ASTIKA PARVA: Chapter 26

Story of Garuda

सौतिरुवाच एवं स्तुतस्तदा कव्वा भगवान्हरिवाहनः। नीलजीमूतसंघातैः सर्वमम्बरमावृणोत्॥
Sauti said: Having been thus adored by Kadru, the God, having the best horses to ride, covered all the sky with blue clouds.

मेघानाज्ञापयामास वर्षध्वममृतं शुभम्। ते मेघामुमुचुस्तोयं प्रभूतं विधुदुज्ज्वलाः॥
He commanded the clouds saying. “Pour down your life-giving and beneficial showers." Those clouds, luminous with lightning, then poured abundant water.

परस्परमिवात्यर्थं गर्जन्तः सततं दिवि। संवर्तितमिवाकाशं जलदैः सुमहाद्भुतैः॥ सृजद्भिरतुलं तोयमजस्रं सुमहारवैः। संप्रनृत्तमिवाकाशं धारोमिभिरनेकशः॥
On account of the wonderful and terribly roaring clouds, that incessantly begot water, the sky looked as if the end of the Yuga had come. And in consequence of myriads of waves, caused in the falling torrents, of the deep roars of the clouds, the flashing of lightnings, the violence of the wind and the general agitation, the sky looked, as if it was dancing in madness.

मेघस्तनितनिर्घोषैर्विद्युत्पवनकम्पितैः। तैर्मेधैः सततासारं वर्षद्भिरनिशं तदा॥ नष्टचन्द्रार्ककिरणमम्बरं समपद्यत। नागानामुत्तमो हर्षस्तथा वर्षति वासवे॥
The sky thus became dark, the rays of the sun and the moon disappeared on account of the incessant downpour. And upon Indra's causing this downpour, the Nagas became exceedingly delighted.

आपूर्यत मही चापि सलिलेन समन्ततः। रसातलमनुप्राप्तं शीतलं विमलं जलम्॥
The world became full of water; the cool and clear water reached even the nether regions.

तदा भूरभवच्छन्ना जलोर्मिभिरनेकशः। रामणीयकमागच्छन्मात्रा सह भुजंगमाः॥
When there became countless watery waves, the snakes with their mother reached the island called Ramaniyaka.