The Curse of Durvasa

Verse 1 (padma.6.231.1)

श्रीरुद्र उवाच- यत्कौर्म्यवैभवं विष्णोः सर्वलोकनमस्कृतम् । तद्वक्ष्यामि प्रिये सम्यक्शृणुष्वेकाग्रचेतसा ।

śrīrudra uvāca yatkaurṁyavaibhavaṁ viṣṇoḥ sarvalokanamaskṛtam tadvakṣyāmi priye saṁyakśṛṇuṣvekāgracetasā

Shri Rudra said: That glory of Vishnu's Kurma incarnation, worshipped by all the worlds — I shall tell it, my dear, properly; listen with a one-pointed mind.

Verse 2 (padma.6.231.2)

अत्रिपुत्रो महातेजा दुर्वासा इति विश्रुतः । प्रचण्डः सर्वलोकानां क्षोभकारी महातपाः ।

atriputro mahātejā durvāsā iti viśrutaḥ pracaṁḍaḥ sarvalokānāṁ kṣobhakārī mahātapāḥ

Atri's son, of great splendor, known as Durvasa, fierce, agitator of all the worlds, of great austerity —

Verse 3 (padma.6.231.3)

स ययौ हिमवत्पृष्ठं ब्रह्मर्षिस्तपसो निधिः । ममांशभूतो ब्रह्मर्षिः सर्वेषां भयदस्सदा ।

sa yayau himavatpṛṣṭhaṁ brahmarṣistapaso nidhiḥ mamāṁśabhūto brahmarṣiḥ sarveṣāṁ bhayadassadā

— he went to the summit of the Himalaya, a Brahmarshi, a treasury of austerity. A Brahmarshi born of a portion of me, ever a source of fear to all.

Verse 4 (padma.6.231.4)

उषितस्तत्र वर्षं तु किन्नरीभिः स पूजितः । महेंद्रं द्रष्टुकामोऽसौ स्वर्लोकं प्रययौ मुनिः ।

uṣitastatra varṣaṁ tu kiṁnarībhiḥ sa pūjitaḥ maheṁdraṁ draṣṭukāmo'sau svarlokaṁ prayayau muniḥ

Having dwelt there a year, worshipped by Kinnari women, that sage, desiring to see Mahendra, went to the heavenly world.

Verse 5 (padma.6.231.5)

तस्मिन्काले महातेजा गजारूढं महेश्वरम् । ददर्श सर्वदेवैस्तं पूज्यमानं शचीपतिम् ।

tasmiṁkāle mahātejā gajārūḍhaṁ maheśvaram dadarśa sarvadevaistaṁ pūjyamānaṁ śacīpatim

At that time, that being of great splendor saw Mahesha mounted on his elephant, worshipped there by all the gods, the lord of Shachi.

Verse 6 (padma.6.231.6)

तच्च दृष्ट्वा स हृष्टात्मा दुर्वासा सुमहातपाः । पारिजातस्रजं तस्मै प्रददौ विनयान्वितः ।

tacca dṛṣṭvā sa hṛṣṭātmā durvāsā sumahātapāḥ pārijātasrajaṁ tasmai pradadau vinayāṁvitaḥ

Seeing this, Durvasa, of very great austerity, delighted in mind, humbly gave him a garland of Parijata flowers.

Verse 7 (padma.6.231.7)

आदाय देवताधीशस्तां स्रजं गजमूर्द्धनि । विन्यस्य तत्र देवेशः प्रययौ नंदनं प्रति ।

ādāya devatādhīśastāṁ srajaṁ gajamūrddhani viṁyasya tatra deveśaḥ prayayau naṁdanaṁ prati

Taking it, the lord of the gods placed that garland upon the elephant's head, and then, that lord of the gods, proceeded toward Nandana.

Verse 8 (padma.6.231.8)

करेणादाय तां मालां मदोद्रिक्तस्ततो गजः । पीडयित्वाथ चिक्षेप संस्थितां धरणीतले ।

kareṇādāya tāṁ mālāṁ madodriktastato gajaḥ pīḍayitvātha cikṣepa saṁsthitāṁ dharaṇītale

Then, taking that garland in its trunk, the elephant, overcome with rut, crushed it and threw it, letting it fall to the ground.

