05.097

नारद उवाच॥

nārada uvāca॥

[नारद (nārada) - Nārada; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

Nārada said:

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

ētattu nāgalōkasya nābhisthānē sthitaṁ puram। pātālamiti vikhyātaṁ daityadānavasēvitam ॥5-97-1॥

[एतत् (ētat) - this; तु (tu) - indeed; नागलोकस्य (nāgalōkasya) - of the world of the Nāgas; नाभिस्थाने (nābhisthānē) - at the navel or central place; स्थितं (sthitaṁ) - situated; पुरम् (puram) - city; पातालम् (pātālam) - Pātāla; इति (iti) - thus; विख्यातं (vikhyātaṁ) - well-known; दैत्यदानवसेवितम् (daityadānavasēvitam) - attended by Daityas and Dānavas;]

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॥

idamadbhiḥ samaṁ prāptā yē kēciddhruvajaṅgamāḥ। praviśantō mahānādaṁ nadanti bhayapīḍitāḥ ॥5-97-2॥

[इदम् (idam) - this; अद्भिः (adbhiḥ) - with water; समम् (samam) - together; प्राप्ताः (prāptāḥ) - arrived; ये केचित् (yē kēcit) - whatever (creatures); ध्रुवजङ्गमाः (dhruvajaṅgamāḥ) - stationary and moving beings; प्रविशन्तः (praviśantaḥ) - entering; महा-नादम् (mahā-nādam) - the great chasm; नदन्ति (nadanti) - cry out; भय-पीडिताः (bhaya-pīḍitāḥ) - afflicted by fear;]

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॥

atrāsurō’gniḥ satataṁ dīpyatē vāribhōjanaḥ। vyāpārēṇa dhr̥tātmānaṁ nibaddhaṁ samabudhyata ॥5-97-3॥

[अत्र (atra) - here; असुरः अग्निः (asuraḥ agniḥ) - demonic fire; सततम् (satatam) - constantly; दीप्यते (dīpyatē) - burns; वारि-भोजनः (vāri-bhōjanaḥ) - feeding on water; व्यापारेण (vyāpārēṇa) - by its action; धृत-आत्मानम् (dhr̥ta-ātmānam) - with oneself held firm; निबद्धम् (nibaddham) - bound; समबुध्यत (samabudhyata) - was understood;]

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॥

atrāmr̥taṁ suraiḥ pītvā nihitaṁ nihatāribhiḥ। ataḥ sōmasya hāniśca vr̥ddhiścaiva pradr̥śyatē ॥5-97-4॥

[अत्र (atra) - here; अमृतम् (amr̥tam) - nectar; सुरैः (suraiḥ) - by the gods; पीत्वा (pītvā) - after drinking; निहितम् (nihitam) - was deposited; निहतारिभिः (nihatāribhiḥ) - by those who had vanquished their enemies; अतः (ataḥ) - therefore; सोमस्य (sōmasya) - of Soma; हानिः (hāniḥ) - decline; च (ca) - and; वृद्धिः (vr̥ddhiḥ) - increase; च (ca) - and; एव (ēva) - indeed; प्रदृश्यते (pradr̥śyatē) - are seen;]

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॥

atra divyaṁ hayaśiraḥ kālē parvaṇi parvaṇi। uttiṣṭhati suvarṇābhaṁ vārbhirāpūrayañjagat ॥5-97-5॥

[अत्र (atra) - here; दिव्यं (divyaṁ) - divine; हयशिरः (hayaśiraḥ) - a horse-headed being; काले (kālē) - at the proper time; पर्वणि (parvaṇi) - on the full moon; पर्वणि (parvaṇi) - on the full moon; उत्तिष्ठति (uttiṣṭhati) - rises up; सुवर्णाभं (suvarṇābhaṁ) - golden in appearance; वार्भिः (vārbhiḥ) - with waters; आपूरयन् (āpūrayan) - filling; जगत् (jagat) - the world;]

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॥

yasmādatra samagrāstāḥ patanti jalamūrtayaḥ। tasmātpātālamityētatkhyāyatē puramuttamam ॥5-97-6॥

[यस्मात् (yasmāt) - from which; अत्र (atra) - here; समग्राः (samagrāḥ) - all; ताः (tāḥ) - those; पतन्ति (patanti) - fall; जलमूर्तयः (jalamūrtayaḥ) - forms of water; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; पातालम् (pātālam) - Pātāla; इति (iti) - thus; एतत् (ētat) - this; ख्यायते (khyāyatē) - is known; पुरम् (puram) - city; उत्तमम् (uttamam) - greatest;]

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॥

airāvatō’smātsalilaṁ gr̥hītvā jagatō hitaḥ। mēghēṣvāmuñcatē śītaṁ yanmahēndraḥ pravarṣati ॥5-97-7॥

