāttasya no guṇasaṁcayaḥ

Of one, the form was too fierce, and the family not spotless; of one whose family and form were both fine, there was no wealth of virtues;

Verse 24 (skanda.6.80.24)

यस्य वा गुणसन्दोहस्तस्य नो रूपमुत्तमम्॥ पक्षपातं च वित्तं च तथान्यद्वरलक्षणम्

yasya vā guṇasandohastasya no rūpamuttamam pakṣapātaṁ ca vittaṁ ca tathānyadvaralakṣaṇam

and of one who had an abundance of virtues, his form was not excellent — thus he sought, besides, impartial judgment, wealth, and other marks of a good match.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.80.25)

एवं वर्षसहस्रांते भ्रमतस्तस्यभूतलम्॥ विप्रस्य पक्षिनाथस्य वरार्थाय द्रिजोत्तमाः

evaṁ varṣasahasrāṁte bhramatastasyabhūtalam viprasya pakṣināthasya varārthāya drijottamāḥ

Thus, O best of brahmins, at the end of a thousand years of the brahmin and the lord of birds roaming over the earth in search of a bridegroom,

Verse 26 (skanda.6.80.26)

कदाचिदथ तौ श्रान्तौ भ्रममाणावितस्ततः॥ क्षेत्रेऽत्रैव समायातौ वासुदेवदिदृक्षया

kadācidatha tau śrāntau bhramamāṇāvitastataḥ kṣetre'traiva samāyātau vāsudevadidṛkṣayā

once, weary from roaming this way and that, the two of them arrived at this very sacred field, desiring to see Vasudeva.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.80.27)

श्वेतद्वीपं समालोक्य तथान्यां बदरीं शुभाम्॥ क्षीरोदं च सवैकुण्ठं तथान्यं तस्य संश्रयम्

śvetadvīpaṁ samālokya tathānyāṁ badarīṁ śubhām kṣīrodaṁ ca savaikuṇṭhaṁ tathānyaṁ tasya saṁśrayam

Having beheld Shvetadvipa, and likewise the auspicious Badari, and Kshiroda together with Vaikuntha, and other abodes of his,

Verse 28 (skanda.6.80.28)

अथ ताभ्यां मुनिर्दृष्टो नारदो ब्रह्मसंभवः॥ सांत्वपूर्वं तदा पृष्टो विष्णुं ब्रह्म सनातनम्

atha tābhyāṁ munirdṛṣṭo nārado brahmasaṁbhavaḥ sāṁtvapūrvaṁ tadā pṛṣṭo viṣṇuṁ brahma sanātanam

the sage Narada, born of Brahma, was then seen by the two of them, and, greeted kindly, was then asked about Vishnu, the eternal Brahman:

Verse 29 (skanda.6.80.29)

क्व देवः पुंडरीकाक्षः सांप्रतं वर्तते मुने॥ विष्णुस्थानानि सर्वाणि वीक्षितानि समंततः॥ आवाभ्यां संप्रहृष्टाभ्यां न संदृष्टः स केशवः

kva devaḥ puṁḍarīkākṣaḥ sāṁprataṁ vartate mune viṣṇusthānāni sarvāṇi vīkṣitāni samaṁtataḥ āvābhyāṁ saṁprahṛṣṭābhyāṁ na saṁdṛṣṭaḥ sa keśavaḥ

"Where, O sage, does the lotus-eyed god now reside? We two, in our great joy, have seen all the abodes of Vishnu all around, yet Keshava himself has not been seen by us."

Verse 30 (skanda.6.80.30)

नारद उवाच॥ जलशायिस्वरूपेण यावन्मासचतुष्टयम्॥ हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे स संतिष्ठति सर्वदा

nārada uvāca jalaśāyisvarūpeṇa yāvanmāsacatuṣṭayam hāṭakeśvaraje kṣetre sa saṁtiṣṭhati sarvadā

Narada said: For a period of four months, in the form of Jalashayin, he always resides in the sacred field of Hatakeshvara.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.80.31)

तस्मात्तद्दर्शनार्थाय गम्यतां तत्र मा चिरम्॥ येन सन्दर्शनं याति द्वाभ्यामपि स चक्रधृक्

tasmāttaddarśanārthāya gamyatāṁ tatra mā ciram yena sandarśanaṁ yāti dvābhyāmapi sa cakradhṛk

"Therefore, in order to see him, go there without delay, so that the discus-bearer may be seen by both of you."

