The Demigods and Demons Declare a Truce

Verse 1 (bhagavata.8.6.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच एवं स्तुतः सुरगणैर्भगवान् हरिरीश्वरः । तेषामाविरभूद् राजन्सहस्रार्कोदयद्युतिः ॥ 6.1 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca evaṁ stutaḥ sura-gaṇair bhagavān harir īśvaraḥ teṣām āvirabhūd rājan sahasrārkodaya-dyutiḥ

Sri Shukadeva said: O king, thus praised by the assembled gods, Bhagavan Hari, the Lord, appeared before them, blazing with a radiance like a thousand suns risen at once.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.8.6.2)

तेनैव सहसा सर्वे देवाः प्रतिहतेक्षणाः । नापश्यन् खं दिशः क्षौणी- मात्मानं च कुतो विभुम् ॥ 6.2 ॥

tenaiva sahasā sarve devāḥ pratihatekṣaṇāḥ nāpaśyan khaṁ diśaḥ kṣauṇīm ātmānaṁ ca kuto vibhum

By that very radiance the sight of all the gods was instantly overwhelmed; they could see neither the sky, nor the directions, nor the earth, nor even themselves — how then could they see that almighty Lord before them?

Verse 3 (bhagavata.8.6.3)

विरिञ्चो भगवान्दृष्ट्वा सह शर्वेण तां तनुम् । स्वच्छां मरकतश्यामां कञ्जगर्भारुणेक्षणाम् ॥ 6.3 ॥

viriñco bhagavān dṛṣṭvā saha śarveṇa tāṁ tanum svacchāṁ marakata-śyāmāṁ kañja-garbhāruṇekṣaṇām

Then Brahma, together with Shiva, beheld that radiant form — clear and dark like an emerald, with eyes red as the heart of a lotus.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.8.6.4)

तप्तहेमावदातेन लसत्कौशेयवाससा । प्रसन्नचारुसर्वाङ्गीं सुमुखीं सुन्दरभ्रुवम् ॥ 6.4 ॥

tapta-hemāvadātena lasat-kauśeya-vāsasā prasanna-cāru-sarvāṅgīṁ sumukhīṁ sundara-bhruvam

They beheld Him clad in shining silk radiant as molten gold, every limb gracious and lovely, His face beautiful and His brows finely arched.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.8.6.5)

महामणिकिरीटेन केयूराभ्यां च भूषिताम् । कर्णाभरणनिर्भातकपोलश्रीमुखाम्बुजाम् ॥ 6.5 ॥

mahā-maṇi-kirīṭena keyūrābhyāṁ ca bhūṣitām karṇābharaṇa-nirbhāta- kapola-śrī-mukhāmbujām

They beheld Him adorned with a crown set with great jewels and with armlets, His cheeks bright with the gleam of His earrings, His lotus face altogether resplendent.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.8.6.6)

काञ्चीकलापवलयहारनूपुरशोभिताम् । कौस्तुभाभरणां लक्ष्मीं बिभ्रतीं वनमालिनीम् ॥ 6.6 ॥

kāñcīkalāpa-valaya- hāra-nūpura-śobhitām kaustubhābharaṇāṁ lakṣmīṁ bibhratīṁ vana-mālinīm

They beheld Him resplendent with girdle, bracelets, necklace and anklets, adorned with the Kaustubha gem, bearing the goddess Lakshmi, and garlanded with forest flowers.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.8.6.7)

सुदर्शनादिभिः स्वास्त्रैर्मूर्तिमद्भिरुपासिताम् । तुष्टाव देवप्रवरः सशर्वः पुरुषं परम् । सर्वामरगणैः साकं सर्वाङ्गैरवनिं गतैः ॥ 6.7 ॥

sudarśanādibhiḥ svāstrair mūrtimadbhir upāsitām tuṣṭāva deva-pravaraḥ saśarvaḥ puruṣaṁ param sarvāmara-gaṇaiḥ sākaṁ sarvāṅgair avaniṁ gataiḥ

That Supreme Person, attended by His own weapons — the discus Sudarshana and the rest — present there in bodily form, Brahma, together with Shiva and the whole host of gods, praised, prostrating themselves fully upon the ground.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.8.6.8)

श्रीब्रह्मोवाच अजातजन्मस्थितिसंयमाया- गुणाय निर्वाणसुखार्णवाय । अणोरणिम्नेऽपरिगण्यधाम्ने महानुभावाय नमो नमस्ते ॥ 6.8 ॥

