Lord Śiva Saves the Universe by Drinking Poison

Verse 1 (bhagavata.8.7.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच ते नागराजमामन्त्र्य फलभागेन वासुकिम् । परिवीय गिरौ तस्मिन् नेत्रमब्धिं मुदान्विताः । आरेभिरे सुरा यत्ता अमृतार्थे कुरूद्वह ॥ 7.1 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca te nāga-rājam āmantrya phala-bhāgena vāsukim parivīya girau tasmin netram abdhiṁ mudānvitāḥ ārebhire surā yattā amṛtārthe kurūdvaha

Sri Shukadeva said: O best of the Kurus, having summoned Vasuki, king of serpents, with the promise of a share in the fruit, and coiling him about that mountain to serve as the churning-cord, the gods and demons, filled with joy, eagerly set about their labor for the sake of the nectar.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.8.7.2)

हरिः पुरस्ताज्जगृहे पूर्वं देवास्ततोऽभवन् ॥ 7.2 ॥

hariḥ purastāj jagṛhe pūrvaṁ devās tato ’bhavan

Hari took hold first at the head of the serpent, and the gods then took their places accordingly.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.8.7.3)

तन्नैच्छन् दैत्यपतयो महापुरुषचेष्टितम् । न गृह्णीमो वयं पुच्छमहेरङ्गममङ्गलम् । स्वाध्यायश्रुतसम्पन्नाः प्रख्याता जन्मकर्मभिः ॥ 7.3 ॥

tan naicchan daitya-patayo mahā-puruṣa-ceṣṭitam na gṛhṇīmo vayaṁ puccham aher aṅgam amaṅgalam svādhyāya-śruta-sampannāḥ prakhyātā janma-karmabhiḥ

The lords of the Daityas did not accept this arrangement made by the great Person: 'We will not hold the tail, the inauspicious part of the serpent — we, who are accomplished in study and scripture, and renowned for our lineage and deeds!'

Verse 4 (bhagavata.8.7.4)

इति तूष्णीं स्थितान्दैत्यान् विलोक्य पुरुषोत्तमः । स्मयमानो विसृज्याग्रं पुच्छं जग्राह सामरः ॥ 7.4 ॥

iti tūṣṇīṁ sthitān daityān vilokya puruṣottamaḥ smayamāno visṛjyāgraṁ pucchaṁ jagrāha sāmaraḥ

Seeing the Daityas standing thus in silent protest, Purushottama, smiling, released the head and, together with the gods, took hold of the tail instead.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.8.7.5)

कृतस्थानविभागास्त एवं कश्यपनन्दनाः । ममन्थुः परमं यत्ता अमृतार्थं पयोनिधिम् ॥ 7.5 ॥

kṛta-sthāna-vibhāgās ta evaṁ kaśyapa-nandanāḥ mamanthuḥ paramaṁ yattā amṛtārthaṁ payo-nidhim

Their positions thus settled, those sons of Kashyapa, gods and demons alike, straining with all their might, began to churn the Ocean of Milk for the sake of the nectar.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.8.7.6)

मथ्यमानेऽर्णवे सोऽद्रिरनाधारो ह्यपोऽविशत् । ध्रियमाणोऽपि बलिभिर्गौरवात् पाण्डुनन्दन ॥ 7.6 ॥

mathyamāne ’rṇave so ’drir anādhāro hy apo ’viśat dhriyamāṇo ’pi balibhir gauravāt pāṇḍu-nandana

O descendant of Pandu, as the ocean was being churned, that mountain, having no support beneath it, sank into the water under its own weight, even though held up by the strongest hands.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.8.7.7)

ते सुनिर्विण्णमनसः परिम्लानमुखश्रियः । आसन् स्वपौरुषे नष्टे दैवेनातिबलीयसा ॥ 7.7 ॥

te sunirviṇṇa-manasaḥ parimlāna-mukha-śriyaḥ āsan sva-pauruṣe naṣṭe daivenātibalīyasā

Their own strength defeated by a fate more powerful still, those gods and demons fell into deep despair, and the brightness of their faces grew dim.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.8.7.8)

विलोक्य विघ्नेशविधिं तदेश्वरो दुरन्तवीर्योऽवितथाभिसन्धिः । कृत्वा वपुः कच्छपमद्भुतं महत् प्रविश्य तोयं गिरिमुज्जहार ॥ 7.8 ॥

vilokya vighneśa-vidhiṁ tadeśvaro duranta-vīryo ’vitathābhisandhiḥ kṛtvā vapuḥ kacchapam adbhutam mahat praviśya toyaṁ girim ujjahāra

