05.108

suparṇa uvāca॥

Suparṇa said:

iyaṁ digdayitā rājñō varuṇasya tu gōpatēḥ। sadā salilarājasya pratiṣṭhā cādirēva ca ॥5-108-1॥

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)

atra paścādahaḥ sūryō visarjayati bhāḥ svayam। paścimētyabhivikhyātā digiyaṁ dvijasattama ॥5-108-2॥

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)

yādasāmatra rājyēna salilasya ca guptayē। kaśyapō bhagavāndēvō varuṇaṁ smābhyaṣēcayat ॥5-108-3॥

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

atra pītvā samastānvai varuṇasya rasāṁstu ṣaṭ। jāyatē taruṇaḥ sōmaḥ śuklasyādau tamisrahā ॥5-108-4॥

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)

atra paścātkr̥tā daityā vāyunā saṁyatāstadā। niḥśvasantō mahānāgairarditāḥ suṣupurdvija ॥5-108-5॥

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

atra sūryaṁ praṇayinaṁ pratigr̥hṇāti parvataḥ। astō nāma yataḥ sandhyā paścimā pratisarpati ॥5-108-6॥

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

atō rātriśca nidrā ca nirgatā divasakṣayē। jāyatē jīvalōkasya hartumardhamivāyuṣaḥ ॥5-108-7॥

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)

atra dēvīṁ ditiṁ suptāmātmaprasavadhāriṇīm। vigarbhāmakarōcchakrō yatra jātō marudgaṇaḥ ॥5-108-8॥

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)

atra mūlaṁ himavatō mandaraṁ yāti śāśvatam। api varṣasahasrēṇa na cāsyāntō’dhigamyatē ॥5-108-9॥

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

atra kāñcanaśailasya kāñcanāmbuvahasya ca। udadhēstīramāsādya surabhiḥ kṣaratē payaḥ ॥5-108-10॥

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)

atra madhyē samudrasya kabandhaḥ pratidr̥śyatē। svarbhānōḥ sūryakalpasya sōmasūryau jighāṁsataḥ ॥5-108-11॥

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)

suvarṇaśirasō’pyatra harirōmṇaḥ pragāyataḥ। adr̥śyasyāpramēyasya śrūyatē vipulō dhvaniḥ ॥5-108-12॥

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)

atra dhvajavatī nāma kumārī harimēdhasaḥ। ākāśē tiṣṭha tiṣṭhēti tasthau sūryasya śāsanāt ॥5-108-13॥

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

atra vāyustathā vahnirāpaḥ khaṁ caiva gālava। āhnikaṁ caiva naiśaṁ ca duḥkhasparśaṁ vimuñcati । ataḥ prabhr̥ti sūryasya tiryagāvartatē gatiḥ ॥5-108-14॥

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)

atra jyōtīṁṣi sarvāṇi viśantyādityamaṇḍalam। aṣṭāviṁśatirātraṁ ca caṅkramya saha bhānunā । niṣpatanti punaḥ sūryātsōmasaṁyōgayōgataḥ ॥5-108-15॥

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)

atra nityaṁ sravantīnāṁ prabhavaḥ sāgarōdayaḥ। atra lōkatrayasyāpastiṣṭhanti varuṇāśrayāḥ ॥5-108-16॥

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)

atra pannagarājasyāpyanantasya nivēśanam। anādinidhanasyātra viṣṇōḥ sthānamanuttamam ॥5-108-17॥

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)

atrānalasakhasyāpi pavanasya nivēśanam। maharṣēḥ kaśyapasyātra mārīcasya nivēśanam ॥5-108-18॥

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)

ēṣa tē paścimō mārgō digdvārēṇa prakīrtitaḥ। brūhi gālava gacchāvō buddhiḥ kā dvijasattama ॥5-108-19॥

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)