सौतिरुवाच जाम्बूनदमयो भूत्वा मरीचिनिकरोज्ज्वलः। प्रविवेश बलात्पक्षी वारिवेग इवार्णवम्॥
Sauti said : The great bird, assuming a golden body, bright as the rays of the sun, entered (where the Soma was) with great force as a torrent enters the sea.
स चक्रं क्षुरपर्यन्तमपश्यदमृतान्तिके। परिभ्रमन्तमनिशं तीक्ष्णधारमयस्मयम्॥
He saw near the Ambrosia a wheel, keenedged and sharp as the razor, revolving incessantly (round it).
ज्वलनार्कप्रभं घोरं छेदनं सोमहारिणाम्। घोररूपं तदत्यर्थं यन्त्रं देवैः सुनिर्मितम्॥
And that fearful instrument of fearful form, as blazing as the blazing sun, was skillfully created by the celestials to cut down the robbers of the Ambrosia.
तस्यान्तरं स दृष्दैव पर्यवर्तत खेचरः। अरान्तरेणाभ्यपतत्संक्षिप्याङ्गं क्षणेन ह॥
The great bird saw a passage through it and stopped for a while. Diminishing his body within an instant, he passed through the spokes of that wheel.
अधश्चक्रस्य चैवात्र दीप्तानलसमद्युती। विद्युज्जिह्वौ महावीर्यो दीप्तास्यौ दीप्तलोचनौ॥ चक्षुर्विषौ महाघोरी नित्यं क्रुद्धौ तरस्विनी। रथार्थमेवामृतस्य ददर्श भुजगोत्तमौ॥
He beheld, within the line of the wheel, stationed there to guard the Soma, two great snakes, as blazing as the blazing fire, having tongues like lightning; power incomparable, face and eyes emitting fire, poisonous terrible, always in anger and always in activity.
सदा संरब्धनयनौ सदा चानिमिषेक्षणौ। तयोरेकोऽपि यं पश्येत् स तूर्णं भस्मसाद्भवेत्॥
Their eyes were winkless and always inflamed with anger. He who was even seen by any of the two was instantly reduced to ashes.
तयोश्चक्षूसि रजसा सुपर्णः सहसाऽऽवृणोत्। ताभ्यामदृष्टरूपोऽसौ सर्वतः समताडयत्॥
The great bird (Suparna) suddenly covered their eyes with dust and thus making them blind, he attacked them from all sides.
तयोरंङ्गे समाक्रम्य वैनतेयोऽन्तरिक्षगः। आच्छिनत्तरसा मध्ये सोममभ्यद्रवत्ततः॥
The son of Vinata, that ranger of the sky, attacking their bodies, mangled them into pieces, and he then without the least delay came to the place where the Soma was.
समुत्पाट्यामृतं तत्र वैनतेयस्ततो बली। उत्पपात जवेनैव यन्त्रमन्मथ्य वीर्यवान्॥
The mighty son of Vinata, taking up the Ambrosia from the place where it was, rose on his wings, breaking the instrument into pieces.
अपीत्वैवाऽमृतं पक्षी परिगृह्याशुनिःसृतः। आगच्छदपरिश्रान्त आवार्यार्कप्रभां ततः॥
He soon came out, but he did not drink the Ambrosia. He then proceeded on his way without the least fatigue, darkening the splendour of the sun.
विष्णुना च तदाकाशे वैनतेयः समेयिवान्। तस्य नारायणस्तुष्टस्तेनालौल्येन कर्मणा॥
The son of Vinata then saw Vishnu on his way in the sky and Narayana was pleased with him for his self-denial.
तमुवाचाऽव्ययो देवो वरदोऽस्मीति खेचरम्। स वने तव तिष्ठेयमुपरीत्यन्तरिक्षगः॥
The undeteriorating Deity said to the great bird, “I am willing to grant you a boon." Thereupon the bird said, "I want to stay above you.”
उवाच चैनं भूयोऽपि नारायणमिदं वचः। अजस्चामस्थ स्याममृतेन विनाऽप्यहम्॥
He again said to Narayana, “I want to be immortal and free from disease without drinking the Ambrosia."
एवमस्त्विति तं विष्णुरुवाच विनतासुतम्। प्रतिगृह्य वरौ तौ च गरुडो विष्णुमब्रवीत्॥
Vishnu said to the son of Vinata, “Be it so." Receiving these two boons, Garuda said to Vishnu,
भवतेऽपि वरं दद्यां वृणोतु भगवानपि। तं वव्रे वाहनं विष्णुर्गरुत्मन्तं महाबलम्॥
"I shall also grant you a boon.” Thereupon Vishnu asked the mighty carrier of great veight to become his vehicle.
ध्वजं च चक्रे भगवानुपरि स्थास्यसीति तम्। एवमस्त्विति तं देवमुक्त्वा नारायणं खगः॥
He placed the bird on the flag-staff of his car saying, “Thus shall you stay above me." And the bird said to Narayana, “Be it so,"
वव्राज तरसा वेगाद्वायुं स्पर्धन्महाजवः। तं व्रजन्तं खगश्रेष्ठं वज्रेणेन्द्रोऽभ्यताडयत्॥
Mocking the wind with fleetness, he then swiftly proceeded on his way and when the great bird was thus going away, Indra hurled at him thunder-bolt.
हरन्तममृतं रोषाद्गरुडं पक्षिणां वरम्। तमुवाचेन्द्रमाक्रन्दे गरुडः पततां वरः॥
The best of birds, Garuda, when carrying away the Ambrosia, was thus struck with the thunder-bolt; and being greatly angry, he laughingly spoke to Indra.
प्रहसन् श्लक्ष्णया वाचा तथा वज्रसमाहतः। ऋषेर्मानं करिष्यामि वज्रं यस्यास्थिसंभवम्॥
In sweet words, “I shall respect the Rishi, with whose bones the thunder-bolt is made.
वज्रस्य च करिष्यामि तवैव च शतक्रतो। एतत्पनं त्यजाम्येकं यस्यान्तं नोपलप्स्यसे॥
I shall respect the thunder-bolt and you also, O Indra, I cast a feather of mine, end of which even you will never find.
न च वज्रनिपातेन रुजा मेऽस्तीह काचन। एवमुक्त्वा ततः पत्रमुत्ससर्ज स पक्षिराट्॥
I have not felt the slightest pain being struck by your thunder-bolt.” Having said this, the king of birds threw out one of his feathers.
तदुत्सृष्टमभिप्रेक्ष्य तस्य पर्णमनुत्तमम्। हृष्टानि सर्वभूतानि नाम चक्रुर्गरुत्मतः॥ सुरूपं पत्रमालक्ष्य सुपर्णोऽयं भवत्विति। तदृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्य सहस्राक्षः पुरंदरः। खगो महदिदं भूतमिति मत्वाऽभ्यभाषत॥
Seeing that beautiful feather, cast by Garuda, all creatures became exceedingly pleased and they said, “Let this bird be called Suparna (bird with beautiful feathers)." Seeing this, the deity of thousands eyes, Purandara, was much surprised and he thought the bird must be a great being. He then addressed him thus,
शक्र उवाच बलं विज्ञातुमिच्छामि यत्ते परमनुत्तमम्। सख्यं चानन्तमिच्छामि त्वया सह खगोत्तम॥
Indra said: "O best of birds, I desire to know the limit of your strength, I also desire to form an eternal friendship with you.