Mahabharata · Book 5 · Udyoga Parva
Mahabharata, Book 5, Section CIIउद्योगपर्व
Kisari Mohan Ganguli’s English prose (1883–96), beside the Sanskrit of adhyāya 5.102.
Sanskrit
इदं रसातलं नाम सप्तमं पृथिवीतलम्।
यत्रास्ते सुरभिर्माता गवाममृतसंभवा ।।
क्षरन्ती सततं क्षीरं पृथिवीसारसंभवम् ।
षण्णं रसानां सारेण रसमेकमनुत्तमम् ।।
अमृतेनाभितृप्तस्य सारमुद्गिरतः पुरा।
पितामहस्य वदनादुदतिष्ठदनिन्दिता ।।
यस्याः क्षीरस्य धाराया निपतन्त्या महीतले।
ह्रदः कृतः क्षीरनिधिः पवित्रं परमुच्यते ।।
पुष्पितस्येव फेनेन पर्यन्तमनुवेष्टितम्।
पिबन्तो निवसन्त्यत्र फेनपा मुनिसत्तमाः ।।
फेनपा नाम ते ख्याताः फेनाहाराश्च मातले।
उग्रे तपसि वर्तन्ते येषां बिभ्यति देवताः ।।
अस्याश्चतस्रो धेन्वोऽन्या दिक्षु सर्वासु मातले।
निवसन्ति दिशां पाल्यो धारयन्त्योदिशःस्म ताः ।।
पूर्वां दिशं धारयते सुरूपा नाम सौरभी ।
दक्षिणां हंसिका कनाम धारयत्यपरां दिशम्।।
पश्चिमा वारुणी दिक्च धार्यते वै सुभद्रया।
महानुभावया नित्यं मातले विश्वरूपया ।।
सर्वकामदुघा नाम धेनुर्धारयते दिशम्।
उत्तरां मातले धर्म्यां तथैलविलसंश्रिताम् ।।
आसां त पयसा मिश्रं पयो निर्मथ्य सागरे ।
मन्थानं मन्दरं कृत्वा देवैरसुरसंहितैः ।।
अद्धृता वारुणी लक्ष्मीरमृतं चापि मातले।
उच्चैःश्रवाश्चाश्वराजो मणिरत्नं च कौस्तुभम् ।।
सुधाहारेषु च सुधां स्वधाभोजिषु च स्वधाम्।
अमृतं चामृताशेषु सुरभी क्षरते पयः ।।
अत्र गाथा पुरा गीता रसातलनिवासिभिः ।
पौराणी श्रूयते लोके गीयते या मनीषिभिः ।।
न नागलोके न स्वर्गे न विमाने त्रिविष्टपे।
परिवासः सुखस्तादृक् रसातलतले यथा ।।
।। इति श्रीमन्महाभारते उद्योगपर्वणि
भगवाद्यानपर्वणि द्व्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः ।।
English Ganguli
“‘Narada said, “The region where we now are is called Rasatala and is the seventh stratum below the Earth. Here dwelleth Surabhi, the mother of all kine, she, who was born of the Amrita. She always yieldeth milk which is the essence of all the best things of the earth, and which, excellent as it is, and of one taste, springeth from the essence of the six different kinds of tastes (that are talked of). The faultless Surabhi herself sprang in days of old from the mouth of the Grandsire, gratified with drinking the Amrita and vomiting the best things. A single jet only of her milk, falling on the earth, created what is known as the sacred and the excellent ‘Milky Ocean.’ The verge of that ocean all round is always covered with white foam resembling a belt of flowers. Those best of ascetics that are known by the name of the Foam-drinkers dwell around this ocean, subsisting on that foam only. They are called Foam-drinkers because they live, O Matali, on nothing else save that foam. Engaged in the practice of the severest of austerities, the very gods are known to fear them. From her are born four other kine, O Matali, supporting the four quarters and therefore are they called the supporters of the quarters (Dikpali). Born of Surabhi herself, she who supporteth the eastern quarter is called Surupa. She, who supporteth the southern quarter is called Hansika. That illustrious cow, O Matali, of universal form, who supporteth the western quarter ruled by Varuna is known by the name of Subhadra. The northern quarter comprising the region of virtue, and called after Kuvera the Lord of treasures, is supported by the cow named Sarva-kamadugha. The gods, uniting with the Asuras, and making the Mandara mountain their pole, churned the waters of the ocean and obtained the wine called Varuni, and (the Goddess of Prosperity and Grace called) Lakshmi, and Amrita, and that prince of steeds called Uchchhaisrava, and that best of gems called Kaustubha. Those waters, O Matali, that yielded these precious things had all been mixed with the milk of these four cows. As regards Surabhi, the milk she yielded becometh Swaha unto those that live on Swaha, Swadha unto those that live on Swadha, and Amrita unto those that live on Amrita. The couplet that was sung by the dwellers of Rasatala in days of old, is still heard to be recited in the world by the persons of learning. That couplet is this,—Neither in the region of the Nagas, nor in Swarga, nor in Vimana, nor in Tripishtapa is residence so happy as in Rasatala!”’"