Verse 9 (padma.6.231.9)

ततः क्रुद्धो महातेजा दुर्वासा रक्तलोचनः । प्रशप्तवान्महेंद्रं तं संतप्तक्रोधवह्निना ।

tataḥ kruddho mahātejā durvāsā raktalocanaḥ praśaptavāṁmaheṁdraṁ taṁ saṁtaptakrodhavahninā

Then Durvasa, of great splendor, red-eyed with anger, cursed that Mahendra, with the burning fire of wrath.

Verse 10 (padma.6.231.10)

दुर्वासा उवाच- त्रैलोक्यैकश्रियायुक्तो यस्मान्मामवमन्यते । तस्मात्त्रैलोक्यश्रीर्नष्टा भवत्वेव न संशयः ।

durvāsā uvāca trailokyaikaśriyāyukto yasmāṁmāmavamaṁyate tasmāttrailokyaśrīrnaṣṭā bhavatveva na saṁśayaḥ

Durvasa said: Since he, endowed with the sole glory of the three worlds, disrespects me, therefore let the glory of the three worlds be destroyed — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 11 (padma.6.231.11)

रुद्र उवाच- इति शप्तस्ततः शक्रो जगाम स्वपुरं पुनः । ततः श्रीर्जगतां धात्री क्षणादंतर्दधे स्वयम् ।

rudra uvāca iti śaptastataḥ śakro jagāma svapuraṁ punaḥ tataḥ śrīrjagatāṁ dhātrī kṣaṇādaṁtardadhe svayam

Rudra said: Thus cursed, Indra then went back to his own city. Then Shri, the nurturer of the worlds, herself vanished in an instant.

Verse 12 (padma.6.231.12)

अंतर्द्धानं गता लक्ष्मीस्तदा नष्टं जगत्त्रयम् । यदपांगाश्रितं सर्वं जगत्स्थावरजंगमम् ।

aṁtarddhānaṁ gatā lakṣmīstadā naṣṭaṁ jagattrayam yadapāṁgāśritaṁ sarvaṁ jagatsthāvarajaṁgamam

When Lakshmi had vanished, then the three worlds were ruined. All this universe, moving and unmoving, which depends on her sidelong glance —

Verse 13 (padma.6.231.13)

तस्यामंतर्द्धानवत्यां सर्वं नष्टतरं भवत् । ब्रह्मादि त्रिदशाः सर्वे गंधर्वा यक्ष किन्नराः ।

tasyāmaṁtarddhānavatyāṁ sarvaṁ naṣṭataraṁ bhavat brahmādi tridaśāḥ sarve gaṁdharvā yakṣa kiṁnarāḥ

— when she had vanished, everything became utterly ruined. Brahma and all the thirty gods, the Gandharvas, Yakshas, Kinnaras,

Verse 14 (padma.6.231.14)

दैत्याश्च दानावा नागा मनुष्या राक्षसास्तथा । पशवः पक्षिणः कीटाः सर्वे स्थावरजंगमाः ।

daityāśca dānāvā nāgā manuṣyā rākṣasāstathā paśavaḥ pakṣiṇaḥ kīṭāḥ sarve sthāvarajaṁgamāḥ

the Daityas, Danavas, Nagas, humans, and Rakshasas likewise, the animals, birds, insects, all moving and unmoving beings —

Verse 15 (padma.6.231.15)

तया लक्ष्म्या जगन्मात्रा ते सर्वे नावलोकिताः । दारिद्र्येनैव विहितास्ते सर्वे दुःखभागिनः ।

tayā lakṣṁyā jagaṁmātrā te sarve nāvalokitāḥ dāridryenaiva vihitāste sarve duḥkhabhāginaḥ

— none of them were any longer beheld by that Lakshmi, the mother of the universe. All of them, afflicted with poverty, became sufferers of misery.

Verse 16 (padma.6.231.16)

क्षुत्पिपासार्दिता देवाश्चुक्रुशुर्गतचेतसः । न ववर्ष जलधरः सर्वे शुष्का जलाशयाः ।

kṣutpipāsārditā devāścukruśurgatacetasaḥ na vavarṣa jaladharaḥ sarve śuṣkā jalāśayāḥ

Tormented by hunger and thirst, the gods cried out, bereft of their senses. The clouds did not rain; all the reservoirs of water dried up.

