The Fall of Suparna's Wings

Verse 1 (skanda.6.81.1)

श्रीगरुड उवाच। ममास्ति दयितं मित्रं ब्राह्मणो भृगुवंशजः ॥ तस्यास्ति माधवीनाम कन्या कमललोचना

śrīgaruḍa uvāca mamāsti dayitaṁ mitraṁ brāhmaṇo bhṛguvaṁśajaḥ tasyāsti mādhavīnāma kanyā kamalalocanā

Shri Garuda said: "I have a beloved friend, a brahmin born in the lineage of Bhrigu. He has a lotus-eyed daughter named Madhavi."

Verse 2 (skanda.6.81.2)

न तस्याः सदृशः कांतः प्राप्तस्तेन महात्मना ॥ यतस्ततोऽहमादिष्टः कांतमस्यास्त्वमानय ॥ अनुरूपं द्विजश्रेष्ठ यद्यहं संमतस्तव

na tasyāḥ sadṛśaḥ kāṁtaḥ prāptastena mahātmanā yatastato'hamādiṣṭaḥ kāṁtamasyāstvamānaya anurūpaṁ dvijaśreṣṭha yadyahaṁ saṁmatastava

"That great soul has been unable to find a groom worthy of her; therefore he has charged me thus: 'If you regard me kindly, O best of the twice-born, go yourself and bring a fitting husband for her.'"

Verse 3 (skanda.6.81.3)

ततो मयाऽखिला भूमिस्तद्वरार्थं विलोकिता ॥ न तदर्थं वरो लब्धः सर्वैः समुचितो गुणैः

tato mayā'khilā bhūmistadvarārthaṁ vilokitā na tadarthaṁ varo labdhaḥ sarvaiḥ samucito guṇaiḥ

"Then I searched the whole earth over for a bridegroom for her, but I found none suited to her in every virtue."

Verse 4 (skanda.6.81.4)

ततस्त्वं पुण्डरीकाक्ष मम चित्ते व्यवस्थितः ॥ अनुरूपः पतिस्तस्याः सर्वैरेव गुणैर्युतः

tatastvaṁ puṇḍarīkākṣa mama citte vyavasthitaḥ anurūpaḥ patistasyāḥ sarvaireva guṇairyutaḥ

"Then, O lotus-eyed Vishnu, it settled in my mind that you alone, endowed with every virtue, are the fitting husband for her."

Verse 5 (skanda.6.81.5)

तस्मात्पाणिग्रहं तस्याः स्वीकुरुष्व सुरेश्वर ॥ अत्यन्तरूपयुक्ताया मम वाक्यप्रणोदितः

tasmātpāṇigrahaṁ tasyāḥ svīkuruṣva sureśvara atyantarūpayuktāyā mama vākyapraṇoditaḥ

"Therefore, O lord of the gods, moved by my word, accept the hand of that exceedingly beautiful maiden."

Verse 6 (skanda.6.81.6)

भगवानुवाच ॥ अत्रानय द्विजश्रेष्ठ तां कन्यां कमलेक्षणाम्॥ येन दृष्ट्वा स्वयं पश्चात्प्रकरोमि यथोदितम्

bhagavānuvāca atrānaya dvijaśreṣṭha tāṁ kanyāṁ kamalekṣaṇām yena dṛṣṭvā svayaṁ paścātprakaromi yathoditam

The Lord said: "O best of brahmins, bring that lotus-eyed maiden here, so that, having seen her myself, I may then do what is fitting."

Verse 7 (skanda.6.81.7)

गरुड उवाच ॥ तव तेजोभयादेव सा कन्या जनकान्विता ॥ मया दूरे विनिर्मुक्ता तत्कथं तामिहानये

garuḍa uvāca tava tejobhayādeva sā kanyā janakānvitā mayā dūre vinirmuktā tatkathaṁ tāmihānaye

Garuda said: "Fearing your radiant splendor alone, I left that maiden, together with her father, far away. How, then, can I bring her here?"

Verse 8 (skanda.6.81.8)

श्रीभगवानुवाच ॥ अत्र तां मम तत्तेजो जनकेन समन्विताम्॥ न हि धक्ष्यति तस्मात्त्वं शीघ्रं द्विजवराऽनय

śrībhagavānuvāca atra tāṁ mama tattejo janakena samanvitām na hi dhakṣyati tasmāttvaṁ śīghraṁ dvijavarā'naya

Shri Bhagavan said: "Here my splendor will not burn her, together with her father. Therefore, O best of brahmins, quickly bring her."