Seeing this obstacle brought about by providence, the Lord, of boundless power and unfailing resolve, then assumed the wondrous, immense form of a tortoise, entered the waters, and lifted the mountain up.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.8.7.9)

तमुत्थितं वीक्ष्य कुलाचलं पुनः समुद्यता निर्मथितुं सुरासुराः । दधार पृष्ठेन स लक्षयोजन- प्रस्तारिणा द्वीप इवापरो महान् ॥ 7.9 ॥

tam utthitaṁ vīkṣya kulācalaṁ punaḥ samudyatā nirmathituṁ surāsurāḥ dadhāra pṛṣṭhena sa lakṣa-yojana- prastāriṇā dvīpa ivāparo mahān

Seeing the mountain raised up once again, the gods and demons returned eagerly to their churning; and He bore it upon a back that spread a hundred thousand yojanas wide, like some other vast island.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.8.7.10)

सुरासुरेन्द्रैर्भुजवीर्यवेपितं परिभ्रमन्तं गिरिमङ्ग पृष्ठतः । बिभ्रत् तदावर्तनमादिकच्छपो मेनेऽङ्गकण्डूयनमप्रमेयः ॥ 7.10 ॥

surāsurendrair bhuja-vīrya-vepitaṁ paribhramantaṁ girim aṅga pṛṣṭhataḥ bibhrat tad-āvartanam ādi-kacchapo mene ’ṅga-kaṇḍūyanam aprameyaḥ

O dear one, as the lords of gods and demons made the mountain revolve upon His back with the force of their arms, the immeasurable, primeval Tortoise took that very motion as nothing more than a pleasant scratching of His body.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.8.7.11)

तथासुरानाविशदासुरेण रूपेण तेषां बलवीर्यमीरयन् । उद्दीपयन् देवगणांश्च विष्णु- र्दैवेन नागेन्द्रमबोधरूपः ॥ 7.11 ॥

tathāsurān āviśad āsureṇa rūpeṇa teṣāṁ bala-vīryam īrayan uddīpayan deva-gaṇāṁś ca viṣṇur daivena nāgendram abodha-rūpaḥ

In this same way Vishnu entered the demons in a demonic form, rousing their might and vigor, kindled the gods in a divine form, and entered the serpent-king Vasuki in a form devoid of any awareness.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.8.7.12)

उपर्यगेन्द्रं गिरिराडिवान्य आक्रम्य हस्तेन सहस्रबाहुः । तस्थौ दिवि ब्रह्मभवेन्द्रमुख्यै- रभिष्टुवद्भिः सुमनोऽभिवृष्टः ॥ 7.12 ॥

upary agendraṁ giri-rāḍ ivānya ākramya hastena sahasra-bāhuḥ tasthau divi brahma-bhavendra-mukhyair abhiṣṭuvadbhiḥ sumano-’bhivṛṣṭaḥ

Standing above that great mountain, like another mountain-king in himself, holding it in place with a single hand, the thousand-armed Lord remained there, while overhead Brahma, Shiva, Indra and the other chief gods showered flowers upon Him and sang His praise.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.8.7.13)

उपर्यधश्चात्मनि गोत्रनेत्रयोः परेण ते प्राविशता समेधिताः । ममन्थुरब्धिं तरसा मदोत्कटा महाद्रिणा क्षोभितनक्रचक्रम् ॥ 7.13 ॥

upary adhaś cātmani gotra-netrayoḥ pareṇa te prāviśatā samedhitāḥ mamanthur abdhiṁ tarasā madotkaṭā mahādriṇā kṣobhita-nakra-cakram

Empowered by that Supreme Lord who had entered above and below and within the mountain and the cord alike, the gods and demons, flushed with strength, churned the ocean with that great mountain with such force that the crocodiles dwelling within it were thrown into turmoil.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.8.7.14)

अहीन्द्रसाहस्रकठोरदृङ्मुख- श्वासाग्निधूमाहतवर्चसोऽसुराः । पौलोमकालेयबलील्वलादयो दवाग्निदग्धाः सरला इवाभवन् ॥ 7.14 ॥

ahīndra-sāhasra-kaṭhora-dṛṅ-mukha- śvāsāgni-dhūmāhata-varcaso ’surāḥ pauloma-kāleya-balīlvalādayo davāgni-dagdhāḥ saralā ivābhavan