Verse 17 (padma.6.231.17)

सर्वे ते पादपा शुष्काः फलपुष्पविवर्जिताः । तदा देवाः सगंधर्वा दैत्यदानवराक्षसाः ।

sarve te pādapā śuṣkāḥ phalapuṣpavivarjitāḥ tadā devāḥ sagaṁdharvā daityadānavarākṣasāḥ

All the trees dried up, devoid of fruit and flower. Then the gods, together with the Gandharvas, and the Daityas, Danavas, and Rakshasas,

Verse 18 (padma.6.231.18)

क्षुत्पिपासार्द्दिता जग्मुः ब्रह्माणममितौजसम् । ऊचुस्तं देवदेवेशमब्जयोनिं पितामहम् ।

kṣutpipāsārdditā jagmuḥ brahmāṇamamitaujasam ūcustaṁ devadeveśamabjayoniṁ pitāmaham

— afflicted with hunger and thirst, went to Brahma of immeasurable splendor; they spoke to that lord of gods, the lotus-born grandsire.

Verse 19 (padma.6.231.19)

देवा ऊचुः - भगवन्क्षुत्पिपासाभ्यां पीडितं हि जगत्त्रयम् । न हुतं न वषट्कारः सर्वधर्म्मविवर्जितम् ।

devā ūcuḥ bhagavaṁkṣutpipāsābhyāṁ pīḍitaṁ hi jagattrayam na hutaṁ na vaṣaṭkāraḥ sarvadharṁmavivarjitam

The gods said: O lord, the three worlds are afflicted by hunger and thirst; there is no offering, no vashatkara, everything devoid of dharma.

Verse 20 (padma.6.231.20)

क्षुत्पिपासार्द्दिताः सर्वे देवदानवमानवाः । त्रातारं सर्वलोकेशं भवंतं शरणं गताः ।

kṣutpipāsārdditāḥ sarve devadānavamānavāḥ trātāraṁ sarvalokeśaṁ bhavaṁtaṁ śaraṇaṁ gatāḥ

All the gods, demons, and men, afflicted by hunger and thirst, have taken refuge in you, the protector, the lord of all the worlds.

Verse 21 (padma.6.231.21)

त्रातुमर्हसि देवेश क्षुत्पिपासार्दिताञ्जनान् । रुद्र उवाच- इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा सर्वलोकपितामहः ।

trātumarhasi deveśa kṣutpipāsārditāṁjanān rudra uvāca iti teṣāṁ vacaḥ śrutvā sarvalokapitāmahaḥ

You should save, O lord of the gods, these people afflicted by hunger and thirst. Rudra said: Hearing their words, the grandsire of all the worlds—

Verse 22 (padma.6.231.22)

उवाच परमप्रीतस्तान्सर्वान्प्रति मानदः । ब्रह्मोवाच- शृणुध्वं देवताः सर्वे दैत्यगंधर्वमानवाः ।

uvāca paramaprītastāṁsarvāṁprati mānadaḥ brahmovāca śṛṇudhvaṁ devatāḥ sarve daityagaṁdharvamānavāḥ

— spoke, greatly pleased, to all of them, honoring them. Brahma said: Listen, all you gods, demons, Gandharvas, and men —

Verse 23 (padma.6.231.23)

महेंद्रस्यापचारेण सर्वमेतदुपस्थितम् । समुद्भूतमिदं घोरं जगत्संवर्त्तकं महत् ।

maheṁdrasyāpacāreṇa sarvametadupasthitam samudbhūtamidaṁ ghoraṁ jagatsaṁvarttakaṁ mahat

All this has come about through the offense of Mahendra. This terrible, great, world-destroying calamity has arisen —

Verse 24 (padma.6.231.24)

दुर्वासाः सुमहात्मातु यतः क्रोधमवाप्तवान् । तस्मात्क्रोधेन तेनेदं नष्टं लोकत्रयं सुराः ।

durvāsāḥ sumahātmātu yataḥ krodhamavāptavān tasmātkrodhena tenedaṁ naṣṭaṁ lokatrayaṁ surāḥ

— because Durvasa, the great soul, became angry; by that anger the three worlds have been ruined, O gods.