Verse 9 (skanda.6.81.9)

एवमुक्तस्ततस्तेन विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना ॥ तां कन्या मानयामास तं च विप्रभृगूद्वहम्

evamuktastatastena viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā tāṁ kanyā mānayāmāsa taṁ ca viprabhṛgūdvaham

Thus addressed by the all-powerful Vishnu, he then honorably brought that maiden along with the excellent brahmin born of the Bhrigu line.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.81.10)

अथासौ प्रणिपत्योच्चैर्ब्राह्मणो मधुसूदनम् ॥ लक्ष्मीवन्न्यविशत्पार्श्वे गरुडस्य समीपतः

athāsau praṇipatyoccairbrāhmaṇo madhusūdanam lakṣmīvannyaviśatpārśve garuḍasya samīpataḥ

Then that brahmin, bowing loudly to Madhusudana, seated his daughter at Vishnu's side, in Lakshmi's place, near where Garuda stood.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.81.11)

सापि कन्या वरारोहा बाल्यभावादनिन्दिता ॥ शय्यैकांते समाविष्टा दक्षिणे मुरविद्विषः

sāpi kanyā varārohā bālyabhāvādaninditā śayyaikāṁte samāviṣṭā dakṣiṇe muravidviṣaḥ

That maiden of lovely form, being blameless owing to her childlike innocence, sat down at one end of the couch, on the right side of Vishnu, the slayer of Mura.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.81.12)

अथ कोपपरीतांगी महिष्याधर्ममाश्रिता ॥ लक्ष्मीः शशाप तां कन्यां सपत्नीति विचिन्त्य च

atha kopaparītāṁgī mahiṣyādharmamāśritā lakṣmīḥ śaśāpa tāṁ kanyāṁ sapatnīti vicintya ca

Then Lakshmi, the chief queen, her whole body seized with anger, standing on the dignity of her position, thought her a rival wife and laid a curse upon that maiden.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.81.13)

यस्मान्मे पुरतः पापे कांतस्य मम हर्षिता॥ शय्यायां त्वं समाविष्टा लज्जां त्यक्त्वा सुदूरतः ॥ तस्मादश्वमुखी नूनं विकृता त्वं भविष्यसि

yasmānme purataḥ pāpe kāṁtasya mama harṣitā śayyāyāṁ tvaṁ samāviṣṭā lajjāṁ tyaktvā sudūrataḥ tasmādaśvamukhī nūnaṁ vikṛtā tvaṁ bhaviṣyasi

"Since, O sinful one, casting off all shame, you have joyfully seated yourself upon my beloved's couch before my very eyes, you shall surely become disfigured, horse-faced."

Verse 14 (skanda.6.81.14)

एवं शापे श्रिया दत्ते हाहाकारो महानभूत् ॥ सर्वेषां तत्र संस्थानां कोपश्चापि द्विजन्मनः

evaṁ śāpe śriyā datte hāhākāro mahānabhūt sarveṣāṁ tatra saṁsthānāṁ kopaścāpi dvijanmanaḥ

When Shri thus pronounced the curse, a great cry of dismay arose among all present there, and the brahmin too was seized with anger.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.81.15)

ब्राह्मण उवाच ॥ सहस्रं याच्यते कन्या करोत्येकः करग्रहम् ॥ वाङ्मात्रेण न तस्याः स्यात्पत्नीभावः कथंचन

brāhmaṇa uvāca sahasraṁ yācyate kanyā karotyekaḥ karagraham vāṅmātreṇa na tasyāḥ syātpatnībhāvaḥ kathaṁcana

The brahmin said: "A thousand may sue for a maiden's hand, but only one actually takes it in marriage. By mere words alone, her wifehood can never in any way be established."

Verse 16 (skanda.6.81.16)

यावन्नाग्निद्विजातीनां प्रत्यक्षं गुरुसंनिधौ ॥ ससंकल्पं स्वयं दत्ता गृह्योक्तविधिना जनैः

yāvannāgnidvijātīnāṁ pratyakṣaṁ gurusaṁnidhau sasaṁkalpaṁ svayaṁ dattā gṛhyoktavidhinā janaiḥ

"Not until, in the presence of fire and brahmins, before her elders, she is formally given away with due resolve by her own kin, according to the rite prescribed in the domestic scriptures—only then is a marriage complete."

