05.108

सुपर्ण उवाच॥

Suparṇa said:

इयं दिग्दयिता राज्ञो वरुणस्य तु गोपतेः। सदा सलिलराजस्य प्रतिष्ठा चादिरेव च ॥५-१०८-१॥

This direction is dear to King Varuṇa, O protector of cows; it is always the abode and the very origin of the lord of the waters. (5-108-1)

अत्र पश्चादहः सूर्यो विसर्जयति भाः स्वयम्। पश्चिमेत्यभिविख्याता दिगियं द्विजसत्तम ॥५-१०८-२॥

Here in the west, O best of the twice-born, the sun himself sets his light, and so this direction is known as the west. (5-108-2)

यादसामत्र राज्येन सलिलस्य च गुप्तये। कश्यपो भगवान्देवो वरुणं स्माभ्यषेचयत् ॥५-१०८-३॥

Here, for the sovereignty over the aquatic beings and the protection of the water, the exalted Kaśyapa anointed the god Varuṇa. (5-108-3)

अत्र पीत्वा समस्तान्वै वरुणस्य रसांस्तु षट्। जायते तरुणः सोमः शुक्लस्यादौ तमिस्रहा ॥५-१०८-४॥

Here, having drunk all six of Varuṇa's essences, the young Soma is born at the start of the bright fortnight, destroyer of darkness. (5-108-4)

अत्र पश्चात्कृता दैत्या वायुना संयतास्तदा। निःश्वसन्तो महानागैरर्दिताः सुषुपुर्द्विज ॥५-१०८-५॥

Here, the Daityas, driven back and restrained by the wind, sighing and afflicted by the great serpents, slept, O twice-born. (5-108-5)

अत्र सूर्यं प्रणयिनं प्रतिगृह्णाति पर्वतः। अस्तो नाम यतः सन्ध्या पश्चिमा प्रतिसर्पति ॥५-१०८-६॥

Here, the mountain called 'Asta' receives the beloved sun, from which the western dusk advances onward. (5-108-6)

अतो रात्रिश्च निद्रा च निर्गता दिवसक्षये। जायते जीवलोकस्य हर्तुमर्धमिवायुषः ॥५-१०८-७॥

From this, night and sleep arise at the close of day, appearing to take away as it were half the lifespan of living beings. (5-108-7)

अत्र देवीं दितिं सुप्तामात्मप्रसवधारिणीम्। विगर्भामकरोच्छक्रो यत्र जातो मरुद्गणः ॥५-१०८-८॥

Here, Śakra rendered the goddess Diti, who was sleeping and bearing her own offspring, bereft of her embryo—where the host of Maruts was born. (5-108-8)

अत्र मूलं हिमवतो मन्दरं याति शाश्वतम्। अपि वर्षसहस्रेण न चास्यान्तोऽधिगम्यते ॥५-१०८-९॥

Here lies the eternal root of the Himalaya, the Mandara mountain. Even in a thousand years, its end cannot be reached. (5-108-9)

अत्र काञ्चनशैलस्य काञ्चनाम्बुवहस्य च। उदधेस्तीरमासाद्य सुरभिः क्षरते पयः ॥५-१०८-१०॥

Here, having reached the shore of the ocean, at the golden mountain and the river of golden water, Surabhi pours forth milk. (5-108-10)

अत्र मध्ये समुद्रस्य कबन्धः प्रतिदृश्यते। स्वर्भानोः सूर्यकल्पस्य सोमसूर्यौ जिघांसतः ॥५-१०८-११॥

Here, in the midst of the ocean, the trunk of Svarbhanu, who is like the sun and seeks to harm the Moon and Sun, is seen. (5-108-11)

सुवर्णशिरसोऽप्यत्र हरिरोम्णः प्रगायतः। अदृश्यस्याप्रमेयस्य श्रूयते विपुलो ध्वनिः ॥५-१०८-१२॥

Here too, from the one with a golden head, singing out with tawny hair, comes the mighty sound of the unseen and immeasurable. (5-108-12)

अत्र ध्वजवती नाम कुमारी हरिमेधसः। आकाशे तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति तस्थौ सूर्यस्य शासनात् ॥५-१०८-१३॥

Here, Dhvajavatī, a maiden daughter of Harimedhas, stood in the sky at the command of the sun, saying, "Stand, stand." (5-108-13)

अत्र वायुस्तथा वह्निरापः खं चैव गालव। आह्निकं चैव नैशं च दुःखस्पर्शं विमुञ्चति । अतः प्रभृति सूर्यस्य तिर्यगावर्तते गतिः ॥५-१०८-१४॥

Here, O Gālava, the wind, fire, water, and space, as well as everything belonging to the day and night, cast off the touch of suffering. From this point onward, the sun’s course moves obliquely. (5-108-14)

अत्र ज्योतींषि सर्वाणि विशन्त्यादित्यमण्डलम्। अष्टाविंशतिरात्रं च चङ्क्रम्य सह भानुना । निष्पतन्ति पुनः सूर्यात्सोमसंयोगयोगतः ॥५-१०८-१५॥

Here, all the lights enter the solar disk, and after moving together with the sun for twenty-eight nights, they emerge again from the sun because of conjunction with the moon. (5-108-15)

अत्र नित्यं स्रवन्तीनां प्रभवः सागरोदयः। अत्र लोकत्रयस्यापस्तिष्ठन्ति वरुणाश्रयाः ॥५-१०८-१६॥

Here is the constant source of the flowing streams and the origin of the ocean; here dwell the waters of the three worlds under Varuṇa's domain. (5-108-16)

अत्र पन्नगराजस्याप्यनन्तस्य निवेशनम्। अनादिनिधनस्यात्र विष्णोः स्थानमनुत्तमम् ॥५-१०८-१७॥

Here is also the dwelling of Ananta, king of the snakes, and here is the unsurpassed abode of Viṣṇu, who is without beginning or end. (5-108-17)

अत्रानलसखस्यापि पवनस्य निवेशनम्। महर्षेः कश्यपस्यात्र मारीचस्य निवेशनम् ॥५-१०८-१८॥

Here is also the residence of the Wind, the friend of Fire; here is the residence of the great sage Kaśyapa, Mārīca. (5-108-18)

एष ते पश्चिमो मार्गो दिग्द्वारेण प्रकीर्तितः। ब्रूहि गालव गच्छावो बुद्धिः का द्विजसत्तम ॥५-१०८-१९॥

This is the western path, known as the gateway to that direction. Tell me, Gālava, shall we go? What is your decision, O best of Brahmins? (5-108-19)