01.016
Library:Churning of the Ocean using Vasuki on Akupara’s back.
सूत उवाच॥
Sūta said:
ततोऽभ्रशिखराकारैर्गिरिशृङ्गैरलङ्कृतम्। मन्दरं पर्वतवरं लताजालसमावृतम् ॥१-१६-१॥
Then, Mandara, the best of mountains, was adorned with peaks resembling the tops of clouds and was covered with a network of creepers.
नानाविहगसङ्घुष्टं नानादंष्ट्रिसमाकुलम्। किंनरैरप्सरोभिश्च देवैरपि च सेवितम् ॥१-१६-२॥
The place was resonant with the sounds of various birds and teemed with creatures having various fangs. It was attended by Kinnaras, Apsaras, and even Devas.
एकादश सहस्राणि योजनानां समुच्छ्रितम्। अधो भूमेः सहस्रेषु तावत्स्वेव प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥१-१६-३॥
It is elevated by eleven thousand yojanas and equally established below the earth in thousands.
तमुद्धर्तुं न शक्ता वै सर्वे देवगणास्तदा। विष्णुमासीनमभ्येत्य ब्रह्माणं चेदमब्रुवन् ॥१-१६-४॥
At that time, all the groups of gods were unable to lift him. They approached Vishnu, who was seated, and Brahma, and said this.
भवन्तावत्र कुरुतां बुद्धिं नैःश्रेयसीं पराम्। मन्दरोद्धरणे यत्नः क्रियतां च हिताय नः ॥१-१६-५॥
You both should make the supreme decision here. Let efforts be made to lift Mandara for our benefit.
तथेति चाब्रवीद्विष्णुर्ब्रह्मणा सह भार्गव। ततोऽनन्तः समुत्थाय ब्रह्मणा परिचोदितः ॥ नारायणेन चाप्युक्तस्तस्मिन्कर्मणि वीर्यवान् ॥१-१६-६॥
Thus, Viṣṇu, along with Brahmā, spoke to Bhārgava. Then Ananta, having risen, was urged by Brahmā and was also instructed by Nārāyaṇa in that powerful act.
अथ पर्वतराजानं तमनन्तो महाबलः। उज्जहार बलाद्ब्रह्मन्सवनं सवनौकसम् ॥१-१६-७॥
Then the mighty Ananta forcefully lifted the king of mountains, along with the sacrifice and those performing it, O Brahman.
ततस्तेन सुराः सार्धं समुद्रमुपतस्थिरे। तमूचुरमृतार्थाय निर्मथिष्यामहे जलम् ॥१-१६-८॥
Then, along with him, the gods approached the ocean and said, "We shall churn the ocean for nectar."
अपाम्पतिरथोवाच ममाप्यंशो भवेत्ततः। सोढास्मि विपुलं मर्दं मन्दरभ्रमणादिति ॥१-१६-९॥
The lord of the waters then said, "Let my share also be included; I have borne the immense pressure from the churning of Mount Mandara."
ऊचुश्च कूर्मराजानमकूपारं सुरासुराः। गिरेरधिष्ठानमस्य भवान्भवितुमर्हति ॥१-१६-१०॥
The gods and demons addressed Akūpāra, the king of turtles, saying that he is worthy of becoming the support for the mountain.
कूर्मेण तु तथेत्युक्त्वा पृष्ठमस्य समर्पितम्। तस्य शैलस्य चाग्रं वै यन्त्रेणेन्द्रोऽभ्यपीडयत् ॥१-१६-११॥
Indra, using a machine, pressed down the top of that mountain, which was placed on the back of the tortoise after saying thus.
मन्थानं मन्दरं कृत्वा तथा नेत्रं च वासुकिम्। देवा मथितुमारब्धाः समुद्रं निधिमम्भसाम् ॥ अमृतार्थिनस्ततो ब्रह्मन्सहिता दैत्यदानवाः ॥१-१६-१२॥
The gods, desiring nectar, made Mandara the churning stick and Vāsuki the rope, and began to churn the ocean, the treasure of waters, together with the demons and giants, O Brahman.
