महाभारतम् — १.२३

॥ अथ १.२३ ॥

सूत उवाच ।

सुपर्णेनोह्यमानास्ते जग्मुस्तं देशमाशु वै ।
सागराम्बुपरिक्षिप्तं पक्षिसंघनिनादितम् ॥

M N Dutt They with Garuda saw the charming woods, washed by the waters of the sea and resounding with the music of the birds.

१.२३.२

विचित्रफलपुष्पाभिर्वनराजिभिरावृतम् ।
भवनैरावृतं रम्यैस्तथा पद्माकरैरपि ॥

M N Dutt There were beautiful trees full of various fruits and flowers, there were also charming mansions and many tanks with lotuses.

१.२३.३

प्रसन्नसलिलैश्चापि ह्रदैश्चित्रैर्विभूषितम् ।
दिव्यगन्धवहैः पुण्यैर्मारुतैरुपवीजितम् ॥

M N Dutt It was adorned with many beautiful lakes of pure water; it was refreshed with sweet incense-carrying breezes.

१.२३.४

उपजिघ्रद्भिराकाशं वृक्षैर्मलयजैरपि ।
शोभितं पुष्पवर्षाणि मुञ्चद्भिर्मारुतोद्धुतैः ॥

M N Dutt It was adorned with many trees that only grow on the Malaya hill, as high as the high heavens. It, being shaken by the breeze, dropped showers of flowers.

१.२३.५

किरद्भिरिव तत्रस्थान्नागान्पुष्पाम्बुवृष्टिभिः ।
मनःसंहर्षणं पुण्यं गन्धर्वाप्सरसां प्रियम् ।
नानापक्षिरुतं रम्यं कद्रूपुत्रप्रहर्षणम् ॥

M N Dutt It was beautiful, beneficial, holy and charming to all. Echoing with the sweet notes of various birds, it much delighted the sons of Kadru.

१.२३.६

तत्ते वनं समासाद्य विजह्रुः पन्नगा मुदा ।
अब्रुवंश्च महावीर्यं सुपर्णं पतगोत्तमम् ॥

M N Dutt Having arrived at that forest, the snakes very much enjoyed themselves and then they commanded the king of the birds, Garuda of great strength.

१.२३.७

वहास्मानपरं द्वीपं सुरम्यं विपुलोदकम् ।
त्वं हि देशान्बहून्रम्यान्पतन्पश्यसि खेचर ॥

M N Dutt “Take us to some other beautiful islands with pure water. O bird, you must have seen many beautiful countries when coursing through the sky."

१.२३.८

स विचिन्त्याब्रवीत्पक्षी मातरं विनतां तदा ।
किं कारणं मया मातः कर्तव्यं सर्पभाषितम् ॥

M N Dutt Having reflected for some time he (Garuda) asked his mother. “Why, O mother, am I to do the bidding of these snakes?"

विनतोवाच ।

१.२३.९

दासीभूतास्म्यनार्याया भगिन्याः पतगोत्तम ।
पणं वितथमास्थाय सर्पैरुपधिना कृतम् ॥

M N Dutt Vinata said: O best of birds, from misfortune, I have become a slave of my husband's second wife. The snakes caused me to lose the wager by deception; and thus have I become a slave.

सूत उवाच ।

१.२३.१०

तस्मिंस्तु कथिते मात्रा कारणे गगनेचरः ।
उवाच वचनं सर्पांस्तेन दुःखेन दुःखितः ॥

M N Dutt When his mother told him the reason, the bird in great sorrow said to the snakes.

१.२३.११

किमाहृत्य विदित्वा वा किं वा कृत्वेह पौरुषम् ।
दास्याद्वो विप्रमुच्येयं सत्यं शंसत लेलिहाः ॥

M N Dutt “Tell me, O snakes, by bringing what, or gaining what knowledge or doing what great work, we may be freed from this state of slavery.

१.२३.१२

श्रुत्वा तमब्रुवन्सर्पा आहरामृतमोजसा ।
ततो दास्याद्विप्रमोक्षो भविता तव खेचर ॥

M N Dutt Sauti said: Having heard him the snakes said, “Bring the Ambrosia by force. Then, O bird, you will be freed from slavery."

॥ इति १.२३ ॥