05.097

नारद उवाच॥

Nārada said:

एतत्तु नागलोकस्य नाभिस्थाने स्थितं पुरम्। पातालमिति विख्यातं दैत्यदानवसेवितम् ॥५-९७-१॥

This city, known as Pātāla, is situated at the navel, the central place, of the Nāga world, and is well known as being attended by Daityas and Dānavas. (5-97-1)

इदमद्भिः समं प्राप्ता ये केचिद्ध्रुवजङ्गमाः। प्रविशन्तो महानादं नदन्ति भयपीडिताः ॥५-९७-२॥

Whatever stationary or moving beings arrive here together with the waters, as they enter the great chasm, cry out, afflicted by fear. (5-97-2)

अत्रासुरोऽग्निः सततं दीप्यते वारिभोजनः। व्यापारेण धृतात्मानं निबद्धं समबुध्यत ॥५-९७-३॥

Here, a demonic fire that constantly burns, feeding on water, was understood to be bound in place by its own action, with itself held firm. (5-97-3)

अत्रामृतं सुरैः पीत्वा निहितं निहतारिभिः। अतः सोमस्य हानिश्च वृद्धिश्चैव प्रदृश्यते ॥५-९७-४॥

Here, after the gods drank the nectar, it was deposited by those who had vanquished their enemies; therefore, the decrease and increase of Soma are observed. (5-97-4)

अत्र दिव्यं हयशिरः काले पर्वणि पर्वणि। उत्तिष्ठति सुवर्णाभं वार्भिरापूरयञ्जगत् ॥५-९७-५॥

Here, a divine horse-headed being rises up at the proper time, on each full moon, golden in appearance, filling the world with waters. (5-97-5)

यस्मादत्र समग्रास्ताः पतन्ति जलमूर्तयः। तस्मात्पातालमित्येतत्ख्यायते पुरमुत्तमम् ॥५-९७-६॥

Since here all these forms of water fall from it, therefore this greatest city is known as Pātāla. (5-97-6)

ऐरावतोऽस्मात्सलिलं गृहीत्वा जगतो हितः। मेघेष्वामुञ्चते शीतं यन्महेन्द्रः प्रवर्षति ॥५-९७-७॥

Airavata takes water from here and, for the benefit of the world, releases the cool water into the clouds, which great Indra then pours down as rain. (5-97-7)

अत्र नानाविधाकारास्तिमयो नैकरूपिणः। अप्सु सोमप्रभां पीत्वा वसन्ति जलचारिणः ॥५-९७-८॥

Here live aquatic beings and fishes of many different kinds and forms, dwelling in the waters, who have drunk the radiance of the moon. (5-97-8)

अत्र सूर्यांशुभिर्भिन्नाः पातालतलमाश्रिताः। मृता दिवसतः सूत पुनर्जीवन्ति ते निशि ॥५-९७-९॥

Here, O Sūta, those who dwell in the depths of the netherworld, pierced by the sun's rays, die by day but come to life again at night. (5-97-9)

उदये नित्यशश्चात्र चन्द्रमा रश्मिभिर्वृतः। अमृतं स्पृश्य संस्पर्शात्सञ्जीवयति देहिनः ॥५-९७-१०॥

Here, whenever the moon rises, always enveloped in its rays, it touches the nectar and by that contact revives living beings. (5-97-10)

अत्र तेऽधर्मनिरता बद्धाः कालेन पीडिताः। दैतेया निवसन्ति स्म वासवेन हृतश्रियः ॥५-९७-११॥

Here, those Daityas, engaged in unrighteousness, confined and afflicted by time, whose splendor had been taken by Vāsava, used to dwell. (5-97-11)

अत्र भूतपतिर्नाम सर्वभूतमहेश्वरः। भूतये सर्वभूतानामचरत्तप उत्तमम् ॥५-९७-१२॥

Here, the lord of beings, called the supreme lord of all creatures, practised the highest austerity for the welfare of all beings. (5-97-12)

अत्र गोव्रतिनो विप्राः स्वाध्यायाम्नायकर्शिताः। त्यक्तप्राणा जितस्वर्गा निवसन्ति महर्षयः ॥५-९७-१३॥

Here dwell great sages—brahmins who observe the vow of caring for cows, worn down by their continual recitation of the Veda, who have renounced life and conquered heaven. (5-97-13)

यत्रतत्रशयो नित्यं येनकेनचिदाशितः। येनकेनचिदाच्छन्नः स गोव्रत इहोच्यते ॥५-९७-१४॥

He who always lies down anywhere, is sustained by whatever food he can get, and is covered with whatever shelter—he is here called a go-vrata. (5-97-14)

ऐरावतो नागराजो वामनः कुमुदोऽञ्जनः। प्रसूताः सुप्रतीकस्य वंशे वारणसत्तमाः ॥५-९७-१५॥

Airavata, the king of elephants, Vamana, Kumuda, and Anjana—these outstanding elephants were born in the lineage of Supratika. (5-97-15)

पश्य यद्यत्र ते कश्चिद्रोचते गुणतो वरः। वरयिष्याव तं गत्वा यत्नमास्थाय मातले ॥५-९७-१६॥

Look, whichever one among them you find to be the best in qualities and to your liking, we shall go and choose him, making an effort, Mātali. (5-97-16)

अण्डमेतज्जले न्यस्तं दीप्यमानमिव श्रिया। आ प्रजानां निसर्गाद्वै नोद्भिद्यति न सर्पति ॥५-९७-१७॥

This egg, set in the water and shining with radiance, does not break or move at the very emergence of living beings. (5-97-17)

नास्य जातिं निसर्गं वा कथ्यमानं शृणोमि वै। पितरं मातरं वापि नास्य जानाति कश्चन ॥५-९७-१८॥

I do not hear anyone speak of its origin or nature, nor does anyone know its father or mother. (5-97-18)

अतः किल महानग्निरन्तकाले समुत्थितः। धक्ष्यते मातले सर्वं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम् ॥५-९७-१९॥

Therefore, indeed, O Mātali, at the final time a great fire will arise and will burn all the three worlds, along with everything moving and unmoving. (5-97-19)

कण्व उवाच॥

Kaṇva said:

मातलिस्त्वब्रवीच्छ्रुत्वा नारदस्याथ भाषितम्। न मेऽत्र रोचते कश्चिदन्यतो व्रज माचिरम् ॥५-९७-२०॥

Mātali then, having heard Nārada's words, said, "Nothing here pleases me; go elsewhere without delay." (5-97-20)