01.027
Library: Significance of the birth of Garuda explained.
शौनक उवाच॥
Śaunaka spoke:
कोऽपराधो महेन्द्रस्य कः प्रमादश्च सूतज। तपसा वालखिल्यानां सम्भूतो गरुडः कथम् ॥१-२७-१॥
O son of Suta, what offense or negligence did Mahendra commit? How did Garuda come into being through the penance of the Valakhilyas?
कश्यपस्य द्विजातेश्च कथं वै पक्षिराट्सुतः। अधृष्यः सर्वभूतानामवध्यश्चाभवत्कथम् ॥१-२७-२॥
How did the son of Kaśyapa and the twice-born, the king of birds, become invincible and immortal among all beings?
कथं च कामचारी स कामवीर्यश्च खेचरः। एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं पुराणे यदि पठ्यते ॥१-२७-३॥
I wish to hear how he, who moves with desire and is powerful in desire, becomes a sky-walker, if this is mentioned in the Purana.
सूत उवाच॥
Sūta said:
विषयोऽयं पुराणस्य यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि। शृणु मे वदतः सर्वमेतत्सङ्क्षेपतो द्विज ॥१-२७-४॥
This is the subject of the Purāṇa that you inquire about; listen to my brief explanation, O learned one.
यजतः पुत्रकामस्य कश्यपस्य प्रजापतेः। साहाय्यमृषयो देवा गन्धर्वाश्च ददुः किल ॥१-२७-५॥
The sages, gods, and Gandharvas indeed assisted Kaśyapa, the lord of creatures, in his sacrifice as he desired a son.
तत्रेध्मानयने शक्रो नियुक्तः कश्यपेन ह। मुनयो वालखिल्याश्च ये चान्ये देवतागणाः ॥१-२७-६॥
In that place, Indra was indeed appointed by Kashyapa to bring the fuel, along with the sages, Valakhilyas, and other groups of deities.
शक्रस्तु वीर्यसदृशमिध्मभारं गिरिप्रभम्। समुद्यम्यानयामास नातिकृच्छ्रादिव प्रभुः ॥१-२७-७॥
Indra, the lord, effortlessly lifted and brought a mountain-like load of fuel, as if it was not difficult for him.
अथापश्यदृषीन्ह्रस्वानङ्गुष्ठोदरपर्वणः। पलाशवृन्तिकामेकां सहितान्वहतः पथि ॥१-२७-८॥
Then he saw the sages, who were short and had thumb-sized bellies and joints, carrying together a single palāśa leaf stalk on the path.
प्रलीनान्स्वेष्विवाङ्गेषु निराहारांस्तपोधनान्। क्लिश्यमानान्मन्दबलान्गोष्पदे सम्प्लुतोदके ॥१-२७-९॥
The ascetics, appearing as if absorbed in their own limbs, were weak and suffering without food, in a cow's hoofprint filled with water.
तांश्च सर्वान्स्मयाविष्टो वीर्योन्मत्तः पुरंदरः। अवहस्यात्यगाच्छीघ्रं लङ्घयित्वावमन्य च ॥१-२७-१०॥
Indra, overwhelmed with pride and drunk with power, laughed at them all, swiftly moved past, crossing over and disregarding them.
तेऽथ रोषसमाविष्टाः सुभृशं जातमन्यवः। आरेभिरे महत्कर्म तदा शक्रभयङ्करम् ॥१-२७-११॥
Then, filled with intense anger and greatly enraged, they began a formidable task that was terrifying to Indra.
जुहुवुस्ते सुतपसो विधिवज्जातवेदसम्। मन्त्रैरुच्चावचैर्विप्रा येन कामेन तच्छृणु ॥१-२७-१२॥
The sages, with great austerity and according to the rules, offered to the fire god with various chants. Listen to the desire by which they did so.
कामवीर्यः कामगमो देवराजभयप्रदः। इन्द्रोऽन्यः सर्वदेवानां भवेदिति यतव्रताः ॥१-२७-१३॥
The one who possesses the power of love and strength, who fulfills desires and instills fear in the king of gods, is considered another Indra among all gods, as those with disciplined vows believe.
इन्द्राच्छतगुणः शौर्ये वीर्ये चैव मनोजवः। तपसो नः फलेनाद्य दारुणः सम्भवत्विति ॥१-२७-१४॥
Let the one who is a hundred times more valorous and stronger than Indra, and who possesses the speed of mind, be born today as a result of our penance.
तद्बुद्ध्वा भृशसन्तप्तो देवराजः शतक्रतुः। जगाम शरणं तत्र कश्यपं संशितव्रतम् ॥१-२७-१५॥
Realizing the situation, the greatly troubled king of gods, Indra, sought refuge with Kashyapa, who was steadfast in his vows.
तच्छ्रुत्वा देवराजस्य कश्यपोऽथ प्रजापतिः। वालखिल्यानुपागम्य कर्मसिद्धिमपृच्छत ॥१-२७-१६॥
Upon hearing this, Kaśyapa, the progenitor, approached the Vālakhilyas and inquired about the success of their task.
एवमस्त्विति तं चापि प्रत्यूचुः सत्यवादिनः। तान्कश्यप उवाचेदं सान्त्वपूर्वं प्रजापतिः ॥१-२७-१७॥
The truth-speakers replied to him, "Let it be so." Then Kaśyapa, the lord of creatures, addressed them with words of conciliation.
