05.096
कण्व उवाच॥
Kanva said:
मातलिस्तु व्रजन्मार्गे नारदेन महर्षिणा। वरुणं गच्छता द्रष्टुं समागच्छद्यदृच्छया ॥५-९६-१॥
But as Mātali was traveling on the road to see Varuṇa, he happened by chance to meet the great sage Nārada. (5-96-1)
नारदोऽथाब्रवीदेनं क्व भवान्गन्तुमुद्यतः। स्वेन वा सूत कार्येण शासनाद्वा शतक्रतोः ॥५-९६-२॥
Then Nārada said to him, "Where are you going—on your own business as a charioteer, or on an errand from Śatakratu (Indra)?" (5-96-2)
मातलिर्नारदेनैवं सम्पृष्टः पथि गच्छता। यथावत्सर्वमाचष्ट स्वकार्यं वरुणं प्रति ॥५-९६-३॥
When Mātali was thus questioned by Nārada as they traveled along the road, he told him everything in full detail, explaining his business with Varuṇa. (5-96-3)
तमुवाचाथ स मुनिर्गच्छावः सहिताविति। सलिलेशदिदृक्षार्थमहमप्युद्यतो दिवः ॥५-९६-४॥
Then the sage said to him, "Let us go together; I too am ready to descend from heaven for the purpose of seeing the lord of the waters." (5-96-4)
अहं ते सर्वमाख्यास्ये दर्शयन्वसुधातलम्। दृष्ट्वा तत्र वरं कञ्चिद्रोचयिष्याव मातले ॥५-९६-५॥
I will tell you everything, showing you the surface of the earth; after seeing it there, Matali, let us choose some boon. (5-96-5)
अवगाह्य ततो भूमिमुभौ मातलिनारदौ। ददृशाते महात्मानौ लोकपालमपां पतिम् ॥५-९६-६॥
Then, after entering the earth, both Mātali and Nārada, those great-souled ones, saw the guardian of the world, the lord of waters. (5-96-6)
तत्र देवर्षिसदृशीं पूजां प्राप स नारदः। महेन्द्रसदृशीं चैव मातलिः प्रत्यपद्यत ॥५-९६-७॥
There, Nārada received honors suitable for a divine sage, and Mātali received ones such as are given to Mahendra. (5-96-7)
तावुभौ प्रीतमनसौ कार्यवत्तां निवेद्य ह। वरुणेनाभ्यनुज्ञातौ नागलोकं विचेरतुः ॥५-९६-८॥
Both of them, their minds pleased, having informed Varuṇa of the purpose of their visit and having been granted permission by him, wandered through the realm of the Nāgas. (5-96-8)
नारदः सर्वभूतानामन्तर्भूमिनिवासिनाम्। जानंश्चकार व्याख्यानं यन्तुः सर्वमशेषतः ॥५-९६-९॥
Nārada, knowing everything about all beings who dwell beneath the earth, gave a full explanation to the charioteer. (5-96-9)
नारद उवाच॥
Nārada said:
दृष्टस्ते वरुणस्तात पुत्रपौत्रसमावृतः। पश्योदकपतेः स्थानं सर्वतोभद्रमृद्धिमत् ॥५-९६-१०॥
Dear one, you have seen Varuṇa surrounded by his sons and grandsons; look at the prosperous, auspicious abode of the lord of waters. (5-96-10)
एष पुत्रो महाप्राज्ञो वरुणस्येह गोपतेः। एष तं शीलवृत्तेन शौचेन च विशिष्यते ॥५-९६-११॥
This is the very wise son of Varuṇa, the lord of waters, here. He surpasses him through character, conduct, and purity. (5-96-11)
एषोऽस्य पुत्रोऽभिमतः पुष्करः पुष्करेक्षणः। रूपवान्दर्शनीयश्च सोमपुत्र्या वृतः पतिः ॥५-९६-१२॥
This is his beloved son Puṣkara, lotus-eyed, handsome, and attractive, chosen by Sōmaputri as her husband. (5-96-12)
ज्योत्स्नाकालीति यामाहुर्द्वितीयां रूपतः श्रियम्। आदित्यस्यैव गोः पुत्रो ज्येष्ठः पुत्रः कृतः स्मृतः ॥५-९६-१३॥
