05.109
सुपर्ण उवाच॥
Suparṇa said:
यस्मादुत्तार्यते पापाद्यस्मान्निःश्रेयसोऽश्नुते। तस्मादुत्तारणफलादुत्तरेत्युच्यते बुधैः ॥५-१०९-१॥
Because it rescues one from sin and grants the highest good, and since its result is deliverance, the wise call it 'uttara' (deliverance). (5-109-1)
उत्तरस्य हिरण्यस्य परिवापस्य गालव। मार्गः पश्चिमपूर्वाभ्यां दिग्भ्यां वै मध्यमः स्मृतः ॥५-१०९-२॥
Gālava, to the north of the golden purifying vessel, the path lying between the western and eastern directions is regarded as central. (5-109-2)
अस्यां दिशि वरिष्ठायामुत्तरायां द्विजर्षभ। नासौम्यो नाविधेयात्मा नाधर्म्यो वसते जनः ॥५-१०९-३॥
In this foremost northern direction, O best of twice-born, no harsh, unrighteous, or undisciplined person dwells. (5-109-3)
अत्र नारायणः कृष्णो जिष्णुश्चैव नरोत्तमः। बदर्यामाश्रमपदे तथा ब्रह्मा च शाश्वतः ॥५-१०९-४॥
Here, Nārāyaṇa, Kṛṣṇa, Jishnu—the best of men—at the hermitage of Badarī, and also the eternal Brahmā (reside). (5-109-4)
अत्र वै हिमवत्पृष्ठे नित्यमास्ते महेश्वरः। अत्र राज्येन विप्राणां चन्द्रमाश्चाभ्यषिच्यत ॥५-१०९-५॥
Here indeed, on the slopes of the Himalaya, Maheshvara always dwells. Here, the Moon was also consecrated with the sovereign power of the Brahmins. (5-109-5)
अत्र गङ्गां महादेवः पतन्तीं गगनाच्च्युताम्। प्रतिगृह्य ददौ लोके मानुषे ब्रह्मवित्तम ॥५-१०९-६॥
Here, Mahādeva, having received Gaṅgā as she fell from the sky, gave her to the world of men, O knower of Brahman. (5-109-6)
अत्र देव्या तपस्तप्तं महेश्वरपरीप्सया। अत्र कामश्च रोषश्च शैलश्चोमा च सम्बभुः ॥५-१०९-७॥
Here, the goddess performed austerities desiring Maheshvara; here, desire, anger, the mountain, and Uma all arose. (5-109-7)
अत्र राक्षसयक्षाणां गन्धर्वाणां च गालव। आधिपत्येन कैलासे धनदोऽप्यभिषेचितः ॥५-१०९-८॥
Here, O Gālava, Dhanada was also installed as the ruler over the Rākṣasas, Yakṣas, and Gandharvas on Kailāsa. (5-109-8)
अत्र चैत्ररथं रम्यमत्र वैखानसाश्रमः। अत्र मन्दाकिनी चैव मन्दरश्च द्विजर्षभ ॥५-१०९-९॥
Here is the beautiful Caitraratha grove, here is the hermitage of the Vaikhānasas, here also is the Mandākinī and Mount Mandara, O best of Brāhmans. (5-109-9)
अत्र सौगन्धिकवनं नैरृतैरभिरक्ष्यते। शाड्वलं कदलीस्कन्धमत्र सन्तानका नगाः ॥५-१०९-१०॥
Here is the Sugandhika grove, guarded by spirits, marshes and banana stems, and here are Santāna trees. (5-109-10)
अत्र संयमनित्यानां सिद्धानां स्वैरचारिणाम्। विमानान्यनुरूपाणि कामभोग्यानि गालव ॥५-१०९-११॥
Here, O Gālava, are appropriate aerial palaces, pleasurable according to their wishes, for those perfected beings who constantly practise self-restraint and roam freely. (5-109-11)
अत्र ते ऋषयः सप्त देवी चारुन्धती तथा। अत्र तिष्ठति वै स्वातिरत्रास्या उदयः स्मृतः ॥५-१०९-१२॥
Here dwell those seven seers, the goddess Arundhati as well; here Svati indeed resides, and her rising is recognized here. (5-109-12)
अत्र यज्ञं समारुह्य ध्रुवं स्थाता पितामहः। ज्योतींषि चन्द्रसूर्यौ च परिवर्तन्ति नित्यशः ॥५-१०९-१३॥
Here, having ascended the sacrificial altar, Dhruva stands firm, and the Grandfather; the stars, the Moon, and the Sun revolve constantly. (5-109-13)