अयमिन्द्रस्त्रिभुवने नियोगाद्ब्रह्मणः कृतः। इन्द्रार्थं च भवन्तोऽपि यत्नवन्तस्तपोधनाः ॥१-२७-१८॥
This Indra was appointed by Brahma's command in the three worlds. For the sake of Indra, you all, the diligent sages, must also act.
न मिथ्या ब्रह्मणो वाक्यं कर्तुमर्हथ सत्तमाः। भवतां च न मिथ्यायं सङ्कल्पो मे चिकीर्षितः ॥१-२७-१९॥
O best ones, the word of Brahma is never false. You should not act otherwise. Your resolve and my intention are true.
भवत्वेष पतत्रीणामिन्द्रोऽतिबलसत्त्ववान्। प्रसादः क्रियतां चैव देवराजस्य याचतः ॥१-२७-२०॥
Let Indra, who is very powerful and virtuous, be the lord of the birds. May the grace of the king of gods be granted to the one who is asking.
एवमुक्ताः कश्यपेन वालखिल्यास्तपोधनाः। प्रत्यूचुरभिसम्पूज्य मुनिश्रेष्ठं प्रजापतिम् ॥१-२७-२१॥
After being addressed by Kashyapa, the Valakhilya sages, who were ascetics, respectfully replied to the eminent sage and lord of creatures.
इन्द्रार्थोऽयं समारम्भः सर्वेषां नः प्रजापते। अपत्यार्थं समारम्भो भवतश्चायमीप्सितः ॥१-२७-२२॥
This endeavor is meant for Indra, O lord of creatures, and is desired by you for the sake of progeny, for all of us.
तदिदं सफलं कर्म त्वया वै प्रतिगृह्यताम्। तथा चैव विधत्स्वात्र यथा श्रेयोऽनुपश्यसि ॥१-२७-२३॥
Accept this fruitful action indeed, and act here in such a way as you perceive to be for the best.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु देवी दाक्षायणी शुभा। विनता नाम कल्याणी पुत्रकामा यशस्विनी ॥१-२७-२४॥
At this very moment, the auspicious goddess Dākṣāyaṇī, known as Vinatā, who was virtuous and desired a son, was renowned.
तपस्तप्त्वा व्रतपरा स्नाता पुंसवने शुचिः। उपचक्राम भर्तारं तामुवाचाथ कश्यपः ॥१-२७-२५॥
After performing austerities and being dedicated to her vows, she bathed in the puṃsavana rite and approached her husband in purity. Then, Kaśyapa spoke to her.
आरम्भः सफलो देवि भवितायं तवेप्सितः। जनयिष्यसि पुत्रौ द्वौ वीरौ त्रिभुवनेश्वरौ ॥१-२७-२६॥
O goddess, your desired beginning will be successful. You will give birth to two heroic sons who will be lords of the three worlds.
तपसा वालखिल्यानां मम सङ्कल्पजौ तथा। भविष्यतो महाभागौ पुत्रौ ते लोकपूजितौ ॥१-२७-२७॥
By the penance of the Vālakhilyas, my sons born of resolve will be greatly fortunate and worshipped by the world.
उवाच चैनां भगवान्मारीचः पुनरेव ह। धार्यतामप्रमादेन गर्भोऽयं सुमहोदयः ॥१-२७-२८॥
The divine sage Mārīca advised her once more, emphasizing the importance of carefully nurturing the highly auspicious embryo.
एकः सर्वपतत्रीणामिन्द्रत्वं कारयिष्यति। लोकसम्भावितो वीरः कामवीर्यो विहङ्गमः ॥१-२७-२९॥
One bird, renowned in the world and possessing desired strength, will become the lord of all birds.
शतक्रतुमथोवाच प्रीयमाणः प्रजापतिः। त्वत्सहायौ खगावेतौ भ्रातरौ ते भविष्यतः ॥१-२७-३०॥
Then, pleased, the lord of creatures, Indra, said: "These two birds will become your companions and brothers."
नैताभ्यां भविता दोषः सकाशात्ते पुरंदर। व्येतु ते शक्र सन्तापस्त्वमेवेन्द्रो भविष्यसि ॥१-२७-३१॥
There will be no fault from these two towards you, Purandara. Let your sorrow go, Shakra; you will indeed become Indra.
न चाप्येवं त्वया भूयः क्षेप्तव्या ब्रह्मवादिनः। न चावमान्या दर्पात्ते वाग्विषा भृशकोपनाः ॥१-२७-३२॥
The speakers of Brahman should not be insulted again by you, nor should they be disrespected out of arrogance with your poisonous words, which make them very angry.
एवमुक्तो जगामेन्द्रो निर्विशङ्कस्त्रिविष्टपम्। विनता चापि सिद्धार्था बभूव मुदिता तदा ॥१-२७-३३॥
Having been addressed in this way, Indra went fearlessly to heaven. At that time, Vinata also became successful and was filled with joy.
जनयामास पुत्रौ द्वावरुणं गरुडं तथा। अरुणस्तयोस्तु विकल आदित्यस्य पुरःसरः ॥१-२७-३४॥
Two sons were born, Varuna and Garuda. Among them, Aruna, though imperfect, became the charioteer of Aditya.
पतत्रीणां तु गरुड इन्द्रत्वेनाभ्यषिच्यत। तस्यैतत्कर्म सुमहच्छ्रूयतां भृगुनन्दन ॥१-२७-३५॥
Garuda was appointed as the king of birds. Listen to this great deed of his, O descendant of Bhrigu.
