ततस्तद् दारुणं कर्म दुष्करं सहसा कृतम्। आचचक्षे मुनेः सर्वं सूर्यानुगमनं तथा॥
Thereat Sampāti related to the ascetic all about his fearful, arduous, and rash act of following up the sun.
भगवन् व्रणयुक्तत्वाल्लज्जया चाकुलेन्द्रियः। परिश्रान्तो न शक्नोमि वचनं परिभाषितुम्॥
O reverend sire, in consequence of my body suffering from sores, I, my senses bewildered from shame, and myself fatigued, cannot utter words.
अहं चैव जटायुश्च संघर्षाद् गर्वमोहितौ। आकाशं पतितौ दूराज्जिज्ञासन्तौ पराक्रमम्॥ कैलासशिखरे बद्ध्वा मुनीनामग्रतः पणम्। रविः स्यादनुयातव्यो यावदस्तं महागिरिम्॥
From pride for power of flight, I and Jatayu, being intoxicated by conceit, began to voyage the sky afar off, with the view of testing each other's prowess, binding ourselves by the vow that we would follow the Sun so long as he did not enter that mighty Setting mountain,-and appear before the ascetics on the summit of Kailāsa.
अप्यावां युगपत् प्राप्तावपश्याव महीतले। रथचक्रप्रमाणानि नगराणि पृथक् पृथक् ॥ क्वचिद् वादित्रघोषश्च क्वचिद् भूषणनिःस्वनः। गायन्ती: स्माङ्गना बह्वीः पश्यावो रक्तवाससः॥
And simultaneously plunging into the serial deep) we saw on the earth beneath separate cities resembling car-wheels; and here the sound of musical instruments, and there the tinklings of ornaments. And (at places) we beheld many a damsel clad in red attire, engaged in singing.
तूर्णमुत्पत्य चाकाशमादित्यपतमास्थितौ। आवामालोकयावस्तद् वनं शाद्वलसंस्थितम्॥
And swiftly darting up into the sky and approaching the path of the Sun, we saw a wood interspersed with swards.
उपलैरिव संछन्ना दृश्यते भूः शिलोच्चयैः। आपगाभिश्च संवीता सूत्रैरिव वसुंधरा॥
We saw the earth covered with crags and masses of rocks, and intersected by streams resembling threads.
हिमवांश्चैव विन्ध्यश्च मेरुश्च सुमहागिरिः। भूतले सम्प्रकाशन्ते नागा इव जलाशये॥ तीव्रः स्वेदश्च खेदश्च भयं चासीत् तदावयोः। समाविशत मोहश्च ततो मूर्छा च दारुणा॥
Himavān, and Vindhya, and that mighty mountain, Meru, appeared on the earth like elephants in a tank. Then we began to sweat, and to be filled with regret; and fear seized us both. And we became bewildered; and fainted away frightfully.* *Consequent on Jațāyu having dropped down.
न च दिग्ज्ञायते याम्या न चाग्नेयी न वारुणी। युगान्ते नियतो लोको हतो दग्ध इवाग्निना ॥
We knew not the south, or the west, or the quarter presided over by Fire;' and the world that was still burning at the end of a Yuga, appeared (to us) as if it had been consumed quite.? 1. South-east. 2. The passage is obscure. This is however, all the explanation that the commentator has to give.
मनश्च मे हतं भूयश्चक्षुः प्राप्य तु संश्रयम्। यत्नेन महता ह्यस्मिन् मनः संधाय चक्षुषी॥ यत्नेन महता भूयो भास्करः प्रतिलोकितः। तुल्यपृथ्वीप्रमाणेन भास्करः प्रतिभाति नौ॥
My mind, combined with my eyes waxed feebler. And then fixing with might and main my eyes as well as my mind (on the sun), I could by a violent exercise of my energy behold the sun. And the sun shining, appeared to us like the earth in extent.
जटायुर्मामनापृच्छ्य निपपात महीं ततः। तं दृष्ट्वा तूर्णमाकाशादात्मानं मुक्तवानहम्॥ पक्षाभ्यां च मया गुप्तो जटायुर्न प्रदह्यत। प्रमादात् तत्र निर्दग्धः पतन् वायुपथादहम्॥ आशङ्के तं निपतितं जनस्थाने जटायुषम्। अहं तु पतितो विन्ध्ये दग्धपक्षो जडीकृतः॥
Then, without asking me Jațāyu dropped to the earth. Seeing him, I at once descended form the sky and Jațāyu and not burnt in consequence of having been shielded by my wings. And scathed through the agitation* I fell through the serial way. I guessed that Jațāyu fell in Janasthāna. And I myself, my wings blasted, and rendered inert, fell on Vindhya. *Rāmanuya comments: the confusion seized them as the sun was midway. They lost all ense of direction. The faint succeeded.
राज्याच्च हीनो भ्रात्रा च पक्षाभ्यां विक्रमेण च। सर्वथा मर्तुमेवेच्छन् पतिष्ये शिखराद् गिरेः॥
Deprived of my kingdom, and my brother, and my wings, and my prowess, I wishing to put a period to my existence, will hurl myself headlong from this summit of the mountain.