एकमन्तमुपाश्लिष्टा नागराज्ञो महासुराः। विबुधाः सहिताः सर्वे यतः पुच्छं ततः स्थिताः ॥१-१६-१३॥
At one end, embraced by the serpent king, the great demons and gods all stood together at the tail.
अनन्तो भगवान्देवो यतो नारायणस्ततः। शिर उद्यम्य नागस्य पुनः पुनरवाक्षिपत् ॥१-१६-१४॥
The endless Lord, from whom Narayana originates, raised the serpent's head and repeatedly threw it down.
वासुकेरथ नागस्य सहसाक्षिप्यतः सुरैः। सधूमाः सार्चिषो वाता निष्पेतुरसकृन्मुखात् ॥१-१६-१५॥
Then, as the gods pulled Vāsuki, the serpent, winds filled with smoke and flames repeatedly emerged from its mouth.
ते धूमसङ्घाः सम्भूता मेघसङ्घाः सविद्युतः। अभ्यवर्षन्सुरगणाञ्श्रमसन्तापकर्शितान् ॥१-१६-१६॥
The clouds, formed from smoke and accompanied by lightning, poured rain upon the groups of gods who were exhausted by fatigue and heat.
तस्माच्च गिरिकूटाग्रात्प्रच्युताः पुष्पवृष्टयः। सुरासुरगणान्माल्यैः सर्वतः समवाकिरन् ॥१-१६-१७॥
From the peak of the mountain, showers of flowers fell, scattering garlands all around on the hosts of gods and demons.
बभूवात्र महाघोषो महामेघरवोपमः। उदधेर्मथ्यमानस्य मन्दरेण सुरासुरैः ॥१-१६-१८॥
Here, a great sound arose, resembling the roar of mighty clouds, as the ocean was churned by the Mandara mountain with the help of gods and demons.
तत्र नानाजलचरा विनिष्पिष्टा महाद्रिणा। विलयं समुपाजग्मुः शतशो लवणाम्भसि ॥१-१६-१९॥
There, hundreds of various aquatic creatures were crushed by the great mountain and met their end in the salt water.
वारुणानि च भूतानि विविधानि महीधरः। पातालतलवासीनि विलयं समुपानयत् ॥१-१६-२०॥
The mountain caused the destruction of various beings of Varuna residing in the netherworld.
तस्मिंश्च भ्राम्यमाणेऽद्रौ सङ्घृष्यन्तः परस्परम्। न्यपतन्पतगोपेताः पर्वताग्रान्महाद्रुमाः ॥१-१६-२१॥
As the mountain was being whirled, the great trees, accompanied by birds, fell from the mountain peaks, rubbing against each other.
तेषां सङ्घर्षजश्चाग्निरर्चिर्भिः प्रज्वलन्मुहुः। विद्युद्भिरिव नीलाभ्रमावृणोन्मन्दरं गिरिम् ॥१-१६-२२॥
The fire generated from their friction, with its blazing flames, constantly enveloped the Mandara mountain, resembling a dark cloud with flashes of lightning.
ददाह कुञ्जरांश्चैव सिंहांश्चैव विनिःसृतान्। विगतासूनि सर्वाणि सत्त्वानि विविधानि च ॥१-१६-२३॥
He burned the elephants and lions that had emerged, along with all the various lifeless creatures.
तमग्निममरश्रेष्ठः प्रदहन्तं ततस्ततः। वारिणा मेघजेनेन्द्रः शमयामास सर्वतः ॥१-१६-२४॥
Indra, the chief of the gods, put out the fire that was burning everywhere with rainwater.
ततो नानाविधास्तत्र सुस्रुवुः सागराम्भसि। महाद्रुमाणां निर्यासा बहवश्चौषधीरसाः ॥१-१६-२५॥
Then, various kinds of exudations from great trees and many herbal juices flowed into the ocean.
तेषाममृतवीर्याणां रसानां पयसैव च। अमरत्वं सुरा जग्मुः काञ्चनस्य च निःस्रवात् ॥१-१६-२६॥
The gods attained immortality by the milk of the essences of the nectar's potency and from the flow of gold.
अथ तस्य समुद्रस्य तज्जातमुदकं पयः। रसोत्तमैर्विमिश्रं च ततः क्षीरादभूद्घृतम् ॥१-१६-२७॥
Then, from that ocean, water transformed into milk. It was mixed with the finest essences, and from that milk, ghee was produced.
