Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— अथ सस्मार भगवान् नरलीलाकुतूहली। नागान्तकरणं तार्क्ष्यं बलिनं निजवाहनम्॥१॥
Brahmā said: “Then the Lord, delighting in human pastimes, remembered mighty Garuḍa, his own mount and the destroyer of serpents.
Passage 2
तस्मिन्नेवान्तरे धाता नागारिमिदमादिशत्। गच्छ नागान्तकेदानीं तूर्णं मद्वचसेरितः॥२॥
“At that very moment, the Creator commanded the enemy of serpents: ‘Destroyer of nāgas, go swiftly now, impelled by my word.
Passage 3
रामरावणयोर्युद्धं यत्र रामो रघूद्वहः। नागपाशैः समाबद्धो मेघनादेन संयुगे॥३॥
“‘In the war between Rāma and Rāvaṇa, Meghanāda has bound Rāma, bearer of Raghu's lineage, with serpent-nooses in battle.
Passage 4
सानुजो धरणौ शेते नरलीलाकुतूहली। कपिसैन्यं च निखिलं निश्चेष्टं मूर्छितोपमम्॥४॥
“‘Delighting in his human pastime, he lies upon the earth with his younger brother, while the entire monkey army is motionless as though unconscious.
Passage 5
नागपाशैर्दृढैर्बद्धास्तेऽद्य धरणीतले। तद्वीक्ष्य राक्षसाः सर्वे गर्जन्ति मुदिताशयाः॥५॥
“‘They are tightly bound today upon the earth by serpent-nooses. Seeing them, all the rākṣasas roar with delighted hearts.
Passage 6
कत्थते विक्रमं स्वस्य शक्रजित्सुरतापनः। हाहाभूतं च भुवनं रामस्यालोक्य तां दशाम्॥६॥
“‘Indrajit, tormentor of the gods, boasts of his prowess, while the world cries out in anguish upon seeing Rāma in that condition.
Passage 7
जयाशा सकलैस्त्यक्ता ये के च सुरपक्षगाः। व्यामोह इव संजातः सर्वेषां त्रिदिवौकसाम्॥७॥
“‘All who stand with the gods have abandoned hope of victory, and utter bewilderment has overtaken every inhabitant of heaven.
Passage 8
रामे रघुकुलाधीशे श्रुतिगोद्विजरक्षके। मूर्छिते पतिते भूमौ नागपाशौघवेष्टिते॥८॥
“‘Rāma, lord of Raghu's line and protector of scripture, cows, and brāhmaṇas, lies unconscious upon the earth, wrapped in masses of serpent-nooses.
Passage 9
जयाशा यत्र देवानां दशास्यापहृतश्रियाम्। एकबाणजितानेकसहस्रबलराक्षसे॥९॥
“‘The gods, whose splendor the ten-headed king stole, had placed their hope of victory in him, for he defeated many thousands of mighty rākṣasas with single arrows.
Passage 10
स चेत्तादृग्दशां प्राप्तः कोऽन्यो जेष्यति रावणम्। त्रैलोक्यकण्टकं दुष्टं श्रुतिगोद्विजतापिनम्॥१०॥
“‘If even he has reached such a condition, who else will conquer wicked Rāvaṇa—the thorn of the three worlds and tormentor of scripture, cows, and brāhmaṇas?
Passage 11
अस्वस्थमिव मन्येऽद्य त्रैलोक्यमतिखिद्यते। भवानपि प्रभुं तादृग्दशं नैव सहिष्यति॥११॥
“‘I believe the three worlds are stricken and distraught today. You too will not endure seeing the Lord in such a state.
Passage 12
अतः प्रयाहि त्वरितं यत्र रामो जगत्पतिः। तत्क्षणाद् दृष्टिमात्रेण नागपाशान्निवारय॥१२॥
“‘Therefore, go quickly to Rāma, lord of the universe, and dispel the serpent-nooses that very instant merely by your gaze.
Passage 13
तव पक्षोद्भवं वातमाकर्ण्य भुजगाः किल। तत्क्षणात्तूर्णमुड्डीय गमिष्यन्ति न संशयः॥१३॥
“‘Upon sensing the wind raised by your wings, the serpents will immediately fly away; there is no doubt.’
Passage 14
इति स ब्रह्मणो वाक्यमाकर्ण्य पतगाधिपः। आययौ त्वरितं तत्र यत्र रामो रणाङ्गणे॥१४॥
“Hearing Brahmā's words, the lord of birds swiftly came to where Rāma lay upon the battlefield. The Army Rises
Passage 15
आयातमात्रे गरुडे नागान्तकरणोद्धते। चण्डपक्षयुगोद्भूतमरुदावर्तभीषणे॥१५॥
“As soon as fierce, serpent-destroying Garuḍa arrived, a terrifying whirlwind arose from his powerful pair of wings.
Passage 16
तत्क्षणाद् दुःसहा नागाः पाशवत्यरिवेष्टिताः। प्रोड्डीय प्रसभं जग्मुरुत्तस्थौ च रघूद्वहः॥१६॥
“At once the unbearable nāgas entwined like nooses flew away forcefully, and the bearer of Raghu's line stood up.