The breath of fire and smoke that poured from the thousand harsh eyes and mouths of the serpent-king struck down the radiance of the demons — Pauloma, Kaleya, Bali, Ilvala and the rest — until they resembled sarala trees scorched by a forest fire.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.8.7.15)

देवांश्च तच्छ्वासशिखाहतप्रभान् धूम्राम्बरस्रग्वरकञ्चुकाननान् । समभ्यवर्षन्भगवद्वशा घना ववुः समुद्रोर्म्युपगूढवायवः ॥ 7.15 ॥

devāṁś ca tac-chvāsa-śikhā-hata-prabhān dhūmrāmbara-srag-vara-kañcukānanān samabhyavarṣan bhagavad-vaśā ghanā vavuḥ samudrormy-upagūḍha-vāyavaḥ

The gods too lost their radiance in those flames of breath, their garments, garlands, armor and faces darkened with smoke — until, at the will of Bhagavan, clouds poured rain upon them, and breezes carrying the spray of ocean waves blew, and they were relieved.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.8.7.16)

मथ्यमानात् तथा सिन्धोर्देवासुरवरूथपैः । यदा सुधा न जायेत निर्ममन्थाजितः स्वयम् ॥ 7.16 ॥

mathyamānāt tathā sindhor devāsura-varūtha-paiḥ yadā sudhā na jāyeta nirmamanthājitaḥ svayam

When, despite the churning of the ocean by the foremost of gods and demons, the nectar still failed to appear, Bhagavan Ajita Himself began to churn it.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.8.7.17)

मेघश्यामः कनकपरिधिः कर्णविद्योतविद्यु- न्मूर्ध्नि भ्राजद्विलुलितकचः स्रग्धरो रक्तनेत्रः । जैत्रैर्दोर्भिर्जगदभयदैर्दन्दशूकं गृहीत्वा मथ्नन् मथ्ना प्रतिगिरिरिवाशोभताथो धृताद्रिः ॥ 7.17 ॥

megha-śyāmaḥ kanaka-paridhiḥ karṇa-vidyota-vidyun mūrdhni bhrājad-vilulita-kacaḥ srag-dharo rakta-netraḥ jaitrair dorbhir jagad-abhaya-dair dandaśūkaṁ gṛhītvā mathnan mathnā pratigirir ivāśobhatātho dhṛtādriḥ

Dark as a rain-cloud, clad in gold, His earrings flashing like lightning, His hair tossing and gleaming upon His head, garlanded, red-eyed, grasping the serpent with those victorious arms that grant the whole world fearlessness, churning with the mountain as His rod, and bearing that mountain besides, the Lord shone as splendid as another mountain in Himself.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.8.7.18)

निर्मथ्यमानादुदधेरभूद्विषं महोल्बणं हालहलाह्वमग्रतः । सम्भ्रान्तमीनोन्मकराहिकच्छपात् तिमिद्विपग्राहतिमिङ्गिलाकुलात् ॥ 7.18 ॥

nirmathyamānād udadher abhūd viṣaṁ maholbaṇaṁ hālahalāhvam agrataḥ sambhrānta-mīnonmakarāhi-kacchapāt timi-dvipa-grāha-timiṅgilākulāt

From that ocean under churning, where the fish, sharks, serpents and tortoises were thrown into panic, and which teemed with timi, water-elephants, crocodiles and timingila creatures, there first arose a most terrible and virulent poison called Halahala.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.8.7.19)

तदुग्रवेगं दिशि दिश्युपर्यधो विसर्पदुत्सर्पदसह्यमप्रति । भीताः प्रजा दुद्रुवुरङ्ग सेश्वरा अरक्ष्यमाणाः शरणं सदाशिवम् ॥ 7.19 ॥

tad ugra-vegaṁ diśi diśy upary adho visarpad utsarpad asahyam aprati bhītāḥ prajā dudruvur aṅga seśvarā arakṣyamāṇāḥ śaraṇaṁ sadāśivam

O dear one, that terrible, unbearable, unstoppable poison began spreading in every direction, above and below alike; and the terrified beings, the gods among them, finding no other refuge, fled for shelter to Sadashiva.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.8.7.20)

