The Lord Incarnates as Mohini-murti

Verse 1 (bhagavata.8.9.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच तेऽन्योन्यतोऽसुराः पात्रं हरन्तस्त्यक्तसौहृदाः । क्षिपन्तो दस्युधर्माण आयान्तीं ददृशुः स्त्रियम् ॥ 9.1 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca te ’nyonyato ’surāḥ pātraṁ harantas tyakta-sauhṛdāḥ kṣipanto dasyu-dharmāṇa āyāntīṁ dadṛśuḥ striyam

Sri Sukadeva said: The demons then turned against one another, abandoning their mutual friendship, snatching and hurling the vessel of nectar about like common thieves fighting over stolen goods. In the midst of this, they caught sight of a very beautiful woman walking toward them.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.8.9.2)

अहो रूपमहो धाम अहो अस्या नवं वयः । इति ते तामभिद्रुत्य पप्रच्छुर्जातहृच्छयाः ॥ 9.2 ॥

aho rūpam aho dhāma aho asyā navaṁ vayaḥ iti te tām abhidrutya papracchur jāta-hṛc-chayāḥ

"Oh, what beauty! Oh, what radiance! Oh, what a freshness of youth is hers!" — exclaiming thus, and with desire suddenly kindled in their hearts, the demons rushed toward her and began to question her.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.8.9.3)

का त्वं कञ्जपलाशाक्षि कुतो वा किं चिकीर्षसि । कस्यासि वद वामोरु मथ्नतीव मनांसि नः ॥ 9.3 ॥

kā tvaṁ kañja-palāśākṣi kuto vā kiṁ cikīrṣasi kasyāsi vada vāmoru mathnatīva manāṁsi naḥ

"Who are you, O lotus-eyed one? Where do you come from, and what do you intend to do here? O woman of lovely limbs, tell us to whom you belong — the very sight of you seems to churn our minds."

Verse 4 (bhagavata.8.9.4)

न वयं त्वामरैर्दैत्यैः सिद्धगन्धर्वचारणैः । नास्पृष्टपूर्वां जानीमो लोकेशैश्च कुतो नृभिः ॥ 9.4 ॥

na vayaṁ tvāmarair daityaiḥ siddha-gandharva-cāraṇaiḥ nāspṛṣṭa-pūrvāṁ jānīmo lokeśaiś ca kuto nṛbhiḥ

"We know well enough that you have never before been touched — not by demigods, not by demons, not by Siddhas, Gandharvas or Caranas, nor even by the rulers of the worlds — so what to speak of mere men."

Verse 5 (bhagavata.8.9.5)

नूनं त्वं विधिना सुभ्रूः प्रेषितासि शरीरिणाम् । सर्वेन्द्रियमनःप्रीतिं विधातुं सघृणेन किम् ॥ 9.5 ॥

nūnaṁ tvaṁ vidhinā subhrūḥ preṣitāsi śarīriṇām sarvendriya-manaḥ-prītiṁ vidhātuṁ saghṛṇena kim

"Surely, O fair-browed one, Providence in its kindness has sent you to gladden the senses and minds of all embodied beings. Is this not so?"

Verse 6 (bhagavata.8.9.6)

सा त्वं नः स्पर्धमानानामेकवस्तुनि मानिनि । ज्ञातीनां बद्धवैराणां शं विधत्स्व सुमध्यमे ॥ 9.6 ॥

sā tvaṁ naḥ spardhamānānām eka-vastuni mānini jñātīnāṁ baddha-vairāṇāṁ śaṁ vidhatsva sumadhyame

"O proud and gracious one, we are kinsmen who now stand bound in enmity, all contending for this one single object. O slender-waisted one, be pleased to bring peace among us."

Verse 7 (bhagavata.8.9.7)

वयं कश्यपदायादा भ्रातरः कृतपौरुषाः । विभजस्व यथान्यायं नैव भेदो यथा भवेत् ॥ 9.7 ॥

vayaṁ kaśyapa-dāyādā bhrātaraḥ kṛta-pauruṣāḥ vibhajasva yathā-nyāyaṁ naiva bhedo yathā bhavet

"We are all brothers, born of the sage Kasyapa, yet we find ourselves testing our strength against one another. Divide this fairly among us, in such a way that no discord remains."