Verse 17 (skanda.6.81.17)

तस्मात्तद्दोषनिर्मुक्ता सपत्न्येषा समा त्वया ॥ कृता वाजिमुखी पापे त्वं गजास्या भविष्यसि

tasmāttaddoṣanirmuktā sapatnyeṣā samā tvayā kṛtā vājimukhī pāpe tvaṁ gajāsyā bhaviṣyasi

"Therefore she is free of that fault, and stands your equal as a co-wife. O sinful one, since you have made her horse-faced, you yourself shall become elephant-faced!"

Verse 18 (skanda.6.81.18)

एवमुक्त्वा स विप्रेंद्रस्ततः प्रोवाच केशवम्॥ आतिथ्यं विहितं ह्येतत्तव पत्न्या यथोचितम् ॥ तस्मात्तत्र प्रयास्यामि यत्र स्यात्तादृशी सुता

evamuktvā sa vipreṁdrastataḥ provāca keśavam ātithyaṁ vihitaṁ hyetattava patnyā yathocitam tasmāttatra prayāsyāmi yatra syāttādṛśī sutā

Having said this, that foremost of brahmins then said to Keshava: "This is the very hospitality your wife has shown me—well deserved indeed. I shall therefore go now to where a daughter such as this may yet find her due."

Verse 19 (skanda.6.81.19)

श्रीभगवानुवाच ॥ न सन्तापस्त्वया कार्यः कृत्येस्मिन्द्विजसत्तम ॥ ममांतिके प्रयातानां नाशुभं जायते क्वचित्

śrībhagavānuvāca na santāpastvayā kāryaḥ kṛtyesmindvijasattama mamāṁtike prayātānāṁ nāśubhaṁ jāyate kvacit

Shri Bhagavan said: "O best of brahmins, in this matter you need not grieve; for those who have come into my presence, no misfortune ever befalls."

Verse 20 (skanda.6.81.20)

तस्मान्नाश्वमुखी ह्येषा जन्मन्यस्मिन्भविष्यति ॥ गृहीत्वेमां गृहं गच्छ प्रयच्छ स्वेप्सिताय च

tasmānnāśvamukhī hyeṣā janmanyasminbhaviṣyati gṛhītvemāṁ gṛhaṁ gaccha prayaccha svepsitāya ca

"Therefore she shall not become horse-faced in this birth. Take her and go home, and give her in marriage to whomever you wish."

Verse 21 (skanda.6.81.21)

शयने वामदिग्भागः कलत्राणामुदाहृतः ॥ दक्षिणे बन्धुलोकानां तत्कालोचितशायिनाम्

śayane vāmadigbhāgaḥ kalatrāṇāmudāhṛtaḥ dakṣiṇe baṁdhulokānāṁ tatkālocitaśāyinām

"On a couch, the left side is said to belong to one's wife, and the right side to kinsfolk who properly rest there at such a time."

Verse 22 (skanda.6.81.22)

सेयं तव सुता विप्र बंधुस्थानं समाश्रिता ॥ भविष्यति ततो जामिः कनिष्ठा मेऽन्यजन्मनि

seyaṁ tava sutā vipra baṁdhusthānaṁ samāśritā bhaviṣyati tato jāmiḥ kaniṣṭhā me'nyajanmani

"O brahmin, this daughter of yours was seated in the place reserved for a kinsman; therefore, in another birth, she shall become my younger sister."

Verse 23 (skanda.6.81.23)

अवतीर्णस्य भूपृष्ठे देवकार्येण केनचित् ॥ वाजिवक्त्रधरा प्रोक्ता यद्येषा मम कांतया

avatīrṇasya bhūpṛṣṭhe devakāryeṇa kenacit vājivaktradharā proktā yadyeṣā mama kāṁtayā

"Until I take incarnation on earth for some purpose of the gods, she shall remain, as declared by my beloved's curse, one who bears a horse's face.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.81.24)

ततोऽहं सुमहत्कृत्वा तपश्चैवानया सह ॥ करिष्यामि शुभास्यां च तथा लक्ष्मीमपि द्विज

tato'haṁ sumahatkṛtvā tapaścaivānayā saha kariṣyāmi śubhāsyāṁ ca tathā lakṣmīmapi dvija

"Then, O brahmin, I shall perform great austerity together with her and shall make her fair-faced once more, and Lakshmi likewise."