They say that Jyotsnakali is the second, representing beauty in form; he, the son of Aditi and the Cow, is considered the eldest son. (5-96-13)
भवनं पश्य वारुण्या यदेतत्सर्वकाञ्चनम्। यां प्राप्य सुरतां प्राप्ताः सुराः सुरपतेः सखे ॥५-९६-१४॥
Behold, O friend of the lord of the gods, the mansion of Varuṇī, entirely made of gold—on reaching this, the gods attained beauty. (5-96-14)
एतानि हृतराज्यानां दैतेयानां स्म मातले। दीप्यमानानि दृश्यन्ते सर्वप्रहरणान्युत ॥५-९६-१५॥
O Mātali, here can be seen all the shining weapons of the Daityas whose kingdoms were seized. (5-96-15)
अक्षयाणि किलैतानि विवर्तन्ते स्म मातले। अनुभावप्रयुक्तानि सुरैरवजितानि ह ॥५-९६-१६॥
These weapons, Mātali, were indeed indestructible and kept reappearing through magical power, but they were conquered by the gods. (5-96-16)
अत्र राक्षसजात्यश्च भूतजात्यश्च मातले। दिव्यप्रहरणाश्चासन्पूर्वदैवतनिर्मिताः ॥५-९६-१७॥
Here, Mātali, there were beings of the demon kind and of the spirit kind, as well as divine weapons created by the gods of old. (5-96-17)
अग्निरेष महार्चिष्माञ्जागर्ति वरुणह्रदे। वैष्णवं चक्रमाविद्धं विधूमेन हविष्मता ॥५-९६-१८॥
Here, this fire of great flame blazes in the pool of Varuṇa; and the Viṣṇu's discus is set here, smokeless and accompanied by an offering. (5-96-18)
एष गाण्डीमयश्चापो लोकसंहारसम्भृतः। रक्ष्यते दैवतैर्नित्यं यतस्तद्गाण्डिवं धनुः ॥५-९६-१९॥
This bow made by Gāṇḍīva, endowed with the power to destroy worlds, is always protected by the gods; for this reason it is called the Gāṇḍīva bow. (5-96-19)
एष कृत्ये समुत्पन्ने तत्तद्धारयते बलम्। सहस्रशतसङ्ख्येन प्राणेन सततं ध्रुवम् ॥५-९६-२०॥
When a crisis arises, this (bow) continually and steadfastly bears many kinds of force with energy equal to hundreds and thousands. (5-96-20)
अशास्यानपि शास्त्येष रक्षोबन्धुषु राजसु। सृष्टः प्रथमजो दण्डो ब्रह्मणा ब्रह्मवादिना ॥५-९६-२१॥
This, punishment—the first-born—was created by Brahmā, the proclaimer of cosmic law; it governs even those who cannot be governed, among Rākṣasas, their kin, and kings. (5-96-21)
एतच्छत्रं नरेन्द्राणां महच्छक्रेण भाषितम्। पुत्राः सलिलराजस्य धारयन्ति महोदयम् ॥५-९६-२२॥
This royal parasol of kings, great and of exalted splendour, was proclaimed by Cakra, and is borne by the sons of the lord of the waters. (5-96-22)
एतत्सलिलराजस्य छत्रं छत्रगृहे स्थितम्। सर्वतः सलिलं शीतं जीमूत इव वर्षति ॥५-९६-२३॥
This parasol of the king of waters is placed in the parasol-house, and cool water pours down everywhere like a rain cloud. (5-96-23)
एतच्छत्रात्परिभ्रष्टं सलिलं सोमनिर्मलम्। तमसा मूर्छितं याति येन नार्छति दर्शनम् ॥५-९६-२४॥
This water, having fallen from the parasol, as pure as moonlight, is befouled by darkness, so that it no longer shines to the sight. (5-96-24)
बहून्यद्भुतरूपाणि द्रष्टव्यानीह मातले। तव कार्योपरोधस्तु तस्माद्गच्छाव माचिरम् ॥५-९६-२५॥
Matali, there are many wondrous forms to see here, but your business is being delayed; so let us go without delay. (5-96-25)