01.029
Library: Narayana’s boon to Garuda, Indra becomes a friend.
सूत उवाच॥
Sūta said:
जाम्बूनदमयो भूत्वा मरीचिविकचोज्ज्वलः। प्रविवेश बलात्पक्षी वारिवेग इवार्णवम् ॥१-२९-१॥
The bird, transformed into a golden form and shining brightly like the sun, forcefully entered the ocean with the speed of water.
स चक्रं क्षुरपर्यन्तमपश्यदमृतान्तिके। परिभ्रमन्तमनिशं तीक्ष्णधारमयस्मयम् ॥१-२९-२॥
He saw a sharp-edged iron wheel constantly revolving near the nectar.
ज्वलनार्कप्रभं घोरं छेदनं सोमहारिणाम्। घोररूपं तदत्यर्थं यन्त्रं देवैः सुनिर्मितम् ॥१-२९-३॥
The gods constructed a fearsome and radiant machine, designed to cut down the enemies of Soma, with an exceedingly terrifying appearance.
तस्यान्तरं स दृष्ट्वैव पर्यवर्तत खेचरः। अरान्तरेणाभ्यपतत्सङ्क्षिप्याङ्गं क्षणेन ह ॥१-२९-४॥
Seeing the gap, the bird turned back. Meanwhile, it approached, contracting its body in an instant.
अधश्चक्रस्य चैवात्र दीप्तानलसमद्युती। विद्युज्जिह्वौ महाघोरौ दीप्तास्यौ दीप्तलोचनौ ॥१-२९-५॥
Below the wheel here are indeed beings with blazing splendor equal to fire; they have tongues like lightning, are very terrible, and have blazing mouths and eyes.
चक्षुर्विषौ महावीर्यौ नित्यक्रुद्धौ तरस्विनौ। रक्षार्थमेवामृतस्य ददर्श भुजगोत्तमौ ॥१-२९-६॥
He saw the two great serpents, who had eyes as their weapons, were of immense strength, always angry, and swift, guarding the nectar.
सदा संरब्धनयनौ सदा चानिमिषेक्षणौ। तयोरेकोऽपि यं पश्येत्स तूर्णं भस्मसाद्भवेत् ॥१-२९-७॥
The two are always with agitated and unblinking eyes; if either of them sees someone, that person is instantly reduced to ashes.
तयोश्चक्षूंषि रजसा सुपर्णस्तूर्णमावृणोत्। अदृष्टरूपस्तौ चापि सर्वतः पर्यकालयत् ॥१-२९-८॥
Suparna swiftly covered their eyes with dust, and unseen, he surrounded them from all sides.
तयोरङ्गे समाक्रम्य वैनतेयोऽन्तरिक्षगः। आच्छिनत्तरसा मध्ये सोममभ्यद्रवत्ततः ॥१-२९-९॥
Garuda, the celestial bird, attacked the bodies of the two, snatched the Soma with great force in the middle, and then swiftly moved away.
समुत्पाट्यामृतं तत्तु वैनतेयस्ततो बली। उत्पपात जवेनैव यन्त्रमुन्मथ्य वीर्यवान् ॥१-२९-१०॥
The powerful son of Vinata, having uprooted the nectar, then flew up swiftly, breaking the mechanism with his strength.
अपीत्वैवामृतं पक्षी परिगृह्याशु वीर्यवान्। अगच्छदपरिश्रान्त आवार्यार्कप्रभां खगः ॥१-२९-११॥
The powerful bird, having drunk the nectar and taken it, quickly went on untired, blocking the sunlight.
विष्णुना तु तदाकाशे वैनतेयः समेयिवान्। तस्य नारायणस्तुष्टस्तेनालौल्येन कर्मणा ॥१-२९-१२॥
Garuda met Vishnu in the sky, and Narayana was pleased with his selfless actions.
तमुवाचाव्ययो देवो वरदोऽस्मीति खेचरम्। स वव्रे तव तिष्ठेयमुपरीत्यन्तरिक्षगः ॥१-२९-१३॥
The imperishable god addressed him, declaring himself as the boon-giver to the celestial being. The celestial being then requested to remain above as a space-traveler.
उवाच चैनं भूयोऽपि नारायणमिदं वचः। अजरश्चामरश्च स्याममृतेन विनाप्यहम् ॥१-२९-१४॥
He again addressed Nārāyaṇa with these words: "May I become ageless and immortal, even without the nectar."
प्रतिगृह्य वरौ तौ च गरुडो विष्णुमब्रवीत्। भवतेऽपि वरं दद्मि वृणीतां भगवानपि ॥१-२९-१५॥
After accepting the boons, Garuda said to Vishnu, "I will also grant you a boon; let the Lord choose as well."
तं वव्रे वाहनं कृष्णो गरुत्मन्तं महाबलम्। ध्वजं च चक्रे भगवानुपरि स्थास्यसीति तम् ॥१-२९-१६॥
Krishna selected the mighty Garuda as his vehicle and declared that Garuda would stand above as his emblem on the flag.
अनुपत्य खगं त्विन्द्रो वज्रेणाङ्गेऽभ्यताडयत्। विहङ्गमं सुरामित्रं हरन्तममृतं बलात् ॥१-२९-१७॥
Indra, pursuing the bird who was the enemy of the gods and was forcibly taking away the nectar, struck it on the body with his thunderbolt.
तमुवाचेन्द्रमाक्रन्दे गरुडः पततां वरः। प्रहसञ्श्लक्ष्णया वाचा तथा वज्रसमाहतः ॥१-२९-१८॥
Garuda, the best among birds, addressed him in the presence of Indra, smiling gently as if struck by a thunderbolt.
ऋषेर्मानं करिष्यामि वज्रं यस्यास्थिसम्भवम्। वज्रस्य च करिष्यामि तव चैव शतक्रतो ॥१-२९-१९॥
I will honor the sage by making the thunderbolt from his bone. I will also make your thunderbolt, O Indra.
एष पत्रं त्यजाम्येकं यस्यान्तं नोपलप्स्यसे। न हि वज्रनिपातेन रुजा मेऽस्ति कदाचन ॥१-२९-२०॥
I am leaving this letter, the end of which you will never find. Indeed, even if struck by a thunderbolt, I will never feel pain.
तत्र तं सर्वभूतानि विस्मितान्यब्रुवंस्तदा। सुरूपं पत्रमालक्ष्य सुपर्णोऽयं भवत्विति ॥१-२९-२१॥
There, all the beings were astonished and said, "Upon seeing the beautiful form and wings, let this be Suparna."
दृष्ट्वा तदद्भुतं चापि सहस्राक्षः पुरंदरः। खगो महदिदं भूतमिति मत्वाभ्यभाषत ॥१-२९-२२॥
Upon witnessing that astonishing sight, the thousand-eyed Purandara, considering this great being as a bird, expressed his thoughts.
बलं विज्ञातुमिच्छामि यत्ते परमनुत्तमम्। सख्यं चानन्तमिच्छामि त्वया सह खगोत्तम ॥१-२९-२३॥
I wish to understand your supreme and unparalleled strength and to have an endless friendship with you, O best of birds.
