01.023
Library: Garuda’s desire for freedom, Nagas ask for Amrita.
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said:
suparṇenohy amānās te jagmus taṃ deśam āśu vai। sāgarāmbuparikṣiptaṃ pakṣisaṅghanināditam ॥1-23-1॥
Carried by Suparna, they swiftly reached the region surrounded by the ocean's waters, echoing with the sounds of flocks of birds.
vicitraphalapuṣpābhirvanarājibhirāvṛtam। bhavanairāvṛtaṃ ramyaistathā padmākarairapi ॥1-23-2॥
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.
prasannasalilaiś cāpi hradaiś citrair vibhūṣitam। divyagandhavaiḥ puṇyair mārutair upavījitam ॥1-23-3॥
The place is adorned with clear waters and varied lakes, and is fanned by auspicious breezes carrying divine fragrances.
upajighradbhirākāśaṃ vṛkṣairmalayajairapi। śobhitaṃ puṣpavarṣāṇi muñcadbhirmārutoddhutaiḥ ॥1-23-4॥
The sky, fragrant with sandalwood trees, was adorned with showers of flowers released by the wind.
kiradbhiriva tatrasthānnāgānpuṣpāmbuvṛṣṭibhiḥ। manaḥsaṃharṣaṇaṃ puṇyaṃ gandharvāpsarasāṃ priyam ॥ nānāpakṣirutaṃ ramyaṃ kadrūputrapraharṣaṇam ॥1-23-5॥
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.
tatte vanaṃ samāsādya vijahruḥ pannagā mudā। abruvaṃśca mahāvīryaṃ suparṇaṃ patagottamam ॥1-23-6॥
The serpents, upon reaching the forest, delighted in joy and spoke of the great heroism of Suparna, the supreme among birds.
vahāsmānaparaṃ dvīpaṃ suramyaṃ vipulodakam। tvaṃ hi deśānbahūnramyānpatanpaśyasi khecara ॥1-23-7॥
Carry us to another beautiful island with abundant water. As you fly, you see many pleasant lands, O bird.
sa vicintyābravītpakṣī mātaraṃ vinatāṃ tadā। kiṃ kāraṇaṃ mayā mātaḥ kartavyaṃ sarpabhāṣitam ॥1-23-8॥
The bird, after contemplating, asked his mother Vinata: "Mother, why should I heed the snake's words?"
vinatovāca॥
Vinata said:
dāsībhūtāsmyanāryāyā bhaginyāḥ patagottama. paṇaṃ vitathamāsthāya sarpairupadhinā kṛtam ॥1-23-9॥
O best of birds, I have become a maidservant to the ignoble sister. A false wager was made, deceitfully done by the serpents.
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said:
tasmiṁstu kathite mātrā kāraṇe gaganecaraḥ। uvāca vacanaṁ sarpāṁstena duḥkhena duḥkhitaḥ ॥1-23-10॥
Upon being informed by his mother of the reason, the celestial being, filled with sorrow, spoke to the serpents, expressing his sadness.
kimāhṛtya viditvā vā kiṃ vā kṛtveha pauruṣam। dāsyādvo vipramucyeyaṃ satyaṃ śaṃsata lelihāḥ ॥1-23-11॥
O Leliha, tell me truthfully, what should I bring or know, or what effort should I make here, so that I may be freed?
śrutvā tamabruvansarpā āharāmṛtamojaśā। tato dāsyādvipramokṣo bhavitā tava khecara ॥1-23-12॥
Upon hearing him, the serpents replied, "Fetch the nectar with might. Then, by giving it, you will attain liberation, O celestial being."