Verse 25 (padma.6.231.25)

असौ रोषपरीतात्मा क्रोधेन कलुषीकृतः । जगत्त्रयं च श्रीनष्टं भवत्वित्याह दुर्मतिः ।

asau roṣaparītātmā krodhena kaluṣīkṛtaḥ jagattrayaṁ ca śrīnaṣṭaṁ bhavatvityāha durmatiḥ

He, overcome with rage, defiled by anger, that ill-minded one, said, 'Let the glory of the three worlds be destroyed.'

Verse 26 (padma.6.231.26)

तच्छापाज्जगतां धात्री लक्ष्मीर्न्नारायणप्रिया । अंतर्द्धानं गता देवी जगन्माता महेश्वरी ।

tacchāpājjagatāṁ dhātrī lakṣmīrṁnārāyaṇapriyā aṁtarddhānaṁ gatā devī jagaṁmātā maheśvarī

By that curse, Lakshmi, the nurturer of the worlds, beloved of Narayana, that goddess, the mother of the universe, the great mistress, has vanished.

Verse 27 (padma.6.231.27)

यदपाङ्गे क्षिता लोका भवंति सुखितास्तथा । नालोकिता जगन्मात्रा दुःखभागिन एव हि ।

yadapāṁge kṣitā lokā bhavaṁti sukhitāstathā nālokitā jagaṁmātrā duḥkhabhāgina eva hi

Those upon whom her sidelong glance falls become happy; those not beheld by the mother of the universe are indeed sufferers of misery.

Verse 28 (padma.6.231.28)

तस्मात्सर्वे वयं गत्वा दुग्धाब्धौ स्थितमुत्तमम् । तत्र नारायणं देवमर्च्चयामः सनातनम् ।

tasmātsarve vayaṁ gatvā dugdhābdhau sthitamuttamam tatra nārāyaṇaṁ devamarccayāmaḥ sanātanam

Therefore let us all go and, at the excellent place where he dwells in the ocean of milk, worship there the eternal god Narayana.

Verse 29 (padma.6.231.29)

तस्मिन्प्रसन्ने देवेशे शिवमेतद्भवेज्जगत् । इति निश्चित्य मनसा ब्रह्मा देवगणैर्युतः ।

tasmiṁprasaṁne deveśe śivametadbhavejjagat iti niścitya manasā brahmā devagaṇairyutaḥ

When that Lord of the gods is pleased, this universe will become auspicious. Having resolved thus in his mind, Brahma, together with the hosts of gods,

Verse 30 (padma.6.231.30)

भृग्वादिमुनिभिः सार्द्धं प्रययौ क्षीरसागरम् । क्षीराब्धावुत्तरतटे ब्रह्मरुद्रादिदेवताः ।

bhṛgvādimunibhiḥ sārddhaṁ prayayau kṣīrasāgaram kṣīrābdhāvuttarataṭe brahmarudrādidevatāḥ

together with the sages beginning with Bhrigu, went to the Ocean of Milk. On the northern shore of the ocean of milk, Brahma, Rudra, and the other gods —

Verse 31 (padma.6.231.31)

विष्णुं समर्च्चयामासुः पौरुषेण विधानतः । जपन्नष्टाक्षरं मंत्रं पौरुषं सूक्तमेव च ।

viṣṇuṁ samarccayāmāsuḥ pauruṣeṇa vidhānataḥ japaṁnaṣṭākṣaraṁ maṁtraṁ pauruṣaṁ sūktameva ca

— worshipped Vishnu with the Purusha-sukta, according to due procedure. Reciting the eight-syllabled mantra and the Purusha-sukta,

Verse 32 (padma.6.231.32)

ध्यायंतोऽनन्यमनसो जुहुवुः परमेश्वरम् । तुष्टुवुः स्तवनैर्दिव्यैर्नमश्चक्रुर्विचित्रधा ।

dhyāyaṁto'naṁyamanaso juhuvuḥ parameśvaram tuṣṭuvuḥ stavanairdivyairnamaścakrurvicitradhā

— meditating with undivided minds, they made oblations to the Supreme Lord. They praised him with divine hymns, and bowed in various ways.