Verse 8 (bhagavata.8.9.8)

इत्युपामन्त्रितो दैत्यैर्मायायोषिद्वपुर्हरिः । प्रहस्य रुचिरापाङ्गैर्निरीक्षन्निदमब्रवीत् ॥ 9.8 ॥

ity upāmantrito daityair māyā-yoṣid-vapur hariḥ prahasya rucirāpāṅgair nirīkṣann idam abravīt

Thus entreated by the demons, Hari — who had assumed this illusory feminine form — smiled, and casting upon them a glance of charming, sidelong eyes, spoke as follows.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.8.9.9)

श्रीभगवानुवाच कथं कश्यपदायादाः पुंश्चल्यां मयि सङ्गताः । विश्वासं पण्डितो जातु कामिनीषु न याति हि ॥ 9.9 ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca kathaṁ kaśyapa-dāyādāḥ puṁścalyāṁ mayi saṅgatāḥ viśvāsaṁ paṇḍito jātu kāminīṣu na yāti hi

The Supreme Lord said: How is it that you, sons of Kasyapa, have placed such trust in me, a fickle woman? A wise man never places his faith in women driven by desire.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.8.9.10)

सालावृकाणां स्त्रीणां च स्वैरिणीनां सुरद्विषः । सख्यान्याहुरनित्यानि नूत्नं नूत्नं विचिन्वताम् ॥ 9.10 ॥

sālāvṛkāṇāṁ strīṇāṁ ca svairiṇīnāṁ sura-dviṣaḥ sakhyāny āhur anityāni nūtnaṁ nūtnaṁ vicinvatām

"O enemies of the gods, the wise say that the friendship of wolves, and likewise of women who roam free of restraint, never lasts — for such women are ever in search of a new companion."

Verse 11 (bhagavata.8.9.11)

श्रीशुक उवाच इति ते क्ष्वेलितैस्तस्या आश्वस्तमनसोऽसुराः । जहसुर्भावगम्भीरं ददुश्चामृतभाजनम् ॥ 9.11 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca iti te kṣvelitais tasyā āśvasta-manaso ’surāḥ jahasur bhāva-gambhīraṁ daduś cāmṛta-bhājanam

Sri Sukadeva said: Hearing her playful words, the demons' hearts grew wholly reassured. They laughed with grave confidence and, in the end, placed the vessel of nectar into her hands.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.8.9.12)

ततो गृहीत्वामृतभाजनं हरि- र्बभाष ईषत्स्मितशोभया गिरा । यद्यभ्युपेतं क्व च साध्वसाधु वा कृतं मया वो विभजे सुधामिमाम् ॥ 9.12 ॥

tato gṛhītvāmṛta-bhājanaṁ harir babhāṣa īṣat-smita-śobhayā girā yady abhyupetaṁ kva ca sādhv asādhu vā kṛtaṁ mayā vo vibhaje sudhām imām

Then, taking the vessel of nectar in her hands, Hari spoke in a voice made lovely by a faint smile: "Only if you accept beforehand whatever I do — be it right or wrong — will I undertake to divide this nectar among you."

Verse 13 (bhagavata.8.9.13)

इत्यभिव्याहृतं तस्या आकर्ण्यासुरपुङ्गवाः । अप्रमाणविदस्तस्यास्तत् तथेत्यन्वमंसत ॥ 9.13 ॥

ity abhivyāhṛtaṁ tasyā ākarṇyāsura-puṅgavāḥ apramāṇa-vidas tasyās tat tathety anvamaṁsata

Hearing her say this, the foremost of the demons — not being discerning enough to weigh her words — at once agreed, saying, "Yes, so be it," and accepted whatever she would do.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.8.9.14)

अथोपोष्य कृतस्नाना हुत्वा च हविषानलम् । दत्त्वा गोविप्रभूतेभ्यः कृतस्वस्त्ययना द्विजैः ॥ 9.14 ॥

athopoṣya kṛta-snānā hutvā ca haviṣānalam dattvā go-vipra-bhūtebhyaḥ kṛta-svastyayanā dvijaiḥ

Then all of them observed a fast, bathed, offered oblations of clarified butter into the fire, gave gifts to the cows, the brahmanas and other beings, and had the brahmanas recite blessings for their welfare.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.8.9.15)

यथोपजोषं वासांसि परिधायाहतानि ते । कुशेषु प्राविशन्सर्वे प्रागग्रेष्वभिभूषिताः ॥ 9.15 ॥

yathopajoṣaṁ vāsāṁsi paridhāyāhatāni te kuśeṣu prāviśan sarve prāg-agreṣv abhibhūṣitāḥ

Then, each dressed in fresh garments to his own liking and adorned with ornaments, all of them went and sat down upon seats of kusa grass laid out facing the east.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.8.9.16)