ततो ब्रह्माणमासीनं देवा वरदमब्रुवन्। श्रान्ताः स्म सुभृशं ब्रह्मन्नोद्भवत्यमृतं च तत् ॥१-१६-२८॥
Then the gods, seated before Brahma, the boon-giver, expressed their fatigue, saying, "O Brahma, we are greatly exhausted, and the nectar has not yet emerged."
ऋते नारायणं देवं दैत्या नागोत्तमास्तथा। चिरारब्धमिदं चापि सागरस्यापि मन्थनम् ॥१-१६-२९॥
Without Narayana, the god, the demons, and the best of serpents, this long-initiated churning of the ocean would not have been possible.
ततो नारायणं देवं ब्रह्मा वचनमब्रवीत्। विधत्स्वैषां बलं विष्णो भवानत्र परायणम् ॥१-१६-३०॥
Then Brahma spoke to Lord Narayana, requesting him to organize the strength of the beings, acknowledging Vishnu as the ultimate refuge.
विष्णुरुवाच॥
Vishnu spoke:
बलं ददामि सर्वेषां कर्मैतद्ये समास्थिताः। क्षोभ्यतां कलशः सर्वैर्मन्दरः परिवर्त्यताम् ॥१-१६-३१॥
I grant strength to everyone involved in this task. Let the pot be stirred by everyone, and let the Mandara mountain be churned.
सूत उवाच॥
Sūta said:
नारायणवचः श्रुत्वा बलिनस्ते महोदधेः। तत्पयः सहिता भूयश्चक्रिरे भृशमाकुलम् ॥१-१६-३२॥
Upon hearing the words of Nārāyaṇa, the powerful beings of the great ocean, along with the water, once more caused great agitation.
ततः शतसहस्रांशुः समान इव सागरात्। प्रसन्नभाः समुत्पन्नः सोमः शीतांशुरुज्ज्वलः ॥१-१६-३३॥
Then, the moon, with its hundred-thousand rays, rose brightly and coolly from the ocean, clear and luminous.
श्रीरनन्तरमुत्पन्ना घृतात्पाण्डुरवासिनी। सुरा देवी समुत्पन्ना तुरगः पाण्डुरस्तथा ॥१-१६-३४॥
Afterwards, prosperity emerged from the ghee, residing in whiteness. The goddess Surā and a white horse were also born.
कौस्तुभश्च मणिर्दिव्य उत्पन्नोऽमृतसम्भवः। मरीचिविकचः श्रीमान्नारायण उरोगतः ॥१-१६-३५॥
The divine Kaustubha gem, originating from nectar, shines with rays and is placed on the glorious chest of Narayana.
श्रीः सुरा चैव सोमश्च तुरगश्च मनोजवः। यतो देवास्ततो जग्मुरादित्यपथमाश्रिताः ॥१-१६-३६॥
Prosperity, the gods, Soma, and the swift horse went to the path of the sun, where they took refuge.
धन्वन्तरिस्ततो देवो वपुष्मानुदतिष्ठत। श्वेतं कमण्डलुं बिभ्रदमृतं यत्र तिष्ठति ॥१-१६-३७॥
Then the god Dhanvantari appeared, holding a white pot containing the nectar of immortality.
एतदत्यद्भुतं दृष्ट्वा दानवानां समुत्थितः। अमृतार्थे महान्नादो ममेदमिति जल्पताम् ॥१-१६-३८॥
Upon witnessing this astonishing event, the demons rose up. In their quest for nectar, a loud clamor of 'This is mine!' echoed among them.
ततो नारायणो मायामास्थितो मोहिनीं प्रभुः। स्त्रीरूपमद्भुतं कृत्वा दानवानभिसंश्रितः ॥१-१६-३९॥
Then Lord Narayana, taking on the guise of an enchanting woman, wonderfully transformed, approached the demons.
ततस्तदमृतं तस्यै ददुस्ते मूढचेतसः। स्त्रियै दानवदैतेयाः सर्वे तद्गतमानसाः ॥१-१६-४०॥
Then, all the foolish-minded demons and Daityas, whose minds were set on it, gave that nectar to the woman.