Verse 33 (padma.6.231.33)

ततः प्रसन्नो भगवान्सर्वेषां च दिवौकसाम् । तेषां संदर्शने तस्थौ स्तूयमानो महर्षिभिः ।

tataḥ prasaṁno bhagavāṁsarveṣāṁ ca divaukasām teṣāṁ saṁdarśane tasthau stūyamāno maharṣibhiḥ

Then the glorious Lord, pleased with all the celestials, remained there, in their sight, while being praised by the great sages.

Verse 34 (padma.6.231.34)

वैनतेयं समारुह्य सर्वदेवमयं विभुम् । तं दृष्ट्वा जगतामीशं शंखचक्रगदाधरम् ।

vainateyaṁ samāruhya sarvadevamayaṁ vibhum taṁ dṛṣṭvā jagatāmīśaṁ śaṁkhacakragadādharam

Mounted on Vainateya, the all-pervading one, comprising all the gods — seeing him, the lord of the worlds, bearer of the conch, discus, and mace,

Verse 35 (padma.6.231.35)

पीतवस्त्रं चतुर्बाहुं पुंडरीकनिभेक्षणम् । श्रीवत्सकौस्तुभोरस्कं वनमालाविभूषितम् ।

pītavastraṁ caturbāhuṁ puṁḍarīkanibhekṣaṇam śrīvatsakaustubhoraskaṁ vanamālāvibhūṣitam

clad in yellow garments, four-armed, with eyes like a lotus, his chest adorned with the Shrivatsa and Kaustubha, adorned with a forest-garland,

Verse 36 (padma.6.231.36)

किरीटहारकेयूरनूपुरैरुपशोभितम् । तुष्टुवुर्जयशब्देन नमश्चक्रुर्निरंतरम् ।

kirīṭahārakeyūranūpurairupaśobhitam tuṣṭuvurjayaśabdena namaścakrurniraṁtaram

resplendent with crown, necklace, armlets, and anklets — they praised him with cries of victory, and bowed to him continually.

Verse 37 (padma.6.231.37)

ततः प्रोवाच भगवान्कृपया सर्वदेवताः । वरदोस्मि वरं देवा वृणीध्वमिति चाब्रवीत् ।

tataḥ provāca bhagavāṁkṛpayā sarvadevatāḥ varadosmi varaṁ devā vṛṇīdhvamiti cābravīt

Then the glorious Lord, out of compassion, addressed all the gods: 'I am the granter of boons; O gods, choose a boon,' so he said.

Verse 38 (padma.6.231.38)

इति श्रुत्वा तदा सर्वे देवा ब्रह्मपुरोगमाः । ऊचुः प्रांजलयो देवमिदं वचनमीश्वरम् ।

iti śrutvā tadā sarve devā brahmapurogamāḥ ūcuḥ prāṁjalayo devamidaṁ vacanamīśvaram

Hearing this, all the gods, led by Brahma, spoke this word to the Lord, with joined palms.

Verse 39 (padma.6.231.39)

देवा ऊचुः। भगवन्मुनिशापेन संप्रतीदं जगत्त्रयम् । क्षुत्पिपासार्दितं सर्वं सदेवासुरमानुषम् ।

devā ūcuḥ bhagavaṁmuniśāpena saṁpratīdaṁ jagattrayam kṣutpipāsārditaṁ sarvaṁ sadevāsuramānuṣam

The gods said: O lord, by the sage's curse, now these three worlds, along with the gods, demons, and men, are all afflicted by hunger and thirst.

Verse 40 (padma.6.231.40)

तस्माद्भवंतं शरणं याताः स्म पुरुषोत्तम । त्राहि सर्वमिमं लोकं नान्यः शक्तो भवेत्क्वचित् ।

tasmādbhavaṁtaṁ śaraṇaṁ yātāḥ sma puruṣottama trāhi sarvamimaṁ lokaṁ nāṁyaḥ śakto bhavetkvacit

Therefore we have come to you for refuge, O Purushottama. Save this entire world; no one else anywhere is capable of doing so.