प्राङ्मुखेषूपविष्टेषु सुरेषु दितिजेषु च । धूपामोदितशालायां जुष्टायां माल्यदीपकैः ॥ 9.16 ॥

prāṅ-mukheṣūpaviṣṭeṣu sureṣu ditijeṣu ca dhūpāmodita-śālāyāṁ juṣṭāyāṁ mālya-dīpakaiḥ

When the demigods and demons, seated facing east, had thus taken their places in that hall — fragrant with incense and adorned with garlands and lamps —

Verse 17 (bhagavata.8.9.17)

तस्यां नरेन्द्र करभोरुरुशद्दुकूल- श्रोणीतटालसगतिर्मदविह्वलाक्षी । सा कूजती कनकनूपुरशिञ्जितेन कुम्भस्तनी कलसपाणिरथाविवेश ॥ 9.17 ॥

tasyāṁ narendra karabhorur uśad-dukūla- śroṇī-taṭālasa-gatir mada-vihvalākṣī sā kūjatī kanaka-nūpura-śiñjitena kumbha-stanī kalasa-pāṇir athāviveśa

O King, at that moment she entered the hall — her thighs shapely as an elephant's trunk, her gait made languid by heavy hips draped in bright silk, her eyes restless with the intoxication of youth, her breasts like water jars, a pitcher in her hand, and golden anklets tinkling sweetly with every step.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.8.9.18)

तां श्रीसखीं कनककुण्डलचारुकर्ण- नासाकपोलवदनां परदेवताख्याम् । संवीक्ष्य सम्मुमुहुरुत्स्मितवीक्षणेन देवासुरा विगलितस्तनपट्टिकान्ताम् ॥ 9.18 ॥

tāṁ śrī-sakhīṁ kanaka-kuṇḍala-cāru-karṇa- nāsā-kapola-vadanāṁ para-devatākhyām saṁvīkṣya sammumuhur utsmita-vīkṣaṇena devāsurā vigalita-stana-paṭṭikāntām

Beholding her — that companion of glory herself, her ears lovely with golden earrings, her nose, cheeks and face all beautiful, the cloth over her breasts slipping slightly aside as she cast smiling glances about — both the demigods and the demons were completely bewildered.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.8.9.19)

असुराणां सुधादानं सर्पाणामिव दुर्नयम् । मत्वा जातिनृशंसानां न तां व्यभजदच्युतः ॥ 9.19 ॥

asurāṇāṁ sudhā-dānaṁ sarpāṇām iva durnayam matvā jāti-nṛśaṁsānāṁ na tāṁ vyabhajad acyutaḥ

Judging that to give nectar to the demons — cruel by their very nature — would be as unwise as giving milk to serpents, the infallible Lord did not allot them any share of it.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.8.9.20)

कल्पयित्वा पृथक् पङ्क्तीरुभयेषां जगत्पतिः । तांश्चोपवेशयामास स्वेषु स्वेषु च पङ्क्तिषु ॥ 9.20 ॥

kalpayitvā pṛthak paṅktīr ubhayeṣāṁ jagat-patiḥ tāṁś copaveśayām āsa sveṣu sveṣu ca paṅktiṣu

The Lord of the universe arranged separate rows for the two groups, and seated each — demigods and demons alike — in his own respective row.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.8.9.21)

दैत्यान्गृहीतकलसो वञ्चयन्नुपसञ्चरैः । दूरस्थान् पाययामास जरामृत्युहरां सुधाम् ॥ 9.21 ॥

daityān gṛhīta-kalaso vañcayann upasañcaraiḥ dūra-sthān pāyayām āsa jarā-mṛtyu-harāṁ sudhām

Vessel in hand, she first went among the demons and, beguiling them with sweet words, cheated them of their portion; then she went to the demigods, seated at a distance, and gave them to drink that nectar which removes old age and death.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.8.9.22)

ते पालयन्तः समयमसुराः स्वकृतं नृप । तूष्णीमासन्कृतस्नेहाः स्त्रीविवादजुगुप्सया ॥ 9.22 ॥

te pālayantaḥ samayam asurāḥ sva-kṛtaṁ nṛpa tūṣṇīm āsan kṛta-snehāḥ strī-vivāda-jugupsayā

O King, bound by the very promise they themselves had made, and now infatuated with her besides, the demons felt it beneath them to quarrel with a woman, and so they sat in silence.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.8.9.23)

