01.028
Library: Battle rages on between Gods and Garuda, where Garuda clearly has the upper-hand.
सूत उवाच॥
Sūta said:
ततस्तस्मिन्द्विजश्रेष्ठ समुदीर्णे तथाविधे। गरुत्मान्पक्षिराट्तूर्णं सम्प्राप्तो विबुधान्प्रति ॥१-२८-१॥
Then, in that situation, Garuda, the king of birds, swiftly arrived towards the gods, as the best of the twice-born had arisen.
तं दृष्ट्वातिबलं चैव प्राकम्पन्त समन्ततः। परस्परं च प्रत्यघ्नन्सर्वप्रहरणान्यपि ॥१-२८-२॥
Seeing him very strong, they trembled all around and began to strike each other back with all their weapons.
तत्र चासीदमेयात्मा विद्युदग्निसमप्रभः। भौवनः सुमहावीर्यः सोमस्य परिरक्षिता ॥१-२८-३॥
There was an immeasurable soul, shining like lightning and fire, a great and valiant protector of Soma, belonging to the earth.
स तेन पतगेन्द्रेण पक्षतुण्डनखैः क्षतः। मुहूर्तमतुलं युद्धं कृत्वा विनिहतो युधि ॥१-२८-४॥
He was wounded by the mighty bird with its wings, beak, and claws, and after a brief but intense battle, he was killed.
रजश्चोद्धूय सुमहत्पक्षवातेन खेचरः। कृत्वा लोकान्निरालोकांस्तेन देवानवाकिरत् ॥१-२८-५॥
The bird, with the powerful wind of its wings, scattered dust, plunging the worlds into darkness and covering the gods.
तेनावकीर्णा रजसा देवा मोहमुपागमन्। न चैनं ददृशुश्छन्ना रजसामृतरक्षिणः ॥१-२८-६॥
Covered in dust, the gods fell into confusion. They could not see him, as the protectors of nectar were obscured by the dust.
एवं संलोडयामास गरुडस्त्रिदिवालयम्। पक्षतुण्डप्रहारैश्च देवान्स विददार ह ॥१-२८-७॥
In this way, Garuda shook the heavenly abode and with the strikes of his wings and beak, he tore apart the gods.
ततो देवः सहस्राक्षस्तूर्णं वायुमचोदयत्। विक्षिपेमां रजोवृष्टिं तवैतत्कर्म मारुत ॥१-२८-८॥
Then the thousand-eyed god, Indra, quickly commanded the wind to scatter the dust storm, saying it is your duty, O Wind.
अथ वायुरपोवाह तद्रजस्तरसा बली। ततो वितिमिरे जाते देवाः शकुनिमार्दयन् ॥१-२८-९॥
Then the powerful wind swept away the dust with great force. In the ensuing darkness, the gods emerged and slew the bird.
ननाद चोच्चैर्बलवान्महामेघरवः खगः। वध्यमानः सुरगणैः सर्वभूतानि भीषयन् ॥ उत्पपात महावीर्यः पक्षिराट्परवीरहा ॥१-२८-१०॥
The mighty bird, with a roar like a great cloud, was attacked by the hosts of gods, frightening all beings. The king of birds, strong and a destroyer of enemy heroes, ascended into the sky.
तमुत्पत्यान्तरिक्षस्थं देवानामुपरि स्थितम्। वर्मिणो विबुधाः सर्वे नानाशस्त्रैरवाकिरन् ॥१-२८-११॥
Having risen into the sky, he stood above the gods, and all the armored wise ones showered him with various weapons.
पट्टिशैः परिघैः शूलैर्गदाभिश्च सवासवाः। क्षुरान्तैर्ज्वलितैश्चापि चक्रैरादित्यरूपिभिः ॥१-२८-१२॥
Armed with spears, clubs, pikes, and maces, resembling Indra; also equipped with razor-edged, blazing, sun-like discs.
नानाशस्त्रविसर्गैश्च वध्यमानः समन्ततः। कुर्वन्सुतुमुलं युद्धं पक्षिराण्न व्यकम्पत ॥१-२८-१३॥
Despite being attacked from all directions by various weapons, the bird engaged in a fierce battle and did not waver.