śrī-brahmovāca ajāta-janma-sthiti-saṁyamāyā- guṇāya nirvāṇa-sukhārṇavāya aṇor aṇimne ’parigaṇya-dhāmne mahānubhāvāya namo namas te

Brahma said: Obeisance, obeisance to You again and again — unborn Yourself, yet the very cause of birth, preservation and dissolution; the substance of every good quality, the ocean of the bliss of liberation, subtler than the subtlest atom, of immeasurable radiance and boundless majesty.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.8.6.9)

रूपं तवैतत् पुरुषर्षभेज्यं श्रेयोऽर्थिभिर्वैदिकतान्त्रिकेण । योगेन धातः सह नस्त्रिलोकान् पश्याम्यमुष्मिन्नु ह विश्वमूर्तौ ॥ 6.9 ॥

rūpaṁ tavaitat puruṣarṣabhejyaṁ śreyo ’rthibhir vaidika-tāntrikeṇa yogena dhātaḥ saha nas tri-lokān paśyāmy amuṣminn u ha viśva-mūrtau

O best of persons, this form of Yours is worshipped by those who seek their highest good, through the discipline of the Vedas and the Tantras; O Ordainer, in this very universal form we now behold, together with You, all three worlds.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.8.6.10)

त्वय्यग्र आसीत् त्वयि मध्य आसीत् त्वय्यन्त आसीदिदमात्मतन्त्रे । त्वमादिरन्तो जगतोऽस्य मध्यं घटस्य मृत्स्नेव परः परस्मात् ॥ 6.10 ॥

tvayy agra āsīt tvayi madhya āsīt tvayy anta āsīd idam ātma-tantre tvam ādir anto jagato ’sya madhyaṁ ghaṭasya mṛtsneva paraḥ parasmāt

O self-dependent Lord, in You this universe existed at the beginning, in You it now exists, and in You it shall exist at the end; as clay is the very substance of a pot, so are You the beginning, middle and end of this world, supreme beyond even the supreme.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.8.6.11)

त्वं माययात्माश्रयया स्वयेदं निर्माय विश्वं तदनुप्रविष्टः । पश्यन्ति युक्ता मनसा मनीषिणो गुणव्यवायेऽप्यगुणं विपश्चितः ॥ 6.11 ॥

tvaṁ māyayātmāśrayayā svayedaṁ nirmāya viśvaṁ tad-anupraviṣṭaḥ paśyanti yuktā manasā manīṣiṇo guṇa-vyavāye ’py aguṇaṁ vipaścitaḥ

Having fashioned this universe through Your own maya, which rests in You alone, You then entered into it; the wise, disciplined and composed in mind, perceive that even amid the workings of the gunas You remain forever untouched by them.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.8.6.12)

यथाग्निमेधस्यमृतं च गोषु भुव्यन्नमम्बूद्यमने च वृत्तिम् । योगैर्मनुष्या अधियन्ति हि त्वां गुणेषु बुद्ध्या कवयो वदन्ति ॥ 6.12 ॥

yathāgnim edhasy amṛtaṁ ca goṣu bhuvy annam ambūdyamane ca vṛttim yogair manuṣyā adhiyanti hi tvāṁ guṇeṣu buddhyā kavayo vadanti

As fire lies hidden in wood, nectar-like milk in cows, food and water within the earth, and livelihood in honest effort, so do men attain You through the practice of yoga — this the wise, discerning through the workings of the gunas, declare.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.8.6.13)

तं त्वां वयं नाथ समुज्जिहानं सरोजनाभातिचिरेप्सितार्थम् । दृष्ट्वा गता निर्वृतमद्य सर्वे गजा दवार्ता इव गाङ्गमम्भः ॥ 6.13 ॥

taṁ tvāṁ vayaṁ nātha samujjihānaṁ saroja-nābhāticirepsitārtham dṛṣṭvā gatā nirvṛtam adya sarve gajā davārtā iva gāṅgam ambhaḥ

O Lord, O lotus-naveled one, beholding You thus risen before us — the goal we have longed for so long — we are all this day as filled with joy as elephants scorched by a forest fire on reaching the waters of the Ganga.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.8.6.14)

स त्वं विधत्स्वाखिललोकपाला वयं यदर्थास्तव पादमूलम् । समागतास्ते बहिरन्तरात्मन् किं वान्यविज्ञाप्यमशेषसाक्षिणः ॥ 6.14 ॥

sa tvaṁ vidhatsvākhila-loka-pālā vayaṁ yad arthās tava pāda-mūlam samāgatās te bahir-antar-ātman kiṁ vānya-vijñāpyam aśeṣa-sākṣiṇaḥ

Ordain, then, as You will — for it is with this very purpose that we, the guardians of all the worlds, have come to the base of Your feet; O Self within and without, what more is there to tell You, the witness of all things?

