The Rise of the Poison in the Churning of the Nectar

Verse 1 (skanda.2.200.1)

स्कन्द उवाच । ब्रह्मरुद्रौ महेन्द्रादीन्संधानायाऽसुरैः सह । आज्ञाप्य जग्मतुः स्वंस्वं धाम देवा रसां मुने

skanda uvāca brahmarudrau mahendrādīnsaṁdhānāyā'suraiḥ saha ājñāpya jagmatuḥ svaṁsvaṁ dhāma devā rasāṁ mune

Skanda said: O sage, Brahma and Rudra, having instructed Mahendra and the other gods to make an alliance with the asuras, went each to their own abode.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.200.2)

समयोचितभाषाविद्वासवो नीतियुक्तिभिः । प्रलोभ्य फलभागेन सन्धिं चक्रेऽसुरैः सह

samayocitabhāṣāvidvāsavo nītiyuktibhiḥ pralobhya phalabhāgena sandhiṁ cakre'suraiḥ saha

Indra, skilled in speech suited to the occasion, having enticed them with policy and arguments through the promise of a share of the fruit, made an alliance with the asuras.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.200.3)

ततो देवासुरगणा मिलिता वारिधेस्तटे । महौषधीरुपानीय बहुशो निदधुर्द्रुतम्

tato devāsuragaṇā militā vāridhestaṭe mahauṣadhīrupānīya bahuśo nidadhurdrutam

Then the hosts of gods and asuras, gathered on the shore of the ocean, brought many great herbs and quickly cast them in.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.200.4)

मन्दराद्रिमुपेत्याऽथ नानौषधिविराजितम् । मूलादुत्पाट्य ते सर्वे नेतुमब्धिं समुद्यताः

mandarādrimupetyā'tha nānauṣadhivirājitam mūlādutpāṭya te sarve netumabdhiṁ samudyatāḥ

Then, approaching Mount Mandara, resplendent with many herbs, all of them, having uprooted it, prepared to bring it to the ocean.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.200.5)

एकादशसहस्राणि योजनानां भुवि स्थितम् । नोद्धर्तुमशकंस्ते तं तदानीं तुष्टुवुर्हरिम्

ekādaśasahasrāṇi yojanānāṁ bhuvi sthitam noddhartumaśakaṁste taṁ tadānīṁ tuṣṭuvurharim

That mountain, extending eleven thousand yojanas into the earth, they were unable to uproot; then they praised Hari.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.200.6)

एतद्विदित्वा भगवान्संकर्षणमहीश्वरम् । अजिज्ञपत्तमुद्धर्तुं बद्धमूलं महीधरम्

etadviditvā bhagavānsaṁkarṣaṇamahīśvaram ajijñapattamuddhartuṁ baddhamūlaṁ mahīdharam

Knowing this, the Blessed Lord instructed Sankarshana, lord of the earth, to uproot that mountain whose root was firmly fixed.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.200.7)

फूत्कारमात्रेणैकेन स तु सद्यस्तमीश्वरः । बहिश्चिक्षेप तत्स्थानाद्योजनद्वितयान्तरे

phūtkāramātreṇaikena sa tu sadyastamīśvaraḥ bahiścikṣepa tatsthānādyojanadvitayāntare

That Lord, with just a single hiss, immediately cast it out of its place, two yojanas away.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.200.8)

अत्याश्चर्यं तदालोक्य हृष्टाः सर्वे सुरासुराः । तदन्तिकमुपाजग्मुर्द्धावन्तश्च कृतारवाः

atyāścaryaṁ tadālokya hṛṣṭāḥ sarve surāsurāḥ tadantikamupājagmurddhāvantaśca kṛtāravāḥ

Seeing that great wonder, all the gods and asuras, delighted, ran shouting and came near it.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.200.9)

बलिनो यत्नवन्तोपि परिघोपमबाहवः । उद्धृत्य नेतुं नो शेकुर्विषण्णा विफलश्रमाः

balino yatnavantopi parighopamabāhavaḥ uddhṛtya netuṁ no śekurviṣaṇṇā viphalaśramāḥ

Though mighty and diligent, with arms like iron bars, they were unable to lift it and carry it; dejected, their effort fruitless.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.200.10)

ज्ञात्वा सुरगणान्खिन्नान्भगवान्सर्वदर्शनः । तार्क्ष्यमाज्ञापयामास नेतुं तमुदधिं द्रुतम्

jñātvā suragaṇānkhinnānbhagavānsarvadarśanaḥ tārkṣyamājñāpayāmāsa netuṁ tamudadhiṁ drutam

Knowing the gods to be exhausted, the all-seeing Blessed Lord instructed Garuda to carry it swiftly to the ocean.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.200.11)

