05.107

suparṇa uvāca॥

Suparṇa said:

iyaṁ vivasvatā pūrvaṁ śrautēna vidhinā kila। guravē dakṣiṇā dattā dakṣiṇētyucyatē’tha dik ॥5-107-1॥

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)

atra lōkatrayasyāsya pitr̥pakṣaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ। atrōṣmapānāṁ dēvānāṁ nivāsaḥ śrūyatē dvija ॥5-107-2॥

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)

atra viśvē sadā dēvāḥ pitr̥bhiḥ sārdhamāsatē। ijyamānāḥ sma lōkēṣu samprāptāstulyabhāgatām ॥5-107-3॥

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

ētaddvitīyaṁ dharmasya dvāramācakṣatē dvija। truṭiśō lavaśaścātra gaṇyatē kālaniścayaḥ ॥5-107-4॥

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)

atra dēvarṣayō nityaṁ pitr̥lōkarṣayastathā। tathā rājarṣayaḥ sarvē nivasanti gatavyathāḥ ॥5-107-5॥

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

atra dharmaśca satyaṁ ca karma cātra niśāmyatē। gatirēṣā dvijaśrēṣṭha karmaṇātmāvasādinaḥ ॥5-107-6॥

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)

ēṣā diksā dvijaśrēṣṭha yāṁ sarvaḥ pratipadyatē। vr̥tā tvanavabōdhēna sukhaṁ tēna na gamyatē ॥5-107-7॥

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)

nairr̥tānāṁ sahasrāṇi bahūnyatra dvijarṣabha। sr̥ṣṭāni pratikūlāni draṣṭavyānyakr̥tātmabhiḥ ॥5-107-8॥

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)

atra mandarakuñjēṣu viprarṣisadanēṣu ca। gandharvā gānti gāthā vai cittabuddhiharā dvija ॥5-107-9॥

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)

atra sāmāni gāthābhiḥ śrutvā gītāni raivataḥ। gatadārō gatāmātyō gatarājyō vanaṁ gataḥ ॥5-107-10॥

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)

atra sāvarṇinā caiva yavakrītātmajēna ca। maryādā sthāpitā brahmanyāṁ sūryō nātivartatē ॥5-107-11॥

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)

atra rākṣasarājēna paulastyēna mahātmanā। rāvaṇēna tapaścīrtvā surēbhyō’maratā vr̥tā ॥5-107-12॥

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

atra vr̥ttēna vr̥trō’pi śakraśatrutvamīyivān। atra sarvāsavaḥ prāptāḥ punargacchanti pañcadhā ॥5-107-13॥

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

atra duṣkr̥takarmāṇō narāḥ pacyanti gālava। atra vaitaraṇī nāma nadī vitaraṇairvr̥tā । atra gatvā sukhasyāntaṁ duḥkhasyāntaṁ prapadyatē ॥5-107-14॥

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)

atrāvr̥ttō dinakaraḥ kṣaratē surasaṁ payaḥ। kāṣṭhāṁ cāsādya dhāniṣṭhāṁ himamutsr̥jatē punaḥ ॥5-107-15॥

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

atrāhaṁ gālava purā kṣudhārtaḥ paricintayan। labdhavānyudhyamānau dvau br̥hantau gajakacchapau ॥5-107-16॥

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)

atra śakradhanurnāma sūryājjātō mahānr̥ṣiḥ। viduryaṁ kapilaṁ dēvaṁ yēnāttāḥ sagarātmajāḥ ॥5-107-17॥

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)

atra siddhāḥ śivā nāma brāhmaṇā vēdapāragāḥ। adhītya sakhilānvēdānālabhantē yamakṣayam ॥5-107-18॥

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)

atra bhōgavatī nāma purī vāsukipālitā। takṣakēṇa ca nāgēna tathaivairāvatēna ca ॥5-107-19॥

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

atra niryāṇakālēṣu tamaḥ samprāpyatē mahat। abhēdyaṁ bhāskarēṇāpi svayaṁ vā kr̥ṣṇavartmanā ॥5-107-20॥

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)

ēṣa tasyāpi tē mārgaḥ paritāpasya gālava। brūhi mē yadi gantavyaṁ pratīcīṁ śr̥ṇu vā mama ॥5-107-21॥

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)