[ऐरावतः (airāvataḥ) - Airavata; अस्मात् (asmāt) - from this; सलिलम् (salilam) - water; गृहीत्वा (gr̥hītvā) - having taken; जगतः (jagataḥ) - for the world; हितः (hitaḥ) - for the benefit; मेघेषु (mēghēṣu) - into the clouds; आमुञ्चते (āmuñcatē) - releases; शीतम् (śītam) - cool; यत् (yat) - which; महेन्द्रः (mahēndraḥ) - great Indra; प्रवर्षति (pravarṣati) - pours down;]

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॥

atra nānāvidhākārāstimayō naikarūpiṇaḥ। apsu sōmaprabhāṁ pītvā vasanti jalacāriṇaḥ ॥5-97-8॥

[अत्र (atra) - here; नानाविध आकाराः (nānāvidha ākārāḥ) - of various forms; तिमयः (timayaḥ) - fishes; नैकरूपिणः (naikarūpiṇaḥ) - of many kinds; अप्सु (apsu) - in the waters; सोमप्रभां पीत्वा (sōmaprabhāṁ pītvā) - having drunk the moon's radiance; वसन्ति (vasanti) - dwell; जलचारिणः (jalacāriṇaḥ) - water-dwellers;]

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॥

atra sūryāṁśubhirbhinnāḥ pātālatalamāśritāḥ। mr̥tā divasataḥ sūta punarjīvanti tē niśi ॥5-97-9॥

[अत्र (atra) - here; सूर्यांशुभिः (sūryāṁśubhiḥ) - by the sun's rays; भिन्नाः (bhinnāḥ) - pierced; पातालतलम् (pātālatalam) - the netherworld's depths; आश्रिताः (āśritāḥ) - dwelling; मृताः (mr̥tāḥ) - dead; दिवसतः (divasataḥ) - by day; सूत (sūta) - O Sūta; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; जीवन्ति (jīvanti) - come to life; ते (tē) - they; निशि (niśi) - at night;]

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॥

udayē nityaśaścātra candramā raśmibhirvr̥taḥ। amr̥taṁ spr̥śya saṁsparśātsañjīvayati dēhinaḥ ॥5-97-10॥

[उदये (udayē) - at the rising; नित्यशः (nityaśaḥ) - always; च (ca) - and; अत्र (atra) - here; चन्द्रमा (candramā) - the moon; रश्मिभिः (raśmibhiḥ) - with rays; वृतः (vr̥taḥ) - enveloped; अमृतं (amr̥taṁ) - nectar; स्पृश्य (spr̥śya) - having touched; संस्पर्शात् (saṁsparśāt) - by contact; सञ्जीवयति (sañjīvayati) - revives; देहिनः (dēhinaḥ) - living beings;]

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॥

atra tē’dharmaniratā baddhāḥ kālēna pīḍitāḥ। daitēyā nivasanti sma vāsavēna hr̥taśriyaḥ ॥5-97-11॥

[अत्र (atra) - here; ते (tē) - they; अधर्मनिरताः (adharmaniratāḥ) - engaged in unrighteousness; बद्धाः (baddhāḥ) - confined; कालेन (kālēna) - by time; पीडिताः (pīḍitāḥ) - afflicted; दैतेयाः (daitēyāḥ) - the Daityas; निवसन्ति स्म (nivasanti sma) - used to dwell; वासवेन (vāsavēna) - by Vāsava; हृतश्रियः (hr̥taśriyaḥ) - whose splendor had been taken away;]

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॥

atra bhūtapatirnāma sarvabhūtamahēśvaraḥ। bhūtayē sarvabhūtānāmacarattapa uttamam ॥5-97-12॥

[अत्र (atra) - here; भूतपतिः (bhūtapatiḥ) - the lord of beings; नाम (nāma) - named; सर्वभूतमहेश्वरः (sarvabhūtamahēśvaraḥ) - supreme lord of all beings; भूतये (bhūtayē) - for the benefit; सर्वभूतानाम् (sarvabhūtānām) - of all beings; अचरत् (acarat) - practised; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; उत्तमम् (uttamam) - supreme;]

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॥

atra gōvratinō viprāḥ svādhyāyāmnāyakarśitāḥ। tyaktaprāṇā jitasvargā nivasanti maharṣayaḥ ॥5-97-13॥

[अत्र (atra) - here; गोव्रतिनः (gōvratinaḥ) - those who observe the vow of caring for cows; विप्राः (viprāḥ) - brahmins; स्वाध्याय-अम्नाय-कर्त्शिताः (svādhyāya-amnāya-kartśitāḥ) - worn out by repeated recitation of the Veda; त्यक्त-प्राणाः (tyakta-prāṇāḥ) - having renounced life; जित-स्वर्गाः (jita-svargāḥ) - having conquered heaven; निवसन्ति (nivasanti) - dwell; महर्षयः (maharṣayaḥ) - great sages;]

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॥

yatratatraśayō nityaṁ yēnakēnacidāśitaḥ। yēnakēnacidācchannaḥ sa gōvrata ihōcyatē ॥5-97-14॥

