01.023
Library: Garuda’s desire for freedom, Nagas ask for Amrita.
सूत उवाच॥
Sūta said:
सुपर्णेनोह्यमानास्ते जग्मुस्तं देशमाशु वै। सागराम्बुपरिक्षिप्तं पक्षिसङ्घनिनादितम् ॥१-२३-१॥
Carried by Suparna, they swiftly reached the region surrounded by the ocean's waters, echoing with the sounds of flocks of birds.
विचित्रफलपुष्पाभिर्वनराजिभिरावृतम्। भवनैरावृतं रम्यैस्तथा पद्माकरैरपि ॥१-२३-२॥
The area was beautifully adorned with a variety of fruits and flowers, surrounded by forest lines. It was also charmingly covered with buildings and lotus ponds.
प्रसन्नसलिलैश्चापि ह्रदैश्चित्रैर्विभूषितम्। दिव्यगन्धवहैः पुण्यैर्मारुतैरुपवीजितम् ॥१-२३-३॥
The place is adorned with clear waters and varied lakes, and is fanned by auspicious breezes carrying divine fragrances.
उपजिघ्रद्भिराकाशं वृक्षैर्मलयजैरपि। शोभितं पुष्पवर्षाणि मुञ्चद्भिर्मारुतोद्धुतैः ॥१-२३-४॥
The sky, fragrant with sandalwood trees, was adorned with showers of flowers released by the wind.
किरद्भिरिव तत्रस्थान्नागान्पुष्पाम्बुवृष्टिभिः। मनःसंहर्षणं पुण्यं गन्धर्वाप्सरसां प्रियम् ॥ नानापक्षिरुतं रम्यं कद्रूपुत्रप्रहर्षणम् ॥१-२३-५॥
The place was like a shower of flowers and water, pleasing to the mind, auspicious, and dear to the Gandharvas and Apsaras. It was filled with various pleasant bird sounds, delighting the sons of Kadru.
तत्ते वनं समासाद्य विजह्रुः पन्नगा मुदा। अब्रुवंश्च महावीर्यं सुपर्णं पतगोत्तमम् ॥१-२३-६॥
The serpents, upon reaching the forest, delighted in joy and spoke of the great heroism of Suparna, the supreme among birds.
वहास्मानपरं द्वीपं सुरम्यं विपुलोदकम्। त्वं हि देशान्बहून्रम्यान्पतन्पश्यसि खेचर ॥१-२३-७॥
Carry us to another beautiful island with abundant water. As you fly, you see many pleasant lands, O bird.
स विचिन्त्याब्रवीत्पक्षी मातरं विनतां तदा। किं कारणं मया मातः कर्तव्यं सर्पभाषितम् ॥१-२३-८॥
The bird, after contemplating, asked his mother Vinata: "Mother, why should I heed the snake's words?"
विनतोवाच॥
Vinata said:
दासीभूतास्म्यनार्याया भगिन्याः पतगोत्तम। पणं वितथमास्थाय सर्पैरुपधिना कृतम् ॥१-२३-९॥
O best of birds, I have become a maidservant to the ignoble sister. A false wager was made, deceitfully done by the serpents.
सूत उवाच॥
Sūta said:
तस्मिंस्तु कथिते मात्रा कारणे गगनेचरः। उवाच वचनं सर्पांस्तेन दुःखेन दुःखितः ॥१-२३-१०॥
Upon being informed by his mother of the reason, the celestial being, filled with sorrow, spoke to the serpents, expressing his sadness.
किमाहृत्य विदित्वा वा किं वा कृत्वेह पौरुषम्। दास्याद्वो विप्रमुच्येयं सत्यं शंसत लेलिहाः ॥१-२३-११॥
O Leliha, tell me truthfully, what should I bring or know, or what effort should I make here, so that I may be freed?
श्रुत्वा तमब्रुवन्सर्पा आहरामृतमोजसा। ततो दास्याद्विप्रमोक्षो भविता तव खेचर ॥१-२३-१२॥
Upon hearing him, the serpents replied, "Fetch the nectar with might. Then, by giving it, you will attain liberation, O celestial being."