विलोक्य तं देववरं त्रिलोक्या भवाय देव्याभिमतं मुनीनाम् । आसीनमद्रावपवर्गहेतो- स्तपो जुषाणं स्तुतिभिः प्रणेमुः ॥ 7.20 ॥

vilokya taṁ deva-varaṁ tri-lokyā bhavāya devyābhimataṁ munīnām āsīnam adrāv apavarga-hetos tapo juṣāṇaṁ stutibhiḥ praṇemuḥ

Beholding that greatest of gods, seated upon the mountain for the good of the three worlds, beloved of the goddess, absorbed in austerity for the liberation of sages, they bowed to him, offering hymns of praise.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.8.7.21)

श्रीप्रजापतय ऊचुः देवदेव महादेव भूतात्मन् भूतभावन । त्राहि नः शरणापन्नांस्त्रैलोक्यदहनाद् विषात् ॥ 7.21 ॥

śrī-prajāpataya ūcuḥ deva-deva mahā-deva bhūtātman bhūta-bhāvana trāhi naḥ śaraṇāpannāṁs trailokya-dahanād viṣāt

The Prajapatis said: O god of gods, Mahadeva, Self of all beings, source of all beings, protect us, who have come to you for refuge, from this poison that is scorching all three worlds.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.8.7.22)

त्वमेकः सर्वजगत ईश्वरो बन्धमोक्षयोः । तं त्वामर्चन्ति कुशलाः प्रपन्नार्तिहरं गुरुम् ॥ 7.22 ॥

tvam ekaḥ sarva-jagata īśvaro bandha-mokṣayoḥ taṁ tvām arcanti kuśalāḥ prapannārti-haraṁ gurum

You alone are the lord of bondage and liberation for the whole universe; the wise worship You, the remover of the suffering of the surrendered, the true teacher of all.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.8.7.23)

गुणमय्या स्वशक्त्यास्य सर्गस्थित्यप्ययान्विभो । धत्से यदा स्वदृग् भूमन्ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवाभिधाम् ॥ 7.23 ॥

guṇa-mayyā sva-śaktyāsya sarga-sthity-apyayān vibho dhatse yadā sva-dṛg bhūman brahma-viṣṇu-śivābhidhām

O almighty one, O self-perceiving one, O infinite one, when through Your own power composed of the gunas You undertake the creation, preservation and dissolution of this world, it is You who assume the names of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.8.7.24)

त्वं ब्रह्म परमं गुह्यं सदसद्भावभावनम् । नानाशक्तिभिराभातस्त्वमात्मा जगदीश्वरः ॥ 7.24 ॥

tvaṁ brahma paramaṁ guhyaṁ sad-asad-bhāva-bhāvanam nānā-śaktibhir ābhātas tvam ātmā jagad-īśvaraḥ

You are that supreme and most secret Brahman, the very ground of both being and non-being; manifest through Your manifold powers, You are the Self and the Lord of the universe.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.8.7.25)

त्वं शब्दयोनिर्जगदादिरात्मा प्राणेन्द्रियद्रव्यगुणः स्वभावः । कालः क्रतुः सत्यमृतं च धर्म- स्त्वय्यक्षरं यत् त्रिवृदामनन्ति ॥ 7.25 ॥

tvaṁ śabda-yonir jagad-ādir ātmā prāṇendriya-dravya-guṇaḥ svabhāvaḥ kālaḥ kratuḥ satyam ṛtaṁ ca dharmas tvayy akṣaraṁ yat tri-vṛd-āmananti

You are the very source of sacred sound, the origin of the world, the Self, the life-breath, the senses, matter, the qualities and nature itself; You are time, sacrifice, truth, cosmic order and dharma; in You, they say, rests that imperishable syllable of threefold strand.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.8.7.26)

अग्निर्मुखं तेऽखिलदेवतात्मा क्षितिं विदुर्लोकभवाङ्घ्रिपङ्कजम् । कालं गतिं तेऽखिलदेवतात्मनो दिशश्च कर्णौ रसनं जलेशम् ॥ 7.26 ॥

agnir mukhaṁ te ’khila-devatātmā kṣitiṁ vidur loka-bhavāṅghri-paṅkajam kālaṁ gatiṁ te ’khila-devatātmano diśaś ca karṇau rasanaṁ jaleśam

Fire, the very self of all deities, is Your mouth; the earth, the source of the worlds' being, is known as Your lotus feet; time is Your movement, the directions of space Your ears, and Varuna, lord of the waters, Your tongue.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.8.7.27)

