भगवद्यान पर्व — गालवको कथा

Galava said O Garuda, O enemy of the chief among serpents, O Suparna, O son of Vinata, 0 Tarkshya, take me to the east, where are pointed the two eyes of Dharma.

Go to this eastern quarter which you have described first of all and which you have described as lying in the vicinity of virtue.

Here, you have said, truth and virtue reside. I desire to see those gods, O you the younger brother of Aruna.

Narada said The son of Vinata said to the twice-born one get you up on me and then the Muni Galava rode on Garuda.

Galava said I come to see your beauty, you devourer of snakes, while you are flying along, like at of the sun in the first part of the day, of the sun of a thousand rays.

Your course, O wanderer in the sky, I see followed by trees which have been uprooted by the wind caused by the flapping of your wings.

O you wanderer of sky, you shine as if dragging by the wind, caused by the flapping of wings, the earth bounded by the seas and the forests with its mountains, woods and gardens.

The water, along with its fishes, snakes and crocodiles, seems to rise up continually to the sky by the great wind caused by your wings,

The fishes, and Timis and Timingalas possessed of similar faces and and snakes possessed of faces like those of human beings are, I see, crushed, as it were, by the wind.

I am rendered deaf by hearing the loud roar of the great sea; I cannot see nor can hear; indeed I even forget the object of this journey.

You please go a little slowly, remembering that you may be responsible for slaying a Brahmana; the sun is invisible, my friend, and cardinal points as also the sky, O you wanderer of heavens.

I see a gloom around me, but your body I cannot see, and you born of an egg, your two eyes appear to me like two bright gems.

I do not see your body nor mine own and at every step do I see fire coming from your। body.

Extinguish at once this fire and let your cyes again be brought to their normal state and, O son of Vinata, slacken the great speed you are using in your journey.

I have no need whatever of this journey, O you who subsist on snakes; return, O you of great attributes, for I can not bear this speed of yours.

I have promised to present to my preceptor eight hundred horses, white as the rays of moon and having one ear black.

To redeem my pledge I see no means, O you born of an egg; the only way I can see therefore is to cast off my own life.

I do not possess wealth; nor have I any friend possessed of wealth and even with great wealth this object of mine cannot be gained.

Narada said Then to Galava, who was lamenting in this way and uttering many sorrowful things, the son of Vinata, while still proceeding along, said in reply laughing.

You do not seem to be a very wise man, O regenerate Rishi, since you desire to cast off your life; death cannot be met at one's own pleasure for death is God himself.

Why have not I been informed (of your purpose) before; there is every good means by which you will gain your object.

This is the mountain named Rishava on the limits of the sea; rest yourself here; after making our repast here we shall return, O Galava.