[यत्र तत्र शयः (yatra tatra śayaḥ) - lying down anywhere; नित्यं (nityaṁ) - always; येन केनचित् आशितः (yēna kēnacit āśitaḥ) - sustained by whatever food; येन केनचित् आच्छन्नः (yēna kēnacit ācchannaḥ) - covered with whatever shelter; सः गोव्रतः (saḥ gōvrataḥ) - he is a go-vrata; इह उच्यते (iha ucyatē) - is called here;]

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॥

airāvatō nāgarājō vāmanaḥ kumudō’ñjanaḥ। prasūtāḥ supratīkasya vaṁśē vāraṇasattamāḥ ॥5-97-15॥

[ऐरावतः (airāvataḥ) - Airavata; नागराजः (nāgarājaḥ) - king of the nāgas; वामनः (vāmanaḥ) - Vamana; कुमुदः (kumudaḥ) - Kumuda; अञ्जनः (añjanaḥ) - Anjana; प्रसूताः (prasūtāḥ) - were born; सुप्रतीकस्य (supratīkasya) - of Supratika; वंशे (vaṁśē) - in the lineage; वारणसत्तमाः (vāraṇasattamāḥ) - distinguished elephants;]

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॥

paśya yadyatra tē kaścidrōcatē guṇatō varaḥ। varayiṣyāva taṁ gatvā yatnamāsthāya mātalē ॥5-97-16॥

[पश्य (paśya) - look; यत् यत्र (yat yatra) - whichever one; ते (tē) - to you; कश्चित् (kaścit) - any; रोचते (rōcatē) - seems pleasing; गुणतः (guṇataḥ) - in qualities; वरः (varaḥ) - excellent; वरयिष्याव (varayiṣyāva) - we will choose; तम् (tam) - him; गत्वा (gatvā) - after going; यत्नम् (yatnam) - effort; आस्थाय (āsthāya) - undertaking; मातले (mātalē) - Mātali;]

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॥

aṇḍamētajjalē nyastaṁ dīpyamānamiva śriyā। ā prajānāṁ nisargādvai nōdbhidyati na sarpati ॥5-97-17॥

[अण्डम् (aṇḍam) - an egg; एतत् (ētat) - this; जले (jalē) - in the water; न्यस्तम् (nyastam) - placed; दीप्यमानम् (dīpyamānam) - shining; इव (iva) - like; श्रिया (śriyā) - with radiance; आ (ā) - from; प्रजानाम् (prajānām) - creatures'; निसर्गात् (nisargāt) - generation; वै (vai) - indeed; न (na) - not; उद्भिद्यति (udbhidyati) - it breaks; न (na) - not; सर्पति (sarpati) - it moves;]

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॥

nāsya jātiṁ nisargaṁ vā kathyamānaṁ śr̥ṇōmi vai। pitaraṁ mātaraṁ vāpi nāsya jānāti kaścana ॥5-97-18॥

[न (na) - not; अस्य (asya) - its; जातिं (jātiṁ) - origin; निसर्गं (nisargaṁ) - nature; वा (vā) - or; कथ्यमानं (kathyamānaṁ) - being spoken; शृणोमि (śr̥ṇōmi) - I hear; वै (vai) - truly; पितरं (pitaraṁ) - father; मातरं (mātaraṁ) - mother; वा (vā) - or; अपि (api) - even; न (na) - not; अस्य (asya) - of it; जानाति (jānāti) - knows; कश्चन (kaścana) - anyone;]

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॥

ataḥ kila mahānagnirantakālē samutthitaḥ। dhakṣyatē mātalē sarvaṁ trailōkyaṁ sacarācaram ॥5-97-19॥

[अतः किल (ataḥ kila) - therefore indeed; महा अग्निः (mahā agniḥ) - a great fire; अन्तकाले (antakālē) - at the final time; समुत्थितः (samutthitaḥ) - arisen; धक्ष्यते (dhakṣyatē) - will burn; मातले (mātalē) - O Mātali; सर्वं त्रैलोक्यं (sarvaṁ trailōkyaṁ) - all three worlds; सचराचरम् (sacarācaram) - with all that moves and all that is still;]

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 uvāca॥

[कण्वः (kaṇvaḥ) - Kaṇva; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

Kaṇva said:

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

mātalistvabravīcchrutvā nāradasyātha bhāṣitam। na mē’tra rōcatē kaścidanyatō vraja māciram ॥5-97-20॥

[मातलिः (mātaliḥ) - Mātali; त्व् (tv) - then; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said; श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; नारदस्य (nāradasya) - Nārada's; अथ (atha) - then; भाषितम् (bhāṣitam) - speech; न (na) - not; मे (mē) - to me; अत्र (atra) - here; रोचते (rōcatē) - is pleasing; कश्चित् (kaścit) - anyone; अन्यतः (anyataḥ) - elsewhere; व्रज (vraja) - go; मा (mā) - do not; अचिरम् (aciram) - delay;]

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