सहावरणमप्यण्डं लीलया धर्त्तुमीश्वरः । मनोवेगः स तत्रेत्य निजत्रोट्यैव तं गिरिम् । उत्पाट्य सागरतटे निधाय हरिमाययौ

sahāvaraṇamapyaṇḍaṁ līlayā dharttumīśvaraḥ manovegaḥ sa tatretya nijatroṭyaiva taṁ girim utpāṭya sāgarataṭe nidhāya harimāyayau

He, the Lord able even to bear the cosmic egg with its coverings in mere play, mind-swift, going there, having uprooted that mountain with his own beak alone, placed it on the ocean shore, and returned to Hari.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.200.12)

ततः संहृष्टमनसः सर्वे कश्यपनन्दनाः । वासुकिं चाह्वयामासुः सुधाभागप्रतिज्ञया

tataḥ saṁhṛṣṭamanasaḥ sarve kaśyapanandanāḥ vāsukiṁ cāhvayāmāsuḥ sudhābhāgapratijñayā

Then, with delighted minds, all the sons of Kashyapa summoned Vasuki, with a promise of a share of the nectar.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.200.13)

स तत्रागादथो सर्वे तेऽब्धिं मन्थितुमुद्यताः । तानपान्निधिरागत्य मूर्त्तिमानब्रवीद्वचः

sa tatrāgādatho sarve te'bdhiṁ manthitumudyatāḥ tānapānnidhirāgatya mūrttimānabravīdvacaḥ

He came there, and then all of them prepared to churn the ocean; the Lord of the Waters, coming to them in embodied form, spoke these words.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.200.14)

यदि दास्यथ मे यूयममृतांशं सुरासुराः । सोढास्मि विपुलं तर्हि मन्दरभ्रमणार्द्दनम्

yadi dāsyatha me yūyamamṛtāṁśaṁ surāsurāḥ soḍhāsmi vipulaṁ tarhi mandarabhramaṇārddanam

'O gods and asuras, if you will give me a share of the nectar, then I will endure the immense affliction of Mandara's revolving.'

Verse 15 (skanda.2.200.15)

तथेति ते प्रतिज्ञाय क्षिप्त्वादावोषधीलताः । परिविव्युर्न्नागराजं तस्मिन्काञ्चनपर्वते

tatheti te pratijñāya kṣiptvādāvoṣadhīlatāḥ parivivyurnnāgarājaṁ tasminkāñcanaparvate

Agreeing 'so be it,' and having first cast in the herb-creepers, they wound the king of serpents around that golden mountain.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.200.16)

ततो देवा हृदि हरिं सस्मरुः कार्यसिद्धये । स्मृतमात्रः स तत्राऽगादच्युतः सर्वदर्शनः

tato devā hṛdi hariṁ sasmaruḥ kāryasiddhaye smṛtamātraḥ sa tatrā'gādacyutaḥ sarvadarśanaḥ

Then the gods remembered Hari in their hearts for the accomplishment of the task; the all-seeing Achyuta, remembered, came there at once.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.200.17)

तमालोक्यामरगणा मुदिताः फणिनां पतेः । पुरोभागं गृहीत्वैव तस्थुस्तेनानुमोदिताः

tamālokyāmaragaṇā muditāḥ phaṇināṁ pateḥ purobhāgaṁ gṛhītvaiva tasthustenānumoditāḥ

Seeing him, the delighted hosts of immortals, having grasped the front part of the lord of serpents, stood there, sanctioned by him.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.200.18)

देवतापक्षपातित्वं सूचयन्स्वस्य च प्रभुः । यत्र देवास्तत्र तस्थौ ततो दैत्यास्तु चुक्रुधुः

devatāpakṣapātitvaṁ sūcayansvasya ca prabhuḥ yatra devāstatra tasthau tato daityāstu cukrudhuḥ

The Lord, revealing his own partiality toward the gods, stood wherever the gods stood; at this the daityas became angry.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.200.19)

तपोविद्यावयोज्येष्ठा अधोभागममङ्गलम् । कथं तिरश्चो गृह्णीमो नेदृङ्मूर्खा वयं त्विति

tapovidyāvayojyeṣṭhā adhobhāgamamaṅgalam kathaṁ tiraśco gṛhṇīmo nedṛṅmūrkhā vayaṁ tviti

'We, who are eldest in austerity, learning, and age — how should we take the inauspicious lower part, like beasts? We are not such fools!'