Verse 25 (skanda.6.81.25)

एवं स भगवान्विप्रं तं सन्तोष्य तदा गिरा ॥ गरुडेन समं चक्रे कथाश्चित्रा मनोरमाः

evaṁ sa bhagavānvipraṁ taṁ santoṣya tadā girā garuḍena samaṁ cakre kathāścitrā manoramāḥ

Thus having consoled that brahmin with his words, the Lord then engaged with Garuda in many wondrous and delightful discourses.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.81.26)

अथ तस्मिन्कथांते स गरुडः पुरुषोत्तमम् ॥ प्रोवाच तां स्त्रियं दृष्ट्वा वृद्धां तेजःसमन्विताम्

atha tasminkathāṁte sa garuḍaḥ puruṣottamam provāca tāṁ striyaṁ dṛṣṭvā vṛddhāṁ tejaḥsamanvitām

Then, at the end of that discourse, Garuda, seeing an aged woman of great radiance there, spoke to Purushottama.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.81.27)

अपूर्वेयं सुरश्रेष्ठ स्त्री वृद्धा तव पार्श्वगा ॥ किमर्थं केयमाख्याहि कुतः प्राप्ता जनार्दन

apūrveyaṁ suraśreṣṭha strī vṛddhā tava pārśvagā kimarthaṁ keyamākhyāhi kutaḥ prāptā janārdana

"O best of the gods, this aged woman at your side is extraordinary. O Janardana, tell me who she is, for what purpose, and whence she has come."

Verse 28 (skanda.6.81.28)

श्रीभगवानुवाच ॥ एषा ख्याता खगश्रेष्ठ लोकेऽस्मिन्वृद्धकन्यका ॥ शांडिलीनाम सर्वज्ञा ब्रह्मचर्यपरायणा

śrībhagavānuvāca eṣā khyātā khagaśreṣṭha loke'sminvṛddhakanyakā śāṁḍilīnāma sarvajñā brahmacaryaparāyaṇā

Shri Bhagavan said: "O best of birds, she is known in this world as the eternal maiden Shandili, all-knowing and devoted wholly to lifelong celibacy."

Verse 29 (skanda.6.81.29)

तपोवीर्यसमोपेता सर्वदेवाभिवंदिता ॥ नास्ति वै चेदृशी नारी खगेन्द्रात्र जगत्त्रये

tapovīryasamopetā sarvadevābhivaṁditā nāsti vai cedṛśī nārī khagendrātra jagattraye

"She is endowed with the power of austerity and is honored by all the gods. O lord of birds, in these three worlds there is no other woman like her."

Verse 30 (skanda.6.81.30)

सूत उवाच ॥ तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विहस्य विहगाधिपः ॥ प्रोवाच वासुदेवं च तां विलोक्य चिरं द्विजाः

sūta uvāca tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā vihasya vihagādhipaḥ provāca vāsudevaṁ ca tāṁ vilokya ciraṁ dvijāḥ

Suta said: Having heard those words, the lord of birds laughed, and, O brahmins, having gazed long at her, spoke to Vasudeva.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.81.31)

गरुड उवाच ॥ नैतच्चित्रं तपो यच्च क्रियते सुमहत्तरम् ॥ यथा च दीयते दानं यच्च तत्रास्ति चाद्भुतम्॥ तथा च क्रियते युद्धं संग्रामे युद्धशालिभिः

garuḍa uvāca naitaccitraṁ tapo yacca kriyate sumahattaram yathā ca dīyate dānaṁ yacca tatrāsti cādbhutam tathā ca kriyate yuddhaṁ saṁgrāme yuddhaśālibhiḥ

Garuda said: "It is no wonder that great austerity is performed, nor is it anything marvelous that gifts are given as they are, nor is it strange that warriors wage war in battle as they do."

Verse 32 (skanda.6.81.32)

नाश्चर्यं चित्रमेतच्च ब्रह्मचर्यं तदद्भुतम् ॥ विशेषाद्यौवनावस्थां संप्राप्य पुरुषोत्तम

nāścaryaṁ citrametacca brahmacaryaṁ tadadbhutam viśeṣādyauvanāvasthāṁ saṁprāpya puruṣottama

"O Purushottama, what is truly wondrous and marvelous is this: to maintain celibate discipline, especially after attaining the very state of youth."