Verse 41 (padma.6.231.41)

रुद्र उवाच- इत्युक्तो देवतैः सर्वैरच्युतः परमेश्वरः । विचार्य्यैतदुवाचैतान्देवान्ब्रह्मपुरोगमान् ।

rudra uvāca ityukto devataiḥ sarvairacyutaḥ parameśvaraḥ vicāryyaitaduvācaitāṁdevāṁbrahmapurogamān

Rudra said: Thus addressed by all the gods, the imperishable Supreme Lord, having reflected, spoke to those gods led by Brahma.

Verse 42 (padma.6.231.42)

श्रीभगवानुवाच- अत्रिसूनोर्मुनेः शापादंतर्द्धानं गता रमा । कटाक्षदर्शनात्तस्या जगदैश्वर्य्यसंयुतम् ।

śrībhagavānuvāca atrisūnormuneḥ śāpādaṁtarddhānaṁ gatā ramā kaṭākṣadarśanāttasyā jagadaiśvaryyasaṁyutam

Shri Bhagavan said: By the curse of the sage, the son of Atri, Rama has vanished — the glory of the universe that came from the sight of her sidelong glance.

Verse 43 (padma.6.231.43)

तस्माद्यूयं सुराः सर्वे शिवब्रह्मपुरोगमाः । उत्पाट्य मंदरं शैलं निधाय क्षीरसागरम् ।

tasmādyūyaṁ surāḥ sarve śivabrahmapurogamāḥ utpāṭya maṁdaraṁ śailaṁ nidhāya kṣīrasāgaram

Therefore, all you gods, led by Shiva and Brahma, uproot the mountain Mandara and place it in the Ocean of Milk.

Verse 44 (padma.6.231.44)

मंदरं घर्घरं कृत्वा सर्प्पराजेन वेष्टितम् । कुरुध्वं मथनं देवा दैत्यगंधर्वदानवैः ।

maṁdaraṁ ghargharaṁ kṛtvā sarpparājena veṣṭitam kurudhvaṁ mathanaṁ devā daityagaṁdharvadānavaiḥ

Using Mandara as the churning-rod, wound about with the king of serpents, churn it, O gods, with the Daityas, Gandharvas, and Danavas.

Verse 45 (padma.6.231.45)

उत्पद्यते च सा लक्ष्मीर्जगत्संरक्षणाय वै । तया हृष्टा महाभागा भविष्यथ न संशयः ।

utpadyate ca sā lakṣmīrjagatsaṁrakṣaṇāya vai tayā hṛṣṭā mahābhāgā bhaviṣyatha na saṁśayaḥ

That Lakshmi will then arise, for the protection of the universe. Delighted by her, you will become fortunate — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 46 (padma.6.231.46)

धारयाम्यहमेवाद्रिं कूर्मरूपेण संवृतः । मम शक्त्या सुरान्सर्वान्प्रविश्य च बलीयसः ।

dhārayāṁyahamevādriṁ kūrmarūpeṇa saṁvṛtaḥ mama śaktyā surāṁsarvāṁpraviśya ca balīyasaḥ

I myself, having become a tortoise, will support the mountain. By my power, having entered all the gods and the demons, strong as they are—

Verse 47 (padma.6.231.47)

रुद्र उवाच- इत्युक्ता देवताः सर्वा हरिणा कामलक्षणे । साधुसाध्विति देवेशमूचुर्ब्रह्मपुरोगमाः ।

rudra uvāca ityuktā devatāḥ sarvā hariṇā kāmalakṣaṇe sādhusādhviti deveśamūcurbrahmapurogamāḥ

Rudra said: Thus addressed, all the gods, O one of desired qualities, said to the Lord of gods, 'Well said, well said,' led by Brahma.

Verse 48 (padma.6.231.48)

संस्तूयमानो भगवानच्युतः सुरसत्तमैः । अंतर्दधे ततः श्रीमान्सर्वलोकनमस्कृतः । सर्वाधारः सर्वदेवः सर्वत्र समदर्शनः ।

saṁstūyamāno bhagavānacyutaḥ surasattamaiḥ aṁtardadhe tataḥ śrīmāṁsarvalokanamaskṛtaḥ sarvādhāraḥ sarvadevaḥ sarvatra samadarśanaḥ

Praised thus by the best of gods, the glorious, imperishable Lord then vanished — worshipped by all the worlds, the support of all, the god of all, seeing all with equal vision everywhere.