05.107

सुपर्ण उवाच॥

Suparṇa said:

इयं विवस्वता पूर्वं श्रौतेन विधिना किल। गुरवे दक्षिणा दत्ता दक्षिणेत्युच्यतेऽथ दिक् ॥५-१०७-१॥

This direction, it is said, was formerly offered by Vivasvat as a gift to his teacher, according to the ritual prescription; therefore, it is called the dakṣiṇā, or southern, direction. (5-107-1)

अत्र लोकत्रयस्यास्य पितृपक्षः प्रतिष्ठितः। अत्रोष्मपानां देवानां निवासः श्रूयते द्विज ॥५-१०७-२॥

Here is established the paternal side of the three worlds, and here, O twice-born, is said to be the abode of the Ushmapa gods. (5-107-2)

अत्र विश्वे सदा देवाः पितृभिः सार्धमासते। इज्यमानाः स्म लोकेषु सम्प्राप्तास्तुल्यभागताम् ॥५-१०७-३॥

Here, the universal gods always dwell together with the ancestors; when worshipped in the worlds, they obtain an equal share. (5-107-3)

एतद्द्वितीयं धर्मस्य द्वारमाचक्षते द्विज। त्रुटिशो लवशश्चात्र गण्यते कालनिश्चयः ॥५-१०७-४॥

O twice-born, this is called the second gateway of dharma; here, even the tiniest units and fractions of time are counted in the reckoning of time. (5-107-4)

अत्र देवर्षयो नित्यं पितृलोकर्षयस्तथा। तथा राजर्षयः सर्वे निवसन्ति गतव्यथाः ॥५-१०७-५॥

Here divine seers, the seers of the realm of the ancestors, and likewise all royal seers dwell, free from suffering. (5-107-5)

अत्र धर्मश्च सत्यं च कर्म चात्र निशाम्यते। गतिरेषा द्विजश्रेष्ठ कर्मणात्मावसादिनः ॥५-१०७-६॥

Here, righteousness, truth, and action are observed; this is the path, O best of twice-born, for one whose spirit is weighed down by deeds. (5-107-6)

एषा दिक्सा द्विजश्रेष्ठ यां सर्वः प्रतिपद्यते। वृता त्वनवबोधेन सुखं तेन न गम्यते ॥५-१०७-७॥

This is the path, O best of the twice-born, that everyone follows; but undertaken in ignorance, happiness is not gained by it. (5-107-7)

नैरृतानां सहस्राणि बहून्यत्र द्विजर्षभ। सृष्टानि प्रतिकूलानि द्रष्टव्यान्यकृतात्मभिः ॥५-१०७-८॥

O best of twice-born, here thousands of spirits of destruction, many hostile ones, have been created—these are witnessed by those who lack self-control. (5-107-8)

अत्र मन्दरकुञ्जेषु विप्रर्षिसदनेषु च। गन्धर्वा गान्ति गाथा वै चित्तबुद्धिहरा द्विज ॥५-१०७-९॥

Here, O twice-born, in the Mandara groves and in the dwellings of Brahmin sages, the Gandharvas sing songs that enchant the mind and the intellect. (5-107-9)

अत्र सामानि गाथाभिः श्रुत्वा गीतानि रैवतः। गतदारो गतामात्यो गतराज्यो वनं गतः ॥५-१०७-१०॥

Here, after listening to the Sāman songs sung in verses, Raivata, having left his wife, ministers, and kingdom, went to the forest. (5-107-10)

अत्र सावर्णिना चैव यवक्रीतात्मजेन च। मर्यादा स्थापिता ब्रह्मन्यां सूर्यो नातिवर्तते ॥५-१०७-११॥

Here, a boundary in regard to Brahmins was established by Savarni and also by Yavakrīta's son, which even the sun does not transgress. (5-107-11)

अत्र राक्षसराजेन पौलस्त्येन महात्मना। रावणेन तपश्चीर्त्वा सुरेभ्योऽमरता वृता ॥५-१०७-१२॥

Here, Rāvaṇa, the great-souled king of the Rākṣasas, the descendant of Pulastya, having performed austerity, asked the gods for immortality. (5-107-12)

अत्र वृत्तेन वृत्रोऽपि शक्रशत्रुत्वमीयिवान्। अत्र सर्वासवः प्राप्ताः पुनर्गच्छन्ति पञ्चधा ॥५-१०७-१३॥

Here, even Vṛtra attained enmity with Indra because of his conduct; here, all spirits, having arrived, depart again in five ways. (5-107-13)

अत्र दुष्कृतकर्माणो नराः पच्यन्ति गालव। अत्र वैतरणी नाम नदी वितरणैर्वृता । अत्र गत्वा सुखस्यान्तं दुःखस्यान्तं प्रपद्यते ॥५-१०७-१४॥

O Gālava, here those people who have done evil deeds are tormented. Here is the river called Vaitaraṇī, filled with strong currents. Here, on arriving, one reaches the end of happiness and the beginning of suffering. (5-107-14)

अत्रावृत्तो दिनकरः क्षरते सुरसं पयः। काष्ठां चासाद्य धानिष्ठां हिममुत्सृजते पुनः ॥५-१०७-१५॥

Here, the returning sun pours down sweet water, and when it reaches the station of Dhaniṣṭhā, it sends forth frost again. (5-107-15)

अत्राहं गालव पुरा क्षुधार्तः परिचिन्तयन्। लब्धवान्युध्यमानौ द्वौ बृहन्तौ गजकच्छपौ ॥५-१०७-१६॥

Here, Gālava, long ago, tormented by hunger and reflecting, I found two huge creatures, an elephant and a tortoise, locked in combat. (5-107-16)

अत्र शक्रधनुर्नाम सूर्याज्जातो महानृषिः। विदुर्यं कपिलं देवं येनात्ताः सगरात्मजाः ॥५-१०७-१७॥

Here was the great sage named Śakradhanu, born of the sun, the illustrious god Kapila, by whom the sons of Sagara were consumed. (5-107-17)

अत्र सिद्धाः शिवा नाम ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः। अधीत्य सखिलान्वेदानालभन्ते यमक्षयम् ॥५-१०७-१८॥

Here dwell the perfected beings known as the Śivās—Brāhmaṇas who have mastered the Vedas—who, having thoroughly studied all the Vedas, attain the imperishable realm of Yama. (5-107-18)

अत्र भोगवती नाम पुरी वासुकिपालिता। तक्षकेण च नागेन तथैवैरावतेन च ॥५-१०७-१९॥

Here is the city named Bhogavatī, ruled by Vāsuki, and also by the Nāga Takṣaka and likewise by Airāvata. (5-107-19)

अत्र निर्याणकालेषु तमः सम्प्राप्यते महत्। अभेद्यं भास्करेणापि स्वयं वा कृष्णवर्त्मना ॥५-१०७-२०॥

Here, at the times of departure, a great darkness is reached—impenetrable even by the sun or even by the path of Krishna himself. (5-107-20)

एष तस्यापि ते मार्गः परितापस्य गालव। ब्रूहि मे यदि गन्तव्यं प्रतीचीं शृणु वा मम ॥५-१०७-२१॥

This, too, is the path for you, Gālava, of hardship; tell me if I must go west, or hear what I have to say. (5-107-21)