सुपर्ण उवाच अनुशिष्टोऽस्मि देवेन गालवाज्ञानयोनिना। ब्रूहि कामं तु कां यामि द्रष्टुं प्रथमतो दिशम्॥
Suparna said I have been instructed by the god who is the source of all knowledge (to take you where you wish to be taken); tell me-which direction shall I first go, to show you.
पूर्वां वा दक्षिणां वाऽहमथवा पश्चिमां दिशम्। उत्तरां वा द्विजश्रेष्ठं कुतो गच्छामि गालव॥
The east or the south or the western point or the northern, O you foremost among the twice-born, where shall I go, OGalava.
यस्यामुदयते पूर्वं सर्वलोकप्रभावनः। सविता यत्र संध्यायां साध्यानां वर्तते तपः॥ यस्यां पूर्वं मतिर्याता यया व्याप्तमिदं जगत्। चक्षुषी यत्र धर्मस्य यत्र चैध सुतिष्ठितेः॥ कृतं यतो हुतं हव्यं सर्पते सर्वतोदिशम्। एतद् द्वारं द्विजश्रेष्ठ दिवसस्य तथाध्वनः॥
Where the sun which lights all the worlds first rises and where in the evening the Saddhya practice asceticism, where was first born the intelligence, by which is pervaded this earth and where the two eyes of Dharma are set in order to guide the universe, in which point offers of clarified butter were first made which afterwards flowed in all directions; this, 0 foremost among the twice-born is the gate of day and time.
अत्र पूर्वं प्रसूता वै दाक्षायण्यः प्रजाः स्त्रियः। यस्यां दिशि प्रवृद्धाश्च कश्यपस्यात्मसम्भवाः॥
Here in days of old the female children of Daksha brought forth their children-the direction in which those born of Kashyapa grew up.
अदोमूला सुराणां श्रीयंत्र शक्रोऽभ्यषिच्यत। सुरराज्येन विप्रर्षे देवैश्चात्र तपश्चितम्॥
Here is the source of the prosperity of the gods, where Shakra was appointed in the kingship of the immortals, where even the gods, O regenerate Rishi, practiced asceticism.
एतस्मात् कारणाद् ब्रह्मन् पूर्वेत्येषा दिगुच्यते। यस्मात् पूर्वतरे काले पूर्वमेवावृता सुरैः॥ अत एव च सर्वेषां पूर्वामाशां प्रचक्षते। पूर्वं सर्वाणि कार्याणि दैवानि सुखमीप्सता॥
For this, O Brahmana, this direction is called east (Poorvi) for in the days of yore it was over-spread by the gods. Therefore it is said to be in the possession of the oldest inhabitants; in the east, were done all the acts by the gods who were desirous of obtaining happiness.
अत्र वेदाञ्जगौ पूर्वं भगवाँल्लोकभावनः। अत्रैवोक्ता सवित्राऽऽसीत् सावित्री ब्रह्मवादिषु॥
Here were the Vedas chanted first by the prosperous Being, the Creator of the universe; in this direction out of the mouth of the sun is said to be born the goddess Savitri among the chanters of the Vedas.
अत्र दत्तानि सूर्येण यजूंषि द्विजसत्तम। अत्र लब्धवरः सोमः सुरैः क्रतुषु पीयते॥
Here were given Surya the hymn of the Yajurveda, O best among the twice-born and here was drunk the Soma juice, previously sacrificial ceremonies.
अत्र तृप्ता हुतवहाः स्वां योनिमुपभुञ्जते। अत्र पातालमाश्रित्य वरुण: श्रियमाप च॥
Here were sacrificial fires gratified by offerings of objects of the same origin and class (milk and clarified butter) and here did Varuna attain to his prosperity resorting to the region of the Patala.
अत्र पूर्वं वसिष्ठस्य पौराणस्य द्विजर्षभ। सूतिश्चैव प्रतिष्ठा च निधनं च प्रकाशते॥
Here, in days of old, O best among the twice born, took place the birth, attainment to fame and death of the ancient Rishi Vasishtha.
ओङ्कारस्यात्र जायन्ते सुतयो दशतीर्दश। पिबन्ति मुनयो यत्र हविधूमं स्म धूमपाः॥
Here was first created the On (the magical beginning of every Mantra) in all its ten times ten branches; and here did the smoke-eating ascetics eat the smoke issuing from sacrificial fire.
प्रोक्षिता यत्र बहवो वराहाद्या मृगा वने। शक्रेण यज्ञभागार्थं दैवतेषु प्रकल्पिताः॥
Here were massacred many boars and Other animals by Shakra to be used as offerings for sacrificial ceremonies dedicated to the gods.
अत्राहिताः कृतघ्नाश्च मानुषाश्चासुराश्च ये। उदयंस्तान् हि सर्वान् वै क्रोधाद्धन्ति विभावसुः॥
Here does the sun rise and slay in his rage all ungrateful men and Asuras.
एतद् द्वारं त्रिलोकस्य स्वर्गस्य च सुखस्य च। एष पूर्वो दिशां भागो विशावोऽत्र यदीच्छसि॥
This is the gate of the three worlds and of heaven and happiness; this direction is the eastern quarter and we shall enter it if you like.
प्रियं कार्यं हि मे तस्य यस्यास्मि वचने स्थितः। ब्रूहि गालव यास्यामि शृणु चाप्यपरां दिशम्॥
My duty is to do what you wish, for I am ready to carry out your orders; speaks, O Galava and I shall go; listen to me about another cardinal point.