Verse 32 (skanda.6.80.32)

अहमप्येव तत्रैव प्रस्थितस्तस्य दर्शनात्॥ प्रस्थितश्च त्वया युको देवकार्येण केनचित्

ahamapyeva tatraiva prasthitastasya darśanāt prasthitaśca tvayā yuko devakāryeṇa kenacit

"I too am setting out to that very place to see him, and I go on account of some business of the gods; let us go together."

Verse 33 (skanda.6.80.33)

अथ तौ पक्षिविप्रेन्द्रौ स च ब्रह्मसुतो मुनिः॥ प्राप्ताः सर्वे स्थितो यत्र जलशायी जनार्दनः

atha tau pakṣiviprendrau sa ca brahmasuto muniḥ prāptāḥ sarve sthito yatra jalaśāyī janārdanaḥ

Then the bird, the excellent brahmin, and that sage, the son of Brahma, all arrived at the place where Jalashayin Janardana lay.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.80.34)

अथ दृष्ट्वा महत्तेजो वैष्णवं दूरतोऽपि तम्॥ ब्राह्मणं गरुडः प्राह नारदश्च मुनीश्वरः

atha dṛṣṭvā mahattejo vaiṣṇavaṁ dūrato'pi tam brāhmaṇaṁ garuḍaḥ prāha nāradaśca munīśvaraḥ

Then, seeing that great Vaishnava splendor even from a distance, Garuda and the sage-lord Narada said to the brahmin:

Verse 35 (skanda.6.80.35)

अत्रैव त्वं द्विजश्रेष्ठ तिष्ठ दूरेऽपि तेजसः॥ वैष्णवस्य सुतायुक्तः कल्पांताग्निसमम्

atraiva tvaṁ dvijaśreṣṭha tiṣṭha dūre'pi tejasaḥ vaiṣṇavasya sutāyuktaḥ kalpāṁtāgnisamam

"O best of brahmins, stay right here, together with your daughter, even at a distance from that splendor of Vishnu, which is like the fire at the end of a Kalpa."

Verse 36 (skanda.6.80.36)

नो चेत्संपत्स्यसे भस्म पतंग इव पावकम्॥ समासाद्य निशायोगे मूढं भावं समाश्रितः

no cetsaṁpatsyase bhasma pataṁga iva pāvakam samāsādya niśāyoge mūḍhaṁ bhāvaṁ samāśritaḥ

"Otherwise, resorting to a foolish state, you shall become ashes, like a moth approaching a fire in the darkness of night."

Verse 37 (skanda.6.80.37)

आवाभ्यां तत्प्रसादेन सोढमेतत्सुदुःसहम्॥ न करोति शरीरार्ति तथान्यदपि कुत्सितम्

āvābhyāṁ tatprasādena soḍhametatsuduḥsaham na karoti śarīrārti tathānyadapi kutsitam

"By his grace, we two can endure this most unbearable splendor; but for you it would bring bodily harm, and other harm as well."

Verse 38 (skanda.6.80.38)

एवं तं ब्राह्मणं तत्र मुक्त्वा दूरे सुतान्वितम्॥ गतौ तौ तत्र संसुप्तस्तोये यत्र जनार्दनः

evaṁ taṁ brāhmaṇaṁ tatra muktvā dūre sutānvitam gatau tau tatra saṁsuptastoye yatra janārdanaḥ

Thus, leaving that brahmin, with his daughter, at a distance there, the two of them went on to where Janardana lay asleep in the water,

Verse 39 (skanda.6.80.39)

दिव्यस्तुतिपरौ मूर्ध्नि धृतहस्तांजलीपुटौ॥ पुलकांकितसर्वांगावानन्दाश्रुप्लुताननौ

divyastutiparau mūrdhni dhṛtahastāṁjalīpuṭau pulakāṁkitasarvāṁgāvānandāśruplutānanau

intent on hymning him divinely, hands folded upon their heads, their whole bodies thrilled with rapture, their faces bathed in tears of joy.