विनर्दन्निव चाकाशे वैनतेयः प्रतापवान्। पक्षाभ्यामुरसा चैव समन्ताद्व्याक्षिपत्सुरान् ॥१-२८-१४॥
The mighty son of Vinata, roaring as if in the sky, scattered the gods all around with his wings and chest.
ते विक्षिप्तास्ततो देवाः प्रजग्मुर्गरुडार्दिताः। नखतुण्डक्षताश्चैव सुस्रुवुः शोणितं बहु ॥१-२८-१५॥
The gods, scattered and afflicted by Garuda, went away. Wounded by claws and beaks, they bled profusely.
साध्याः प्राचीं सगन्धर्वा वसवो दक्षिणां दिशम्। प्रजग्मुः सहिता रुद्रैः पतगेन्द्रप्रधर्षिताः ॥१-२८-१६॥
The Sādhyas, accompanied by the Gandharvas, proceeded to the east, while the Vasus, along with the Rudras, moved towards the south, all being overcome by the king of birds.
दिशं प्रतीचीमादित्या नासत्या उत्तरां दिशम्। मुहुर्मुहुः प्रेक्षमाणा युध्यमाना महौजसम् ॥१-२८-१७॥
The Ādityas and Aśvins repeatedly looked towards the western and northern directions as they engaged in battle with the mighty.
अश्वक्रन्देन वीरेण रेणुकेन च पक्षिणा। क्रथनेन च शूरेण तपनेन च खेचरः ॥१-२८-१८॥
The sky-roamer was accompanied by Aśvakranda, the hero, Reṇuka, the bird, Krathana, the brave one, and Tapana.
उलूकश्वसनाभ्यां च निमेषेण च पक्षिणा। प्ररुजेन च संयुद्धं चकार प्रलिहेन च ॥१-२८-१९॥
An owl engaged in a battle with the breath and a blink of a bird, with pain and a licking.
तान्पक्षनखतुण्डाग्रैरभिनद्विनतासुतः। युगान्तकाले सङ्क्रुद्धः पिनाकीव महाबलः ॥१-२८-२०॥
At the end of the age, the mighty son of Vinata, enraged like Lord Shiva, pierced them with the tips of his wings, nails, and beak.
महावीर्या महोत्साहास्तेन ते बहुधा क्षताः। रेजुरभ्रघनप्रख्या रुधिरौघप्रवर्षिणः ॥१-२८-२१॥
The great heroes, filled with immense enthusiasm, were wounded in many ways by him. They appeared like dense clouds, pouring streams of blood.
तान्कृत्वा पतगश्रेष्ठः सर्वानुत्क्रान्तजीवितान्। अतिक्रान्तोऽमृतस्यार्थे सर्वतोऽग्निमपश्यत ॥१-२८-२२॥
Having accomplished his task, the best of birds, Garuda, crossed over all the departed souls and saw fire everywhere in search of the nectar.
आवृण्वानं महाज्वालमर्चिर्भिः सर्वतोऽम्बरम्। दहन्तमिव तीक्ष्णांशुं घोरं वायुसमीरितम् ॥१-२८-२३॥
The sky was enveloped in great flames and rays, burning fiercely like a sharp-rayed sun, stirred by the wind.
ततो नवत्या नवतीर्मुखानां; कृत्वा तरस्वी गरुडो महात्मा। नदीः समापीय मुखैस्ततस्तैः; सुशीघ्रमागम्य पुनर्जवेन ॥१-२८-२४॥
Then, the mighty Garuda, with his great power, created ninety times ninety mouths, drank up the rivers with those mouths, and swiftly returned again.
ज्वलन्तमग्निं तममित्रतापनः; समास्तरत्पत्ररथो नदीभिः। ततः प्रचक्रे वपुरन्यदल्पं; प्रवेष्टुकामोऽग्निमभिप्रशाम्य ॥१-२८-२५॥
The blazing fire, which scorches enemies, was spread by the chariot of leaves with rivers. Then, wishing to enter the fire and extinguish it, he created another smaller form.
