05.100

नारद उवाच॥

Nārada said:

इदं रसातलं नाम सप्तमं पृथिवीतलम्। यत्रास्ते सुरभिर्माता गवाममृतसम्भवा ॥५-१००-१॥

This is Rasatala, the seventh region of the earth, where Surabhi dwells—the mother of cows, born of nectar. (5-100-1)

क्षरन्ती सततं क्षीरं पृथिवीसारसम्भवम्। षण्णां रसानां सारेण रसमेकमनुत्तमम् ॥५-१००-२॥

Constantly flowing milk that arises from the essence of the earth, with the essence of the six tastes—a unique, unsurpassed flavour. (5-100-2)

अमृतेनाभितृप्तस्य सारमुद्गिरतः पुरा। पितामहस्य वदनादुदतिष्ठदनिन्दिता ॥५-१००-३॥

Long ago, from the mouth of the Grandfather, who was fully satisfied by ambrosia and spat out its essence, the blameless one emerged. (5-100-3)

यस्याः क्षीरस्य धाराया निपतन्त्या महीतले। ह्रदः कृतः क्षीरनिधिः पवित्रं परमुत्तमम् ॥५-१००-४॥

From the falling stream of her milk onto the earth, a lake was formed—a reservoir of milk, pure and supremely excellent. (5-100-4)

पुष्पितस्येव फेनस्य पर्यन्तमनुवेष्टितम्। पिबन्तो निवसन्त्यत्र फेनपा मुनिसत्तमाः ॥५-१००-५॥

Here, great sages known as the foam-eaters live, drinking the water, settled along the rim encircled like the edge of blossoming foam. (5-100-5)

फेनपा नाम नाम्ना ते फेनाहाराश्च मातले। उग्रे तपसि वर्तन्ते येषां बिभ्यति देवताः ॥५-१००-६॥

O Mātali, they are called the Phenapas, for they subsist on foam; they practice severe austerities, of whom even the gods are afraid. (5-100-6)

अस्याश्चतस्रो धेन्वोऽन्या दिक्षु सर्वासु मातले। निवसन्ति दिशापाल्यो धारयन्त्यो दिशः स्मृताः ॥५-१००-७॥

Matali, four other cows of hers reside in all the directions; they are known as the guardians of the directions, supporting the quarters. (5-100-7)

पूर्वां दिशं धारयते सुरूपा नाम सौरभी। दक्षिणां हंसका नाम धारयत्यपरां दिशम् ॥५-१००-८॥

Surupa, the daughter of Surabhi, supports the eastern direction, and Hansaka supports the southern direction. (5-100-8)

पश्चिमा वारुणी दिक्च धार्यते वै सुभद्रया। महानुभावया नित्यं मातले विश्वरूपया ॥५-१००-९॥

The western direction, Varuṇī, is truly borne by Subhadrā, the great-souled, always by Matali of wondrous form. (5-100-9)

सर्वकामदुघा नाम धेनुर्धारयते दिशम्। उत्तरां मातले धर्म्यां तथैलविलसञ्ज्ञिताम् ॥५-१००-१०॥

O Mātali, the cow named Sarvakāmadughā upholds the northern direction, the auspicious one, also known as Etāvilasa. (5-100-10)

आसां तु पयसा मिश्रं पयो निर्मथ्य सागरे। मन्थानं मन्दरं कृत्वा देवैरसुरसंहितैः ॥५-१००-११॥

But with the milk of these, mixed with other milk, churning the ocean, making Mandara the churning rod—by the gods joined with the Asuras— (5-100-11)

उद्धृता वारुणी लक्ष्मीरमृतं चापि मातले। उच्चैःश्रवाश्चाश्वराजो मणिरत्नं च कौस्तुभम् ॥५-१००-१२॥

O Mātali, Varuṇī emerged, as did Lakṣmī, amṛta, Uccaiḥśravā the king of horses, and also the Kaustubha jewel. (5-100-12)

सुधाहारेषु च सुधां स्वधाभोजिषु च स्वधाम्। अमृतं चामृताशेषु सुरभिः क्षरते पयः ॥५-१००-१३॥

Among streams of nectar, she is nectar; among those who consume ancestral offerings, she is the offering; she is ambrosia among things immortal—Surabhi yields milk. (5-100-13)

अत्र गाथा पुरा गीता रसातलनिवासिभिः। पौराणी श्रूयते लोके गीयते या मनीषिभिः ॥५-१००-१४॥

Here, an ancient verse—once sung by the dwellers of Rasātala, an old verse that is still heard in the world and sung by the wise— (5-100-14)

न नागलोके न स्वर्गे न विमाने त्रिविष्टपे। परिवासः सुखस्तादृग्रसातलतले यथा ॥५-१००-१५॥

Nowhere in the world of the Nāgas, nor in heaven, nor in a celestial chariot in the realm of the gods, is there a residence as pleasurable as that on the floor of Rasātala. (5-100-15)