05.106

suparṇa uvāca॥

Suparṇa said:

anuśiṣṭō’smi dēvēna gālavājñātayōninā। brūhi kāmanusaṁyāmi draṣṭuṁ prathamatō diśam ॥5-106-1॥

I have been instructed by the god, O Gālava of unknown birth. Tell me your wish—toward what direction shall I first proceed to see? (5-106-1)

pūrvāṁ vā dakṣiṇāṁ vāhamatha vā paścimāṁ diśam। uttarāṁ vā dvijaśrēṣṭha kutō gacchāmi gālava ॥5-106-2॥

Should I go east, or south, or perhaps west—or north, O best of the Twice-born? From where should I set out, Gālava? (5-106-2)

yasyāmudayatē pūrvaṁ sarvalōkaprabhāvanaḥ। savitā yatra sandhyāyāṁ sādhyānāṁ vartatē tapaḥ ॥5-106-3॥

The direction in which the Sun—the illuminator of all worlds—first rises, where, at the time of twilight, the austerity of the Sādhyas takes place... (5-106-3)

yasyāṁ pūrvaṁ matirjātā yayā vyāptamidaṁ jagat। cakṣuṣī yatra dharmasya yatra caiṣa pratiṣṭhitaḥ ॥5-106-4॥

In which the mind first arose, by which this world is pervaded, in which are the eyes of dharma and in which this is established… (5-106-4)

hutaṁ yatōmukhairhavyaṁ sarpatē sarvatōdiśam। ētaddvāraṁ dvijaśrēṣṭha divasasya tathādhvanaḥ ॥5-106-5॥

O best of the twice-born, from whose direction the sacred offering flows in all directions—this is the gateway of the day, and also of the path. (5-106-5)

yatra pūrvaṁ prasūtā vai dākṣāyaṇyaḥ prajāḥ striyaḥ। yasyāṁ diśi pravr̥ddhāśca kaśyapasyātmasambhavāḥ ॥5-106-6॥

Where, in former times, the daughters of Daksha—the women who were the progenitors—were born, and in which direction the offspring of Kaśyapa flourished. (5-106-6)

yatōmūlā surāṇāṁ śrīryatra śakrō’bhyaṣicyata। surarājyēna viprarṣē dēvaiścātra tapaścitam ॥5-106-7॥

O best of Brāhmins, from which the prosperity of the gods has its roots, where Indra was consecrated with the kingship of the gods, and where austerity was performed here by the gods. (5-106-7)

ētasmātkāraṇādbrahmanpūrvētyēṣā digucyatē। yasmātpūrvatarē kālē pūrvamēṣāvr̥tā suraiḥ ॥5-106-8॥

For this reason, O Brahman, this direction is called the east, because in an earlier time it was occupied by the gods. (5-106-8)

ata ēva ca pūrvēṣāṁ pūrvāmāśāmavēkṣatām। pūrvakāryāṇi kāryāṇi daivāni sukhamīpsatā ॥5-106-9॥

Therefore, because the ancestors regarded the east, for those who desire happiness, previous actions and acts determined by fate are to be undertaken first. (5-106-9)

atra vēdāñjagau pūrvaṁ bhagavām̐llōkabhāvanaḥ। atraivōktā savitrāsītsāvitrī brahmavādiṣu ॥5-106-10॥

Here, the divine creator of the worlds formerly sang the Vedas; here, too, the Sāvitrī was spoken by Savitṛ among those learned in the Veda. (5-106-10)

atra dattāni sūryēṇa yajūṁṣi dvijasattama। atra labdhavaraiḥ sōmaḥ suraiḥ kratuṣu pīyatē ॥5-106-11॥

Here, O best of the twice-born, the Yajus hymns were given by the Sun; here, Soma, having obtained boons, is drunk by the gods in sacrifices. (5-106-11)

atra tr̥ptā hutavahāḥ svāṁ yōnimupabhuñjatē। atra pātālamāśritya varuṇaḥ śriyamāpa ca ॥5-106-12॥

Here, the fires, having been satisfied, enjoy their own abode; and here Varuṇa, having resorted to the netherworld, attained prosperity. (5-106-12)

atra pūrvaṁ vasiṣṭhasya paurāṇasya dvijarṣabha। sūtiścaiva pratiṣṭhā ca nidhanaṁ ca prakāśatē ॥5-106-13॥

Here, O best of Brāhmaṇas, the birth, establishment, and death of the ancient Vasiṣṭha are also manifest. (5-106-13)

ōṅkārasyātra jāyantē sūtayō daśatīrdaśa। pibanti munayō yatra havirdhānē sma sōmapāḥ ॥5-106-14॥

Here, from Oṃkāra, ten and thirty Sūtas are born; in the sacrificial hall, the sages who are drinkers of Soma indeed drink there. (5-106-14)

prōkṣitā yatra bahavō varāhādyā mr̥gā vanē। śakrēṇa yatra bhāgārthē daivatēṣu prakalpitāḥ ॥5-106-15॥

Where many beasts of the forest, such as boars, are sprinkled (for sacrifice), and where Indra has established the shares among the gods for the sake of the portions— (5-106-15)

atrāhitāḥ kr̥taghnāśca mānuṣāścāsurāśca yē। udayaṁstānhi sarvānvai krōdhāddhanti vibhāvasuḥ ॥5-106-16॥

Here, all those who are impure, ungrateful, men or demons, whoever rises up—indeed, the fire, in anger, destroys them all. (5-106-16)

ētaddvāraṁ trilōkasya svargasya ca sukhasya ca। ēṣa pūrvō diśābhāgō viśāvainaṁ yadīcchasi ॥5-106-17॥

This is the gateway to the three worlds, to heaven and to happiness; this is the eastern direction—enter it, if you wish. (5-106-17)

priyaṁ kāryaṁ hi mē tasya yasyāsmi vacanē sthitaḥ। brūhi gālava yāsyāmi śr̥ṇu cāpyaparāṁ diśam ॥5-106-18॥

I must certainly do what is pleasing for him, whose command I obey. Tell me, O Gālava, and I will go. Also listen to the other direction. (5-106-18)