Verse 15 (bhagavata.8.6.15)

अहं गिरित्रश्च सुरादयो ये दक्षादयोऽग्नेरिव केतवस्ते । किं वा विदामेश पृथग्विभाता विधत्स्व शं नो द्विजदेवमन्त्रम् ॥ 6.15 ॥

ahaṁ giritraś ca surādayo ye dakṣādayo ’gner iva ketavas te kiṁ vā vidāmeśa pṛthag-vibhātā vidhatsva śaṁ no dvija-deva-mantram

I myself, Shiva, and the other gods headed by Daksha are but sparks flung forth from You as from a fire; O Lord, what indeed can we, appearing thus as separate beings, ever come to know? Grant us the counsel that will bring good fortune to brahmins and gods alike.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.8.6.16)

श्रीशुक उवाच एवं विरिञ्चादिभिरीडितस्तद् विज्ञाय तेषां हृदयं यथैव । जगाद जीमूतगभीरया गिरा बद्धाञ्जलीन्संवृतसर्वकारकान् ॥ 6.16 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca evaṁ viriñcādibhir īḍitas tad vijñāya teṣāṁ hṛdayaṁ yathaiva jagāda jīmūta-gabhīrayā girā baddhāñjalīn saṁvṛta-sarva-kārakān

Sri Shukadeva said: Thus praised by Brahma and the others, and knowing their hearts exactly as they were, the Lord spoke, in a voice deep as thunderclouds, to those gods who stood before Him with folded hands, every sense held in perfect attention.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.8.6.17)

एक एवेश्वरस्तस्मिन्सुरकार्ये सुरेश्वरः । विहर्तुकामस्तानाह समुद्रोन्मथनादिभिः ॥ 6.17 ॥

eka eveśvaras tasmin sura-kārye sureśvaraḥ vihartu-kāmas tān āha samudronmathanādibhiḥ

Though fully capable of accomplishing that task of the gods by Himself alone, the Lord of the gods, desiring the sport of it, spoke to them of the churning of the ocean and all that would follow.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.8.6.18)

श्रीभगवानुवाच हन्त ब्रह्मन्नहो शम्भो हे देवा मम भाषितम् । शृणुतावहिताः सर्वे श्रेयो वः स्याद् यथा सुराः ॥ 6.18 ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca hanta brahmann aho śambho he devā mama bhāṣitam śṛṇutāvahitāḥ sarve śreyo vaḥ syād yathā surāḥ

Bhagavan said: Now then, O Brahma, O Shambhu, O gods, listen all of you attentively to what I say, so that your own good fortune may be secured.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.8.6.19)

यात दानवदैतेयैस्तावत् सन्धिर्विधीयताम् । कालेनानुगृहीतैस्तैर्यावद् वो भव आत्मनः ॥ 6.19 ॥

yāta dānava-daiteyais tāvat sandhir vidhīyatām kālenānugṛhītais tair yāvad vo bhava ātmanaḥ

Go, and for as long as your own strength has not grown, make a truce with the Danavas and Daityas, who are for now favored by time.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.8.6.20)

अरयोऽपि हि सन्धेयाः सति कार्यार्थगौरवे । अहिमूषिकवद् देवा ह्यर्थस्य पदवीं गतैः ॥ 6.20 ॥

arayo ’pi hi sandheyāḥ sati kāryārtha-gaurave ahi-mūṣikavad devā hy arthasya padavīṁ gataiḥ

O gods, when some weighty purpose is to be achieved, a truce should be made even with one's enemies, just as the snake and the mouse cooperate with one another out of common need.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.8.6.21)

अमृतोत्पादने यत्नः क्रियतामविलम्बितम् । यस्य पीतस्य वै जन्तुर्मृत्युग्रस्तोऽमरो भवेत् ॥ 6.21 ॥

amṛtotpādane yatnaḥ kriyatām avilambitam yasya pītasya vai jantur mṛtyu-grasto ’maro bhavet

Make effort without delay to produce the nectar of immortality, by drinking which even a creature already seized by death becomes deathless.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.8.6.22)

क्षिप्त्वा क्षीरोदधौ सर्वा वीरुत्तृणलतौषधीः । मन्थानं मन्दरं कृत्वा नेत्रं कृत्वा तु वासुकिम् ॥ 6.22 ॥

kṣiptvā kṣīrodadhau sarvā vīrut-tṛṇa-latauṣadhīḥ manthānaṁ mandaraṁ kṛtvā netraṁ kṛtvā tu vāsukim