Passage 17
सानुजः सहसैन्यश्च धूतनिद्र इवोत्थितः। ततः किलकिलाशब्दं कृत्वा कपिमहाभटाः॥१७॥
“He rose with his brother and army as though shaking off sleep. The great monkey warriors then raised a piercing cry—
Passage 18
उत्तस्थुः शत्रुसैन्यानां वितन्वन्तो महाभयम्। रामस्तार्क्ष्यं पुरो वीक्ष्य भक्तिप्रह्वशिरोधरम्॥१८॥
“—and stood up, spreading immense fear through the enemy forces. Rāma saw Garuḍa before him with his head bowed in devotion.
Passage 19
प्रसादपरमो देवो दृष्ट्या समनुतोषयन्। इदमाह स विश्वात्मा विनिबद्धाञ्जलीपुटम्॥१९॥
“The gracious Lord, soul of the universe, fully satisfied him with a glance and spoke to Garuḍa, who stood with palms joined.
Passage 20
साधु भोः पतगोत्तंस स्वस्त्यस्तु तव संततम्। मुक्ताः स्म नागपाशेभ्यस्त्वदागमनमात्रतः॥२०॥
“‘Well done, crown of birds! May lasting well-being be yours. Merely through your arrival, we have been freed from the serpent-nooses.
Passage 21
कृतं च वीर भवता देवकार्यमिदं महत्। कृतं साधुतमं ह्यद्य स्मृतमात्रो यदागतः॥२१॥
“‘Hero, you have accomplished this great work of the gods. You acted most nobly today by coming as soon as you were remembered.’ Garuḍa Recognizes the Lord
Passage 22
इति लब्धप्रसादोऽसौ तमाह जगदीश्वरम्। जानामि त्वां जगन्नाथ साक्षात्पुरुषमव्ययम्। नारायणं रमाकान्तं भूभारहृतिहेतवे॥२२॥
“Having received his grace, Garuḍa said to the Lord of the universe: ‘Lord of the world, I know you as the imperishable Supreme Person himself—Nārāyaṇa, beloved of Ramā, descended to remove the earth's burden.
Passage 23
अवतीर्णं रघोर्वंशे नरलीलानुकारिणम्। या याः करोषि भगवन् लीला इह मनोहराः॥२३॥
“‘You have descended into Raghu's lineage and imitate human pastimes. Lord, whatever enchanting pastimes you perform here—
Passage 24
तासां तत्त्वं प्रविज्ञातुं कः शक्नोति पुमान् भुवि। स्वस्वरूपं स्वलीलाश्च वेत्तुमेको भवान् प्रभो॥२४॥
“‘—what person on earth can fully understand their truth? Lord, you alone know your own nature and your own pastimes.
Passage 25
आद्या चित्प्रकृतिर्यास्ति स्वरूपानन्दविग्रहा। सैव ते जानकी सीता माया त्रैलोक्यकारिणी॥२५॥
“‘The primordial conscious potency, whose form is intrinsic bliss, is your Jānakī Sītā—the divine power that brings forth the three worlds.
Passage 26
तया त्वं भगवन्नित्यं स्वप्नेऽपि न वियुज्यसे। लीलामात्रं तु भवतो भूभारहरणाय तत्॥२६॥
“‘Lord, you are never separated from her, even in dream. This is only your pastime for relieving the earth's burden.
Passage 27
जहि त्वरितमेवामुं दुष्टं त्रैलोक्यकण्टकम्। श्रुतिगोद्विजधर्मघ्ननिधानं दशकन्धरम्॥२७॥
“‘Quickly kill the wicked ten-headed king, thorn of the three worlds and embodiment of hostility to scripture, cows, brāhmaṇas, and dharma.
Passage 28
उपसंहर विश्वेश राक्षसान् प्रबलानिमान्। भूभारभूतान् दुःसत्त्वान् धनुर्मुक्तैर्महेषुभिः॥२८॥
“‘Lord of the universe, destroy these powerful, vicious rākṣasas who burden the earth, using great arrows released from your bow.
Passage 29
हर वीरेन्द्र साधूनां भक्तानां च महद्भयम्। स्वीयां प्रकृतिमास्थाय रमस्व करुणानिधे॥२९॥
“‘Lord of heroes, remove the great fear of saints and devotees. Abide in your own divine potency and rejoice, treasury of compassion.
Passage 30
रक्ष धर्मपथं वीर यत्र देवाः प्रतिष्ठिताः। अविलम्बितमेवैतत्समापय महद्रणम्॥३०॥
“‘Hero, protect the path of dharma upon which the gods are established, and bring this great war to an end without delay.’
Passage 31
उच्चैरभिष्टूय स इत्यमेनं मुहुः प्रणम्य प्रणतांसयुग्मः। बद्धाञ्जलिस्तेन पुनर्विसृष्टो जगाम धाम स्वमथो खगेन्द्रः॥३१॥
“Having praised him aloud in this way, Garuḍa repeatedly bowed with both shoulders bent and palms joined. Then, dismissed by the Lord, the king of birds returned to his own abode.”