नारद उवाच एतत् तु नागलोकस्य नाभिस्थाने स्थितं पुरम्। पातालमिति विख्यातं दैत्यदानवसेवितम्॥
Narada said This city, situated in the very heart of the region of the Nagas, is known as Patalam, inhabited by the Daityas and Danavas.
इदमद्भिः समं प्राप्ता ये केचिद् भुवि जङ्गमाः। प्रविशन्तो महानादं नदन्ति भयपीडिताः॥
The few creatures of the earth, who are brought here by the current of the water, when entering the region give out loud shrieks being struck with fear.
अत्रासुरोऽग्निः सततं दीप्यते वारिभोजनः। व्यापारेण धृतात्मानं निबद्धं समबुध्यत॥
In these regions, the fire, called Asura fire, which is fed by water, continually blazes forth. Held in great respect, it regards itself as confined (by the gods).
अत्रामृतं सुरैः पीत्वा निहितं निहतारिभिः। अतः सोमस्य हानिश्च वृद्धिश्चैव प्रदृश्यते॥
Here the gods, who had slain their enemies, having drunk the nectar kept the residue there. It is from here proceed the growth and decline of the moon, which we see.
अत्रादित्यो हयशिराः काले पर्वणि पर्वणि। उत्तिष्ठति सुवर्णाख्यो वाग्भिरापूरयञ्जगत्॥
Here the son of Aditi, with his head like that of the horse, on every festive occasion, rises up, making the world, called Suvarna, filled with the sound of Vedic hymns and mantras.
यस्मादलं समस्तास्ताः पतन्ति जलमूर्तयः। तस्मात् पातालमित्येव ख्यायते पुरमुत्तमम्॥
Since all those objects, having the form of water, fall on it; therefore is this excellent region known by the name of Patalam.
ऐरावणोऽस्मात् सलिलं गृहीत्वा जगतो हितः। मेघेष्वामुञ्चते शीतं यन्महेन्द्रः प्रवर्षति॥
Airavata, taking up cold water from here for the good of the world, gives them to the clouds and the great Indra showers this water as rain.
अत्र नानाविधाकारास्तिमयो नैकरूपिणः। अप्सु सोमप्रभां पीत्वा वसन्ति जलचारिणः॥
Here aquatic animals of many species and shapes and fishes of different sorts, such as Timi and others, live, subsisting on a drink from the water which is like the beams of the moon.
अत्र सूर्यांशुभिर्भिन्नाः पातालतलमाश्रिताः। मृता हि दिवसे सूत पुनर्जीवन्ति वै निशि॥
Some beings, living in this nether world, the Patalam, pierced by the rays of the sun, are dead in the day time, O Suta and are revived again at night.
उदयन् नित्यशश्चात्र चन्द्रमा रश्मिबाहुभिः। अमृतं स्पृश्य संस्पर्शात् संजीवयति देहिनः॥
For the moon, rising in these regions every night, by her beams which are her arms as it were, brings nectar in contact with them; and from that are the creatures revived.
अन्ने तेऽधर्मनिरता बद्धाः कालेन पीडिताः। दैतेया निवसन्ति स्म वासवेन हतश्रियः॥
Here are iroprisoned these wicked and unrighteous sons of Diti afflicted with misfortune. They live here being dispossessed of their prosperity by Vasava.
अत्र भूतपतिर्नाम सर्वभूतमहेश्वरः। भूतये सर्वभूतानामचरत् तप उत्तमम्॥
Here the great Lord of all creatures, by name Bhutpati, practiced austere asceticism for the good of all creatures.
अत्र गोवतिनो विप्राः स्वाध्यायम्नायकर्शिताः। त्यक्तप्राण जितस्वर्गा निवसन्ति महर्षयः॥
Here live the great Rishis those Brahmanas attached to the vow, called go, who have been emaciated with the recitation of the Vedas and who abandoning the pleasures of this life have secured heaven.
यत्रतत्रशयो नित्यं येन केनचिदाशितः। पेन केनचिदाच्छन्नः स गोव्रत इहोच्यते॥
He, who ever sleeps at any place he likes, who lives on with what others place before him, is safe to be attached to the Go vows in this world.
ऐरावणो नागराजो वामनः कुमुदोञ्जनः। प्रसूताः सुप्रतीकस्य वंशे वारणसत्तमाः॥
Here in the race of Supratika are born those best among elephants, namely Airavana, the king among elephants, Kumuda, Vamana and Arjuna.
पश्य यद्यत्र ते कश्चिद् रोचते गुणतो वरः। वरयिष्यामि तं गत्वा यत्नमास्थाय मातले॥
See if in these regions there is any bridegroom who pleases you by his accomplishments. If so, I shall, after respectfully going to him, solicit him to accept your daughter, O Matali.
अण्डमेतज्जले न्यस्तं दीप्यमानमिव श्रिया। आ प्रजानां निसर्गाद् नै नोद्भिद्यति न सर्पति॥
This one, placed here in these waters, is an egg, which is shining as it were with beauty. From the very creation of this universe it is here; and it neither moves away, nor is hatched.
नास्य जाति निसर्ग वा कथ्यमानं शृणोमि वै। पितरं मातर चापि नास्य जानाति कश्चन॥
I have never heard of its species or birth spoken of. No body knows any one as its father or mother.
अतः किल महानग्निरन्तकाले समुत्थितः। धक्ष्यते मातले सर्वं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम्॥
From this, at the time of the dissolution of the universe, springs up a fire, which consumes, O Matali, the three entire worlds with all their mobile and immobile creatures.
मातलिस्त्वब्रवीच्छ्रुत्वा नारदस्याथ भाषितम्। न मेऽत्र रोचते कश्चिदन्यतो व्रज माचिरम्॥
Matali too having heard what Narada said, answered-“None in these regions pleases me. Let me go elsewhere without delay.”