Verse 40 (skanda.6.80.40)

त्रिःपरिकम्य तं देवमष्टांगं प्रणतौ हरिम्॥ दृष्टवन्तौ च पादांते संनिविष्टां समुद्रजाम्

triḥparikamya taṁ devamaṣṭāṁgaṁ praṇatau harim dṛṣṭavantau ca pādāṁte saṁniviṣṭāṁ samudrajām

Having circumambulated that god three times, and prostrating in eightfold obeisance before Hari, they beheld the ocean-born goddess seated near his feet,

Verse 41 (skanda.6.80.41)

पादसंवाहनासक्तां विष्णुवक्त्राहितेक्षणाम्॥ अथापरां वयोवृद्धां श्वेतवस्त्रावगुंठिताम्

pādasaṁvāhanāsaktāṁ viṣṇuvaktrāhitekṣaṇām athāparāṁ vayovṛddhāṁ śvetavastrāvaguṁṭhitām

engaged in massaging his feet, her gaze fixed upon Vishnu's face; and then another woman, aged, wrapped in white garments,

Verse 42 (skanda.6.80.42)

सन्निविष्टां तदभ्याशे सम्यग्ध्यानपरायणाम्॥ द्वादशार्कप्रभायुक्तां कृशांगीं पुलकान्विताम्

sanniviṣṭāṁ tadabhyāśe samyagdhyānaparāyaṇām dvādaśārkaprabhāyuktāṁ kṛśāṁgīṁ pulakānvitām

seated nearby, wholly absorbed in meditation, radiant as twelve suns, slender of body, and thrilled with rapture.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.80.43)

अथ तौ विष्णुना हर्षादुभावपि प्रहर्षितौ॥ संभाषितौ च संपृष्टौ यदर्थं च समागतौ

atha tau viṣṇunā harṣādubhāvapi praharṣitau saṁbhāṣitau ca saṁpṛṣṭau yadarthaṁ ca samāgatau

Then Vishnu, with joy, delighting both of them, spoke with them and asked them for what purpose they had come.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.80.44)

श्रीनारद उवाच॥ अहं हि सुरकार्येण संप्राप्योऽत्र तवांतिकम्॥ गरुडो वै ब्राह्मणाय यन्मां पृच्छसि केशव

śrīnārada uvāca ahaṁ hi surakāryeṇa saṁprāpyo'tra tavāṁtikam garuḍo vai brāhmaṇāya yanmāṁ pṛcchasi keśava

Narada said: I have come here, to your presence, on account of the business of the gods; but Garuda has come for the sake of a brahmin — that is why you ask me, O Keshava.

Verse 45 (skanda.6.80.45)

श्रीभगवानुवाच॥ कच्चित्क्षेमं मुनिश्रेष्ठ सर्वेषां त्रिदिवौकसाम्॥ कच्चिन्नेंद्रस्य संजातं भयं दानवसंभवम्

śrībhagavānuvāca kaccitkṣemaṁ muniśreṣṭha sarveṣāṁ tridivaukasām kaccinneṁdrasya saṁjātaṁ bhayaṁ dānavasaṁbhavam

The Blessed Lord said: I hope, O best of sages, all is well with the dwellers of heaven. I hope no fear born of the demons has arisen for Indra.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.80.46)

यज्ञभागं लभंते स्म कच्चिद्देवाः सवासवाः॥ कच्चिन्न दानवः कश्चिदुत्कटोऽभूद्धरातले

yajñabhāgaṁ labhaṁte sma kacciddevāḥ savāsavāḥ kaccinna dānavaḥ kaścidutkaṭo'bhūddharātale

I hope the gods, together with Indra, are still receiving their share of the sacrifice. I hope no demon has become too powerful upon the earth.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.80.47)

श्रीनारद उवाच॥ सांप्रतं धरणी प्राप्ता चतुर्वक्त्रस्य संनिधौ॥ रोरूयमाणा भारार्ता दानवैः पीडिता भृशम्॥ प्रोवाच पद्मजं तत्र दुःखेन महताऽन्विता

śrīnārada uvāca sāṁprataṁ dharaṇī prāptā caturvaktrasya saṁnidhau rorūyamāṇā bhārārtā dānavaiḥ pīḍitā bhṛśam provāca padmajaṁ tatra duḥkhena mahatā'nvitā

Narada said: Just now the Earth, oppressed by her burden and greatly afflicted by demons, came weeping into the presence of the four-faced one, and, overcome with great sorrow, said to the lotus-born there:

Verse 48 (skanda.6.80.48)

धरण्युवाच॥ कालनेमिर्हतो योऽसौ विष्णुनाप्रभविष्णुना॥ उग्रसेनसुतः कंसः संभूतः स महासुरः

dharaṇyuvāca kālanemirhato yo'sau viṣṇunāprabhaviṣṇunā ugrasenasutaḥ kaṁsaḥ saṁbhūtaḥ sa mahāsuraḥ

The Earth said: That Kalanemi, who was slain by the mighty Vishnu, has now been born again as that great demon Kamsa, son of Ugrasena.