Cast into the Ocean of Milk every herb, grass and creeper, and, taking Mount Mandara as the churning-rod and Vasuki as the cord.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.8.6.23)

सहायेन मया देवा निर्मन्थध्वमतन्द्रिताः । क्लेशभाजो भविष्यन्ति दैत्या यूयं फलग्रहाः ॥ 6.23 ॥

sahāyena mayā devā nirmanthadhvam atandritāḥ kleśa-bhājo bhaviṣyanti daityā yūyaṁ phala-grahāḥ

O gods, with Me as your helper, churn on without tiring; the toil of it shall fall to the Daityas, while the fruit of it shall be yours.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.8.6.24)

यूयं तदनुमोदध्वं यदिच्छन्त्यसुराः सुराः । न संरम्भेण सिध्यन्ति सर्वार्थाः सान्त्वया यथा ॥ 6.24 ॥

yūyaṁ tad anumodadhvaṁ yad icchanty asurāḥ surāḥ na saṁrambheṇa sidhyanti sarvārthāḥ sāntvayā yathā

O gods, agree readily to whatever the demons may ask; for no purpose is ever achieved through anger as it is achieved through conciliation.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.8.6.25)

न भेतव्यं कालकूटाद् विषाज्जलधिसम्भवात् । लोभः कार्यो न वो जातु रोषः कामस्तु वस्तुषु ॥ 6.25 ॥

na bhetavyaṁ kālakūṭād viṣāj jaladhi-sambhavāt lobhaḥ kāryo na vo jātu roṣaḥ kāmas tu vastuṣu

Do not be afraid of the Kalakuta poison that shall rise from the ocean; and whatever things emerge from it, let no greed, anger or desire ever take hold of you over them.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.8.6.26)

श्रीशुक उवाच इति देवान्समादिश्य भगवान् पुरुषोत्तमः । तेषामन्तर्दधे राजन्स्वच्छन्दगतिरीश्वरः ॥ 6.26 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca iti devān samādiśya bhagavān puruṣottamaḥ teṣām antardadhe rājan svacchanda-gatir īśvaraḥ

Sri Shukadeva said: O king, having thus instructed the gods, Bhagavan Purushottama, the Lord who moves entirely as He wills, vanished from their sight.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.8.6.27)

अथ तस्मै भगवते नमस्कृत्य पितामहः । भवश्च जग्मतुः स्वं स्वं धामोपेयुर्बलिं सुराः ॥ 6.27 ॥

atha tasmai bhagavate namaskṛtya pitāmahaḥ bhavaś ca jagmatuḥ svaṁ svaṁ dhāmopeyur baliṁ surāḥ

Then the grandsire Brahma and Shiva, having bowed to that Lord, departed each to his own abode; and the gods went to seek out Bali.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.8.6.28)

दृष्ट्वारीनप्यसंयत्ताञ्जातक्षोभान्स्वनायकान् । न्यषेधद् दैत्यराट् श्लोक्यः सन्धिविग्रहकालवित् ॥ 6.28 ॥

dṛṣṭvārīn apy asaṁyattāñ jāta-kṣobhān sva-nāyakān nyaṣedhad daitya-rāṭ ślokyaḥ sandhi-vigraha-kālavit

Seeing his own commanders roused to attack even the unarmed foe, the celebrated Daitya king Bali, who well knew the proper time for peace and for war, restrained them.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.8.6.29)

ते वैरोचनिमासीनं गुप्तं चासुरयूथपैः । श्रिया परमया जुष्टं जिताशेषमुपागमन् ॥ 6.29 ॥

te vairocanim āsīnaṁ guptaṁ cāsura-yūtha-paiḥ śriyā paramayā juṣṭaṁ jitāśeṣam upāgaman

The gods then approached Vairochani, seated there guarded by the commanders of the demons, resplendent in the greatest of glory, and victorious over all.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.8.6.30)

महेन्द्रः श्लक्ष्णया वाचा सान्त्वयित्वा महामतिः । अभ्यभाषत तत् सर्वं शिक्षितं पुरुषोत्तमात् ॥ 6.30 ॥

mahendraḥ ślakṣṇayā vācā sāntvayitvā mahā-matiḥ abhyabhāṣata tat sarvaṁ śikṣitaṁ puruṣottamāt

Great Indra, of profound intelligence, having conciliated him with gentle words, related to him all that he had been taught by Purushottama.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.8.6.31)

