05.096

kaṇva uvāca॥

Kanva said:

mātalistu vrajanmārgē nāradēna maharṣiṇā। varuṇaṁ gacchatā draṣṭuṁ samāgacchadyadr̥cchayā ॥5-96-1॥

But as Mātali was traveling on the road to see Varuṇa, he happened by chance to meet the great sage Nārada. (5-96-1)

nāradō’thābravīdēnaṁ kva bhavāngantumudyataḥ। svēna vā sūta kāryēṇa śāsanādvā śatakratōḥ ॥5-96-2॥

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)

mātalirnāradēnaivaṁ sampr̥ṣṭaḥ pathi gacchatā। yathāvatsarvamācaṣṭa svakāryaṁ varuṇaṁ prati ॥5-96-3॥

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)

tamuvācātha sa munirgacchāvaḥ sahitāviti। salilēśadidr̥kṣārthamahamapyudyatō divaḥ ॥5-96-4॥

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)

ahaṁ tē sarvamākhyāsyē darśayanvasudhātalam। dr̥ṣṭvā tatra varaṁ kañcidrōcayiṣyāva mātalē ॥5-96-5॥

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)

avagāhya tatō bhūmimubhau mātalināradau। dadr̥śātē mahātmānau lōkapālamapāṁ patim ॥5-96-6॥

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)

tatra dēvarṣisadr̥śīṁ pūjāṁ prāpa sa nāradaḥ। mahēndrasadr̥śīṁ caiva mātaliḥ pratyapadyata ॥5-96-7॥

There, Nārada received honors suitable for a divine sage, and Mātali received ones such as are given to Mahendra. (5-96-7)

tāvubhau prītamanasau kāryavattāṁ nivēdya ha। varuṇēnābhyanujñātau nāgalōkaṁ vicēratuḥ ॥5-96-8॥

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)

nāradaḥ sarvabhūtānāmantarbhūminivāsinām। jānaṁścakāra vyākhyānaṁ yantuḥ sarvamaśēṣataḥ ॥5-96-9॥

Nārada, knowing everything about all beings who dwell beneath the earth, gave a full explanation to the charioteer. (5-96-9)

nārada uvāca॥

Nārada said:

dr̥ṣṭastē varuṇastāta putrapautrasamāvr̥taḥ। paśyōdakapatēḥ sthānaṁ sarvatōbhadramr̥ddhimat ॥5-96-10॥

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)

ēṣa putrō mahāprājñō varuṇasyēha gōpatēḥ। ēṣa taṁ śīlavr̥ttēna śaucēna ca viśiṣyatē ॥5-96-11॥

This is the very wise son of Varuṇa, the lord of waters, here. He surpasses him through character, conduct, and purity. (5-96-11)

ēṣō’sya putrō’bhimataḥ puṣkaraḥ puṣkarēkṣaṇaḥ। rūpavāndarśanīyaśca sōmaputryā vr̥taḥ patiḥ ॥5-96-12॥

This is his beloved son Puṣkara, lotus-eyed, handsome, and attractive, chosen by Sōmaputri as her husband. (5-96-12)

jyōtsnākālīti yāmāhurdvitīyāṁ rūpataḥ śriyam। ādityasyaiva gōḥ putrō jyēṣṭhaḥ putraḥ kr̥taḥ smr̥taḥ ॥5-96-13॥

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)

bhavanaṁ paśya vāruṇyā yadētatsarvakāñcanam। yāṁ prāpya suratāṁ prāptāḥ surāḥ surapatēḥ sakhē ॥5-96-14॥

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)

ētāni hr̥tarājyānāṁ daitēyānāṁ sma mātalē। dīpyamānāni dr̥śyantē sarvapraharaṇānyuta ॥5-96-15॥

O Mātali, here can be seen all the shining weapons of the Daityas whose kingdoms were seized. (5-96-15)

akṣayāṇi kilaitāni vivartantē sma mātalē। anubhāvaprayuktāni surairavajitāni ha ॥5-96-16॥

These weapons, Mātali, were indeed indestructible and kept reappearing through magical power, but they were conquered by the gods. (5-96-16)

atra rākṣasajātyaśca bhūtajātyaśca mātalē। divyapraharaṇāścāsanpūrvadaivatanirmitāḥ ॥5-96-17॥

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)

agnirēṣa mahārciṣmāñjāgarti varuṇahradē। vaiṣṇavaṁ cakramāviddhaṁ vidhūmēna haviṣmatā ॥5-96-18॥

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)

ēṣa gāṇḍīmayaścāpō lōkasaṁhārasambhr̥taḥ। rakṣyatē daivatairnityaṁ yatastadgāṇḍivaṁ dhanuḥ ॥5-96-19॥

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)

ēṣa kr̥tyē samutpannē tattaddhārayatē balam। sahasraśatasaṅkhyēna prāṇēna satataṁ dhruvam ॥5-96-20॥

When a crisis arises, this (bow) continually and steadfastly bears many kinds of force with energy equal to hundreds and thousands. (5-96-20)

aśāsyānapi śāstyēṣa rakṣōbandhuṣu rājasu। sr̥ṣṭaḥ prathamajō daṇḍō brahmaṇā brahmavādinā ॥5-96-21॥

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)

ētacchatraṁ narēndrāṇāṁ mahacchakrēṇa bhāṣitam। putrāḥ salilarājasya dhārayanti mahōdayam ॥5-96-22॥

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)

ētatsalilarājasya chatraṁ chatragr̥hē sthitam। sarvataḥ salilaṁ śītaṁ jīmūta iva varṣati ॥5-96-23॥

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)

ētacchatrātparibhraṣṭaṁ salilaṁ sōmanirmalam। tamasā mūrchitaṁ yāti yēna nārchati darśanam ॥5-96-24॥

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)

bahūnyadbhutarūpāṇi draṣṭavyānīha mātalē। tava kāryōparōdhastu tasmādgacchāva māciram ॥5-96-25॥

Matali, there are many wondrous forms to see here, but your business is being delayed; so let us go without delay. (5-96-25)