नाभिर्नभस्ते श्वसनं नभस्वान् सूर्यश्च चक्षूंषि जलं स्म रेतः । परावरात्माश्रयणं तवात्मा सोमो मनो द्यौर्भगवन् शिरस्ते ॥ 7.27 ॥

nābhir nabhas te śvasanaṁ nabhasvān sūryaś ca cakṣūṁṣi jalaṁ sma retaḥ parāvarātmāśrayaṇaṁ tavātmā somo mano dyaur bhagavan śiras te

The sky is Your navel, the wind Your breath, the sun Your eyes, and water Your very seed; You are the shelter of all beings, both high and low; the moon is Your mind, O Bhagavan, and the heavens Your head.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.8.7.28)

कुक्षिः समुद्रा गिरयोऽस्थिसङ्घा रोमाणि सर्वौषधिवीरुधस्ते । छन्दांसि साक्षात् तव सप्त धातव- स्त्रयीमयात्मन् हृदयं सर्वधर्मः ॥ 7.28 ॥

kukṣiḥ samudrā girayo ’sthi-saṅghā romāṇi sarvauṣadhi-vīrudhas te chandāṁsi sākṣāt tava sapta dhātavas trayī-mayātman hṛdayaṁ sarva-dharmaḥ

The oceans are Your belly, the mountains Your bones, and every herb and plant Your body's hairs; the Vedic metres are truly Your seven bodily elements; O embodiment of the three Vedas, Your heart is all dharma itself.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.8.7.29)

मुखानि पञ्चोपनिषदस्तवेश यैस्त्रिंशदष्टोत्तरमन्त्रवर्गः । यत् तच्छिवाख्यं परमात्मतत्त्वं देव स्वयंज्योतिरवस्थितिस्ते ॥ 7.29 ॥

mukhāni pañcopaniṣadas taveśa yais triṁśad-aṣṭottara-mantra-vargaḥ yat tac chivākhyaṁ paramātma-tattvaṁ deva svayaṁ-jyotir avasthitis te

O Lord, Your five faces are the five Upanishads, from which the group of thirty-eight sacred mantras has arisen; that supreme reality of the Self known by the name Shiva, self-luminous god, is Your very own state of being.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.8.7.30)

छाया त्वधर्मोर्मिषु यैर्विसर्गो नेत्रत्रयं सत्त्वरजस्तमांसि । साङ्ख्यात्मनः शास्त्रकृतस्तवेक्षा छन्दोमयो देव ऋषिः पुराणः ॥ 7.30 ॥

chāyā tv adharmormiṣu yair visargo netra-trayaṁ sattva-rajas-tamāṁsi sāṅkhyātmanaḥ śāstra-kṛtas tavekṣā chandomayo deva ṛṣiḥ purāṇaḥ

From Your shadow, cast upon the waves of irreligion, come the lower creations; goodness, passion and ignorance are Your three eyes; through Your very glance the founders of Sankhya wisdom appeared; O god, the ancient sage composed of the Vedic metres is Your form as well.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.8.7.31)

न ते गिरित्राखिललोकपाल- विरिञ्चवैकुण्ठसुरेन्द्रगम्यम् । ज्योतिः परं यत्र रजस्तमश्च सत्त्वं न यद् ब्रह्म निरस्तभेदम् ॥ 7.31 ॥

na te giri-trākhila-loka-pāla- viriñca-vaikuṇṭha-surendra-gamyam jyotiḥ paraṁ yatra rajas tamaś ca sattvaṁ na yad brahma nirasta-bhedam

O Girisha, that supreme light in which there is neither passion nor ignorance nor even goodness — that undivided Brahman — is beyond the reach of all the guardians of the worlds, of Brahma, of the Lord of Vaikuntha, and even of Indra, king of the gods.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.8.7.32)

कामाध्वरत्रिपुरकालगराद्यनेक- भूतद्रुहः क्षपयतः स्तुतये न तत् ते । यस्त्वन्तकाल इदमात्मकृतं स्वनेत्र- वह्निस्फुलिङ्गशिखया भसितं न वेद ॥ 7.32 ॥

kāmādhvara-tripura-kālagarādy-aneka- bhūta-druhaḥ kṣapayataḥ stutaye na tat te yas tv anta-kāla idam ātma-kṛtaṁ sva-netra- vahni-sphuliṅga-śikhayā bhasitaṁ na veda