Verse 33 (skanda.6.81.33)

विशेषेण च नारीभिरत्र न श्रद्दधाम्यहम् ॥ अवश्यं यौवनस्थेन तिर्यग्योनिगतेन च

viśeṣeṇa ca nārībhiratra na śraddadhāmyaham avaśyaṁ yauvanasthena tiryagyonigatena ca

"And especially in the case of women I cannot believe it possible at all; for any being that has reached youth—even one born in an animal species—must inevitably undergo passion's change --

Verse 34 (skanda.6.81.34)

विकारः खलु कर्तव्यो नाधि काराय यौवनम् ॥ यदि न प्राप्नुवंत्येताः पुरुषं योषितः क्वचित्

vikāraḥ khalu kartavyo nādhi kārāya yauvanam yadi na prāpnuvaṁtyetāḥ puruṣaṁ yoṣitaḥ kvacit

"-- for youth exists only to stir passion's disturbance, not to grant mastery over it. If these women find no male anywhere,"

Verse 35 (skanda.6.81.35)

अन्योन्यं मैथुनं चक्रुः कामबाणप्रपीडिताः ॥ कुष्ठिनं व्याधितं वापि स्थविरं व्यंगमेव च ॥ अप्येताः पुरुषाभावे मन्यंते पंचसायकम्

anyonyaṁ maithunaṁ cakruḥ kāmabāṇaprapīḍitāḥ kuṣṭhinaṁ vyādhitaṁ vāpi sthaviraṁ vyaṁgameva ca apyetāḥ puruṣābhāve manyaṁte paṁcasāyakam

"-- then, tormented by the arrow of desire, they will mate even with one another; or, for want of any male, they will regard even a leper, a diseased man, an old man, or a cripple as though he were the god of love himself."

Verse 36 (skanda.6.81.36)

नाग्निस्तृप्यति काष्ठानां नापगानां महोदधिः ॥ नांतकः सर्वभूतानां न पुंसां वामलोचना

nāgnistṛpyati kāṣṭhānāṁ nāpagānāṁ mahodadhiḥ nāṁtakaḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ na puṁsāṁ vāmalocanā

"As fire is never satisfied with fuel, as the great ocean is never satisfied with rivers, as death is never satisfied with all creatures, so lovely-eyed women are never satisfied with men."

Verse 37 (skanda.6.81.37)

न परत्र भयादेता मर्यादां विदधुः स्त्रियः ॥ मुक्त्वा भूपभयं चैकमथवा गुरुजं भयम्

na paratra bhayādetā maryādāṁ vidadhuḥ striyaḥ muktvā bhūpabhayaṁ caikamathavā gurujaṁ bhayam

"Women do not observe restraint out of fear of the next world; it is only the fear of the king, or else the fear of elders, that keeps them within bounds."

Verse 38 (skanda.6.81.38)

सूत उवाच ॥ एवं तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा शांडिली ब्रह्मचारिणी ॥ मौनव्रतधराऽप्येवं हृदि कोपं दधार सा

sūta uvāca evaṁ tasya vacaḥ śrutvā śāṁḍilī brahmacāriṇī maunavratadharā'pyevaṁ hṛdi kopaṁ dadhāra sā

Suta said: Hearing these words of his, the celibate Shandili, though bound by a vow of silence, harbored anger in her heart.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.81.39)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे तस्य पक्षिनाथस्य तत्क्षणात् ॥ उभौ पक्षौ गतौ नाशं रुण्डाकारोऽत्र सोऽभवत्

etasminnaṁtare tasya pakṣināthasya tatkṣaṇāt ubhau pakṣau gatau nāśaṁ ruṇḍākāro'tra so'bhavat

At that very moment both wings of that lord of birds were destroyed, and he was reduced there to a mere trunk, wingless and shapeless.

Verse 40 (skanda.6.81.40)

मांसपिंडमयो रौद्रः सर्वरोगविवर्जितः ॥ अशक्तश्च तथा गन्तुं पदमात्रमपि क्वचित्

māṁsapiṁḍamayo raudraḥ sarvarogavivarjitaḥ aśaktaśca tathā gantuṁ padamātramapi kvacit

He became a dreadful mass of flesh, free from any disease, yet unable to move even a single step.