अत्र गायन्तिकाद्वारं रक्षन्ति द्विजसत्तमाः। धामा नाम महात्मानो मुनयः सत्यवादिनः ॥५-१०९-१४॥
Here, at the Gayantika gate, dwell great-souled, truth-speaking sages called Dhama, excellent among the twice-born, who serve as guardians. (5-109-14)
न तेषां ज्ञायते सूतिर्नाकृतिर्न तपश्चितम्। परिवर्तसहस्राणि कामभोग्यानि गालव ॥५-१०९-१५॥
O Gālava, neither their birth, nor their appearance, nor their practiced austerities are known; for thousands of cycles, they remain in enjoyments of pleasure. (5-109-15)
यथा यथा प्रविशति तस्मात्परतरं नरः। तथा तथा द्विजश्रेष्ठ प्रविलीयति गालव ॥५-१०९-१६॥
O best of the twice-born Gālava, just as a man enters a state higher than that, so too he is dissolved. (5-109-16)
न तत्केनचिदन्येन गतपूर्वं द्विजर्षभ। ऋते नारायणं देवं नरं वा जिष्णुमव्ययम् ॥५-१०९-१७॥
O best of the twice-born, no one else has ever gone that way except Narayana the god, or Nara, or imperishable Jishnu. (5-109-17)
अत्र कैलासमित्युक्तं स्थानमैलविलस्य तत्। अत्र विद्युत्प्रभा नाम जज्ञिरेऽप्सरसो दश ॥५-१०९-१८॥
Here, the place of Ilavila is called Kailasa. Here, ten apsarases named Vidyuprabha were born. (5-109-18)
अत्र विष्णुपदं नाम क्रमता विष्णुना कृतम्। त्रिलोकविक्रमे ब्रह्मन्नुत्तरां दिशमाश्रितम् ॥५-१०९-१९॥
Here, O Brahman, is what is called Vishnu's footprint—made by Vishnu when he strode the three worlds—situated in the northern direction. (5-109-19)
अत्र राज्ञा मरुत्तेन यज्ञेनेष्टं द्विजोत्तम। उशीरबीजे विप्रर्षे यत्र जाम्बूनदं सरः ॥५-१०९-२०॥
Here, O best of Brāhmins, King Marutta performed a sacrifice in Uśīrabīja, O Brāhmin sage, where there is a golden lake. (5-109-20)
जीमूतस्यात्र विप्रर्षेरुपतस्थे महात्मनः। साक्षाद्धैमवतः पुण्यो विमलः कमलाकरः ॥५-१०९-२१॥
Here, beside the great sage Jīmūta, stood directly a holy, clear lotus lake from the Himalayas. (5-109-21)
ब्राह्मणेषु च यत्कृत्स्नं स्वन्तं कृत्वा धनं महत्। वव्रे वनं महर्षिः स जैमूतं तद्वनं ततः ॥५-१०९-२२॥
And after distributing all his great wealth among the Brahmins, the great sage chose the Jaimuta forest—thus that forest was called Jaimuta from then on. (5-109-22)
अत्र नित्यं दिशापालाः सायं प्रातर्द्विजर्षभ। कस्य कार्यं किमिति वै परिक्रोशन्ति गालव ॥५-१०९-२३॥
Here, O best of Brahmins, O Galava, the guardians of the directions are always calling out morning and evening, 'Whose business is this, what must be done?' (5-109-23)
एवमेषा द्विजश्रेष्ठ गुणैरन्यैर्दिगुत्तरा। उत्तरेति परिख्याता सर्वकर्मसु चोत्तरा ॥५-१०९-२४॥
In this way, O best of the twice-born, this direction, surpassing others in qualities, is known as the northern one and is considered superior in all undertakings. (5-109-24)
एता विस्तरशस्तात तव सङ्कीर्तिता दिशः। चतस्रः क्रमयोगेन कामाशां गन्तुमिच्छसि ॥५-१०९-२५॥
These four directions have been described to you in detail, dear one, in order, since you wish to go to your desired destination. (5-109-25)
उद्यतोऽहं द्विजश्रेष्ठ तव दर्शयितुं दिशः। पृथिवीं चाखिलां ब्रह्मंस्तस्मादारोह मां द्विज ॥५-१०९-२६॥
O best of the twice-born, I am prepared to show you the directions and the whole earth. Therefore, O Brāhmaṇa, climb onto me. (5-109-26)