Verse 49 (skanda.6.80.49)

अरिष्टो धेनुकः केशी प्रलम्बोनाम चापरः॥ तथान्या तु महारौद्रा पूतना नाम राक्षसी

ariṣṭo dhenukaḥ keśī pralambonāma cāparaḥ tathānyā tu mahāraudrā pūtanā nāma rākṣasī

Arishta, Dhenuka, Keshi, and another named Pralamba, and likewise another most terrible demoness named Putana —

Verse 50 (skanda.6.80.50)

इतश्चेतश्च धावद्भिर्दानवैरेभिरेव च॥ वृथा मे जायते पीडा तथान्यैरपि दारुणैः

itaścetaśca dhāvadbhirdānavairebhireva ca vṛthā me jāyate pīḍā tathānyairapi dāruṇaiḥ

by these very demons rushing hither and thither, and by other fearsome ones too, useless suffering is being inflicted upon me.

Verse 51 (skanda.6.80.51)

ऊर्ध्वबाहुस्तथा जातो मर्त्यलोके जनोऽधुना॥ बहुत्वान्न प्रमाति स्म कथंचिद्धि ममोपरि

ūrdhvabāhustathā jāto martyaloke jano'dhunā bahutvānna pramāti sma kathaṁciddhi mamopari

And a certain 'Urdhvabahu' has likewise now been born in the world of mortals; because of their great number, I can no longer bear them at all upon me.

Verse 52 (skanda.6.80.52)

भारावतरणं देव न करिष्यसि चाशु चेत्॥ रसातलं प्रयास्यामि तदाऽहं नात्र संशयः

bhārāvataraṇaṁ deva na kariṣyasi cāśu cet rasātalaṁ prayāsyāmi tadā'haṁ nātra saṁśayaḥ

If you, O god, do not swiftly bring about the lightening of this burden, then I shall sink down to the netherworld — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 53 (skanda.6.80.53)

तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मणा लोककर्तृणा॥ संमंत्र्य विबुधैः सार्धं प्रेषितोऽहं तवांतिकम्

tasyāstadvacanaṁ śrutvā brahmaṇā lokakartṛṇā saṁmaṁtrya vibudhaiḥ sārdhaṁ preṣito'haṁ tavāṁtikam

Hearing her words, Brahma, the maker of the worlds, having consulted with the gods, sent me here to your presence.

Verse 54 (skanda.6.80.54)

प्रोक्तव्यो भगवान्वाक्यं त्वया देवो जनार्दनः॥ यथाऽवतीर्य भूपृष्ठे भारमस्याः प्रणाशयेत्

proktavyo bhagavānvākyaṁ tvayā devo janārdanaḥ yathā'vatīrya bhūpṛṣṭhe bhāramasyāḥ praṇāśayet

"The Blessed Lord Janardana must be told this word by you: that he should descend upon the surface of the earth and destroy her burden."

Verse 55 (skanda.6.80.55)

तस्माद्भूभितले देव कृत्वा जन्म स्वयं विभो॥ भारं नाशय मेदिन्या एतदर्थमिहागतः

tasmādbhūbhitale deva kṛtvā janma svayaṁ vibho bhāraṁ nāśaya medinyā etadarthamihāgataḥ

"Therefore, O god, O Lord, take birth yourself upon the surface of the earth, and destroy the burden of the world — for this purpose I have come here."

Verse 56 (skanda.6.80.56)

श्रीभगवानुवाच॥ एवं मुने करिष्यामि संमंत्र्य ब्रह्मणा सह॥ भारावतरणं भूमेः साकं देवैः सवासवैः

śrībhagavānuvāca evaṁ mune kariṣyāmi saṁmaṁtrya brahmaṇā saha bhārāvataraṇaṁ bhūmeḥ sākaṁ devaiḥ savāsavaiḥ

The Blessed Lord said: So shall I do, O sage; having taken counsel with Brahma, together with the gods and with Indra, I shall bring about the lightening of the earth's burden.

Verse 57 (skanda.6.80.57)

एवमुक्त्वाऽथ तं विष्णुर्नारदं मुनिपुंगवम्॥ ततश्च गरुडं प्राह त्वं किमर्थमिहागतः

evamuktvā'tha taṁ viṣṇurnāradaṁ munipuṁgavam tataśca garuḍaṁ prāha tvaṁ kimarthamihāgataḥ

Having said this to that foremost of sages, Narada, Vishnu then said to Garuda: "For what purpose have you come here?"