तस्यां कृतातिप्रणयाः प्रणयापायकातराः । बहुमानेन चाबद्धा नोचुः किञ्चन विप्रियम् ॥ 9.23 ॥

tasyāṁ kṛtātipraṇayāḥ praṇayāpāya-kātarāḥ bahu-mānena cābaddhā nocuḥ kiñcana vipriyam

So deep had their affection for her grown, and so fearful were they of losing it, and so bound by their own reverence for her, that the demons said nothing to displease her.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.8.9.24)

देवलिङ्गप्रतिच्छन्नः स्वर्भानुर्देवसंसदि । प्रविष्टः सोममपिबच्चन्द्रार्काभ्यां च सूचितः ॥ 9.24 ॥

deva-liṅga-praticchannaḥ svarbhānur deva-saṁsadi praviṣṭaḥ somam apibac candrārkābhyāṁ ca sūcitaḥ

The demon Svarbhanu, disguising himself in the form of a demigod, slipped into the assembly of the gods and began to drink the nectar; but the moon and the sun, being his enemies of old, recognized him and gave the alarm.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.8.9.25)

चक्रेण क्षुरधारेण जहार पिबतः शिरः । हरिस्तस्य कबन्धस्तु सुधयाप्लावितोऽपतत् ॥ 9.25 ॥

cakreṇa kṣura-dhāreṇa jahāra pibataḥ śiraḥ haris tasya kabandhas tu sudhayāplāvito ’patat

Hari, with his discus keen as a razor's edge, severed the head of Rahu even as he drank; and since his body had not yet been touched by the nectar, the headless trunk fell down dead.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.8.9.26)

शिरस्त्वमरतां नीतमजो ग्रहमचीक्लृपत् । यस्तु पर्वणि चन्द्रार्कावभिधावति वैरधीः ॥ 9.26 ॥

śiras tv amaratāṁ nītam ajo graham acīkḷpat yas tu parvaṇi candrārkāv abhidhāvati vaira-dhīḥ

But his head, having tasted the nectar, became immortal, and Lord Brahma established it as a planet. It is this same Rahu who, still nursing his old enmity, rushes to attack the moon and the sun on the days of the full moon and the new moon.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.8.9.27)

पीतप्रायेऽमृते देवैर्भगवान् लोकभावनः । पश्यतामसुरेन्द्राणां स्वं रूपं जगृहे हरिः ॥ 9.27 ॥

pīta-prāye ’mṛte devair bhagavān loka-bhāvanaḥ paśyatām asurendrāṇāṁ svaṁ rūpaṁ jagṛhe hariḥ

When the nectar had almost all been drunk by the demigods, Hari, the nourisher of all the worlds, revealed his own true form there, in full view of the chief demons themselves.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.8.9.28)

एवं सुरासुरगणाः समदेशकाल- हेत्वर्थकर्ममतयोऽपि फले विकल्पाः । तत्रामृतं सुरगणाः फलमञ्जसापु- र्यत्पादपङ्कजरजःश्रयणान्न दैत्याः ॥ 9.28 ॥

evaṁ surāsura-gaṇāḥ sama-deśa-kāla- hetv-artha-karma-matayo ’pi phale vikalpāḥ tatrāmṛtaṁ sura-gaṇāḥ phalam añjasāpur yat-pāda-paṅkaja-rajaḥ-śrayaṇān na daityāḥ

Thus, though the place, the time, the motive, the purpose and the very act were the same for demigods and demons alike, the result differed. The demigods obtained the fruit of the nectar with ease, for they had taken shelter of the dust of the Lord's lotus feet; the demons, lacking that shelter, could not obtain it.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.8.9.29)

यद् युज्यतेऽसुवसुकर्ममनोवचोभि- र्देहात्मजादिषु नृभिस्तदसत् पृथक्त्वात् । तैरेव सद् भवति यत् क्रियतेऽपृथक्त्वात् सर्वस्य तद् भवति मूलनिषेचनं यत् ॥ 9.29 ॥

yad yujyate ’su-vasu-karma-mano-vacobhir dehātmajādiṣu nṛbhis tad asat pṛthaktvāt tair eva sad bhavati yat kriyate ’pṛthaktvāt sarvasya tad bhavati mūla-niṣecanaṁ yat

Whatever a man does with his life-breath, his wealth, his actions, his mind and his words — for the sake of his body, his children and the like — remains fruitless, because it is done in separation from the Lord. But that very same activity, performed without such separation, becomes truly fruitful for all — just as water poured upon the root of a tree reaches every part of it.