The destruction of Kama's sacrifice, of Tripura, of the deadly poison and of the many other enemies of all beings — these are not fit themes for Your praise; for at the hour of dissolution, You do not even know that this whole creation, reduced to ashes by the mere sparks of Your own eyes, was Your own doing.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.8.7.33)

ये त्वात्मरामगुरुभिर्हृदि चिन्तिताङ्घ्रि- द्वन्द्वं चरन्तमुमया तपसाभितप्तम् । कत्थन्त उग्रपरुषं निरतं श्मशाने ते नूनमूतिमविदंस्तव हातलज्जाः ॥ 7.33 ॥

ye tv ātma-rāma-gurubhir hṛdi cintitāṅghri- dvandvaṁ carantam umayā tapasābhitaptam katthanta ugra-paruṣaṁ nirataṁ śmaśāne te nūnam ūtim avidaṁs tava hāta-lajjāḥ

Those who deride You, whose feet are constantly held in the hearts of teachers of the self-realized, calling You cruel and harsh because You wander with Uma, worn with austerity, or dwell in the cremation ground — such shameless people surely have never understood Your protective grace.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.8.7.34)

तत् तस्य ते सदसतोः परतः परस्य नाञ्जः स्वरूपगमने प्रभवन्ति भूम्नः । ब्रह्मादयः किमुत संस्तवने वयं तु तत्सर्गसर्गविषया अपि शक्तिमात्रम् ॥ 7.34 ॥

tat tasya te sad-asatoḥ parataḥ parasya nāñjaḥ svarūpa-gamane prabhavanti bhūmnaḥ brahmādayaḥ kim uta saṁstavane vayaṁ tu tat-sarga-sarga-viṣayā api śakti-mātram

Not even Brahma and the others can reach the true nature of You, the infinite one beyond both being and non-being — what then of praising You in words? We ourselves, born within His creation's own creation, offer this praise only to the small extent of our own capacity.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.8.7.35)

एतत् परं प्रपश्यामो न परं ते महेश्वर । मृडनाय हि लोकस्य व्यक्तिस्तेऽव्यक्तकर्मणः ॥ 7.35 ॥

etat paraṁ prapaśyāmo na paraṁ te maheśvara mṛḍanāya hi lokasya vyaktis te ’vyakta-karmaṇaḥ

O great Lord, this alone we can perceive of You, and nothing more: that though Your workings remain forever unmanifest, Your every manifestation is for the good and comfort of the world.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.8.7.36)

श्रीशुक उवाच तद्वीक्ष्य व्यसनं तासां कृपया भृशपीडितः । सर्वभूतसुहृद् देव इदमाह सतीं प्रियाम् ॥ 7.36 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca tad-vīkṣya vyasanaṁ tāsāṁ kṛpayā bhṛśa-pīḍitaḥ sarva-bhūta-suhṛd deva idam āha satīṁ priyām

Sri Shukadeva said: Seeing the anguish of all those beings and deeply moved by compassion, Shiva, the well-wisher of every creature, spoke thus to his beloved Sati.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.8.7.37)

श्रीशिव उवाच अहो बत भवान्येतत् प्रजानां पश्य वैशसम् । क्षीरोदमथनोद्भूतात् कालकूटादुपस्थितम् ॥ 7.37 ॥

śrī-śiva uvāca aho bata bhavāny etat prajānāṁ paśya vaiśasam kṣīroda-mathanodbhūtāt kālakūṭād upasthitam

Shiva said: Ah, Bhavani, see what calamity has fallen upon all these beings, born of the Kalakuta poison that arose from the churning of the Ocean of Milk.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.8.7.38)

आसां प्राणपरीप्सूनां विधेयमभयं हि मे । एतावान्हि प्रभोरर्थो यद् दीनपरिपालनम् ॥ 7.38 ॥

āsāṁ prāṇa-parīpsūnāṁ vidheyam abhayaṁ hi me etāvān hi prabhor artho yad dīna-paripālanam

It is my duty to grant fearlessness to these beings, desperate to save their own lives; for this alone is the true purpose of one who is a protector — the sheltering of the helpless.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.8.7.39)

प्राणैः स्वैः प्राणिनः पान्ति साधवः क्षणभङ्गुरैः । बद्धवैरेषु भूतेषु मोहितेष्वात्ममायया ॥ 7.39 ॥

prāṇaiḥ svaiḥ prāṇinaḥ pānti sādhavaḥ kṣaṇa-bhaṅguraiḥ baddha-vaireṣu bhūteṣu mohiteṣv ātma-māyayā