तत्त्वरोचत दैत्यस्य तत्रान्ये येऽसुराधिपाः । शम्बरोऽरिष्टनेमिश्च ये च त्रिपुरवासिनः ॥ 6.31 ॥

tat tv arocata daityasya tatrānye ye ’surādhipāḥ śambaro ’riṣṭanemiś ca ye ca tripura-vāsinaḥ

This proposal found favor with the Daitya king, and with the other lords of the demons present there — Shambara, Arishtanemi, and the dwellers of Tripura.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.8.6.32)

ततो देवासुराः कृत्वा संविदं कृतसौहृदाः । उद्यमं परमं चक्रुरमृतार्थे परन्तप ॥ 6.32 ॥

tato devāsurāḥ kṛtvā saṁvidaṁ kṛta-sauhṛdāḥ udyamaṁ paramaṁ cakrur amṛtārthe parantapa

O scourge of foes, thereafter the gods and demons, having sealed a pact and become friends, set themselves to a great undertaking for the sake of the nectar.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.8.6.33)

ततस्ते मन्दरगिरिमोजसोत्पाट्य दुर्मदाः । नदन्त उदधिं निन्युः शक्ताः परिघबाहवः ॥ 6.33 ॥

tatas te mandara-girim ojasotpāṭya durmadāḥ nadanta udadhiṁ ninyuḥ śaktāḥ parigha-bāhavaḥ

Then those mighty gods and demons, their arms like iron clubs, flushed with strength, tore up Mount Mandara by force and carried it, roaring, toward the ocean.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.8.6.34)

दूरभारोद्वहश्रान्ताः शक्रवैरोचनादयः । अपारयन्तस्तं वोढुं विवशा विजहुः पथि ॥ 6.34 ॥

dūra-bhārodvaha-śrāntāḥ śakra-vairocanādayaḥ apārayantas taṁ voḍhuṁ vivaśā vijahuḥ pathi

Indra, Bali and the others, worn out from bearing that heavy burden over so great a distance, and unable to carry it further, were forced to abandon it midway.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.8.6.35)

निपतन्स गिरिस्तत्र बहूनमरदानवान् । चूर्णयामास महता भारेण कनकाचलः ॥ 6.35 ॥

nipatan sa giris tatra bahūn amara-dānavān cūrṇayām āsa mahatā bhāreṇa kanakācalaḥ

That golden mountain, falling there, crushed to powder many a god and demon beneath its immense weight.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.8.6.36)

तांस्तथा भग्नमनसो भग्नबाहूरुकन्धरान् । विज्ञाय भगवांस्तत्र बभूव गरुडध्वजः ॥ 6.36 ॥

tāṁs tathā bhagna-manaso bhagna-bāhūru-kandharān vijñāya bhagavāṁs tatra babhūva garuḍa-dhvajaḥ

Seeing them thus dispirited, their arms, thighs and necks broken, Bhagavan, who knows all things, then appeared there mounted upon Garuda.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.8.6.37)

गिरिपातविनिष्पिष्टान्विलोक्यामरदानवान् । ईक्षया जीवयामास निर्जरान् निर्व्रणान् यथा ॥ 6.37 ॥

giri-pāta-viniṣpiṣṭān vilokyāmara-dānavān īkṣayā jīvayām āsa nirjarān nirvraṇān yathā

Beholding the gods and demons crushed by the fall of the mountain, He, with a mere glance, brought them back to life, as though they were once more unaged and free of every wound.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.8.6.38)

गिरिं चारोप्य गरुडे हस्तेनैकेन लीलया । आरुह्य प्रययावब्धिं सुरासुरगणैर्वृतः ॥ 6.38 ॥

giriṁ cāropya garuḍe hastenaikena līlayā āruhya prayayāv abdhiṁ surāsura-gaṇair vṛtaḥ

Then, with a single hand, as though in sport, He set the mountain upon Garuda, and mounting it Himself, went on toward the ocean, surrounded by the assembled ranks of gods and demons.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.8.6.39)

अवरोप्य गिरिं स्कन्धात् सुपर्णः पततां वरः । ययौ जलान्त उत्सृज्य हरिणा स विसर्जितः ॥ 6.39 ॥

avaropya giriṁ skandhāt suparṇaḥ patatāṁ varaḥ yayau jalānta utsṛjya hariṇā sa visarjitaḥ

Suparna, the finest of birds, set the mountain down from his shoulder at the water's edge, and, thereafter being dismissed by Hari, departed from that place.