The virtuous protect other living beings even at the cost of their own fleeting lives, though those very beings, bewildered by maya, remain bound to one another in enmity.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.8.7.40)

पुंसः कृपयतो भद्रे सर्वात्मा प्रीयते हरिः । प्रीते हरौ भगवति प्रीयेऽहं सचराचरः । तस्मादिदं गरं भुञ्जे प्रजानां स्वस्तिरस्तु मे ॥ 7.40 ॥

puṁsaḥ kṛpayato bhadre sarvātmā prīyate hariḥ prīte harau bhagavati prīye ’haṁ sacarācaraḥ tasmād idaṁ garaṁ bhuñje prajānāṁ svastir astu me

O gentle one, when a man shows compassion, Hari, the Self of all, is pleased; and when Bhagavan Hari is pleased, I too am pleased, along with every moving and unmoving being. I shall therefore drink this poison — may all creatures find well-being through me.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.8.7.41)

श्रीशुक उवाच एवमामन्त्र्य भगवान्भवानीं विश्वभावनः । तद् विषं जग्धुमारेभे प्रभावज्ञान्वमोदत ॥ 7.41 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca evam āmantrya bhagavān bhavānīṁ viśva-bhāvanaḥ tad viṣaṁ jagdhum ārebhe prabhāva-jñānvamodata

Sri Shukadeva said: Having spoken thus to Bhavani, Bhagavan Shiva, the source of all worlds, began to consume that poison, and Bhavani, knowing full well his power, gave him her consent.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.8.7.42)

ततः करतलीकृत्य व्यापि हालाहलं विषम् । अभक्षयन्महादेवः कृपया भूतभावनः ॥ 7.42 ॥

tataḥ karatalī-kṛtya vyāpi hālāhalaṁ viṣam abhakṣayan mahā-devaḥ kṛpayā bhūta-bhāvanaḥ

Then, gathering that all-pervading Halahala poison in the palm of his hand, Mahadeva, the source and well-wisher of all beings, consumed it out of compassion.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.8.7.43)

तस्यापि दर्शयामास स्ववीर्यं जलकल्मषः । यच्चकार गले नीलं तच्च साधोर्विभूषणम् ॥ 7.43 ॥

tasyāpi darśayām āsa sva-vīryaṁ jala-kalmaṣaḥ yac cakāra gale nīlaṁ tac ca sādhor vibhūṣaṇam

Even so, that poison born of the waters showed something of its own power, staining his throat a deep blue — and that very mark became an ornament of that most saintly Lord.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.8.7.44)

तप्यन्ते लोकतापेन साधवः प्रायशो जनाः । परमाराधनं तद्धि पुरुषस्याखिलात्मनः ॥ 7.44 ॥

tapyante loka-tāpena sādhavaḥ prāyaśo janāḥ paramārādhanaṁ tad dhi puruṣasyākhilātmanaḥ

The saintly generally take the world's suffering upon themselves; and this alone is the highest form of worship of the Person who is the Self of all.

Verse 45 (bhagavata.8.7.45)

निशम्य कर्म तच्छम्भोर्देवदेवस्य मीढुषः । प्रजा दाक्षायणी ब्रह्मा वैकुण्ठश्च शशंसिरे ॥ 7.45 ॥

niśamya karma tac chambhor deva-devasya mīḍhuṣaḥ prajā dākṣāyaṇī brahmā vaikuṇṭhaś ca śaśaṁsire

On hearing of this deed of Shambhu, god of gods and giver of every boon, all beings, together with Dakshayani, with Brahma, and with the Lord of Vaikuntha, praised him greatly.

Verse 46 (bhagavata.8.7.46)

प्रस्कन्नं पिबतः पाणेर्यत् किञ्चिज्जगृहुः स्म तत् । वृश्चिकाहिविषौषध्यो दन्दशूकाश्च येऽपरे ॥ 7.46 ॥

praskannaṁ pibataḥ pāṇer yat kiñcij jagṛhuḥ sma tat vṛścikāhi-viṣauṣadhyo dandaśūkāś ca ye ’pare

Whatever little of that poison spilled from his hand as he drank it was taken up by scorpions, snakes, poisonous plants, and other venomous creatures.