Verse 20 (skanda.2.200.20)

सह देवैस्ततो विष्णुः स्वयं तान्मानयन्निव । प्रहस्य दत्त्वा प्राग्भागं सुरान्पुच्छमजिग्रहत्

saha devaistato viṣṇuḥ svayaṁ tānmānayanniva prahasya dattvā prāgbhāgaṁ surānpucchamajigrahat

Then Vishnu, together with the gods, as if honoring them, laughing, gave them the front portion and had the gods take the tail.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.200.21)

महाहिविषफूत्कारदाहादमररक्षणम् । चरित्रमेतच्छ्रीभर्तुरिति दैत्या न ते विदुः

mahāhiviṣaphūtkāradāhādamararakṣaṇam caritrametacchrībharturiti daityā na te viduḥ

This was the deed of the Lord of Shri, to protect the immortals from the burning venom-hiss of the great serpent — but those daityas did not know it.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.200.22)

तत उत्तोलयामासुः स्वर्णसान्वालिभास्वरम् । मन्दरं काश्यपेयास्ते चर्मिकाबद्धकच्छकाः

tata uttolayāmāsuḥ svarṇasānvālibhāsvaram mandaraṁ kāśyapeyāste carmikābaddhakacchakāḥ

Then those sons of Kashyapa, their loins bound with leather straps, lifted up Mandara, shining with its golden peaks.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.200.23)

द्वाविंशतिसहस्राणि योजनानां तमुच्छ्रितम् । अम्भोनिधौ निदधिरे क्रोशन्तोत्यर्थमुत्सुकाः

dvāviṁśatisahasrāṇi yojanānāṁ tamucchritam ambhonidhau nidadhire krośantotyarthamutsukāḥ

That mountain, twenty-two thousand yojanas in height, they placed in the ocean, crying out, exceedingly eager.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.200.24)

धार्यमाणोप्यनाधारस्तैरद्रिरतिगौरवात् । ययावधस्तलं सद्यस्तदासंस्तेऽतिविह्वलाः

dhāryamāṇopyanādhārastairadriratigauravāt yayāvadhastalaṁ sadyastadāsaṁste'tivihvalāḥ

Though held up by them, the mountain, being without support, on account of its great weight, at once sank to the bottom; then they became utterly distraught.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.200.25)

तदा स भगवान्साक्षात्सर्वथा भक्तकार्यकृत् । स्तूयमानोमरैरद्रिमुद्दघ्रे कमठाकृतिः

tadā sa bhagavānsākṣātsarvathā bhaktakāryakṛt stūyamānomarairadrimuddaghre kamaṭhākṛtiḥ

Then the Blessed Lord himself, ever accomplishing the tasks of his devotees, praised by the immortals, lifted up the mountain, assuming the form of a tortoise.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.200.26)

उत्थितं तमवेक्ष्याशु सर्वे फुल्लहृदाननाः । बभूवुश्च स्थिरः सोऽभूत्कूर्मपृष्ठेतिविस्तृते

utthitaṁ tamavekṣyāśu sarve phullahṛdānanāḥ babhūvuśca sthiraḥ so'bhūtkūrmapṛṣṭhetivistṛte

Seeing it raised up, all of them became blossoming of heart and face; and it became steady, resting upon the vast back of the tortoise.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.200.27)

ततो ममन्थुस्तरसा यावद्बलमपांनिधिम् । श्रमफूत्कारवदना देवादयोऽदयम्

tato mamanthustarasā yāvadbalamapāṁnidhim śramaphūtkāravadanā devādayo'dayam

Then the gods and the others, with faces panting from exertion, churned the ocean of waters vigorously, with all their strength, mercilessly.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.200.28)

भ्राम्यमाणात्ततस्त्वद्रेर्बहवोन्यपतन्दुमाः । ऊर्द्ध्वद्रुघर्षजो वह्निस्तत्स्थ सिंहादिमादहत्

bhrāmyamāṇāttatastvadrerbahavonyapatandumāḥ ūrddhvadrugharṣajo vahnistatstha siṁhādimādahat

Then, from that revolving mountain, many trees fell off; a fire born from the friction of the trees at its top burned up the lions and other creatures dwelling there.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.200.29)

तत्र नाना जलचरा विनिपिष्टा महाद्रिणा । विलयं समुपाजग्मुः शतशः क्षीरवारिधौ

tatra nānā jalacarā vinipiṣṭā mahādriṇā vilayaṁ samupājagmuḥ śataśaḥ kṣīravāridhau

There, various water-creatures, crushed by the great mountain, perished by the hundreds in the Ocean of Milk.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.200.30)

सांवर्त्तकमहामेघसङ्घगर्ज्जितवन्महान् । आसीन्मंथननादश्च प्रतिध्वनिविवर्द्धितः

sāṁvarttakamahāmeghasaṅghagarjjitavanmahān āsīnmaṁthananādaśca pratidhvanivivarddhitaḥ

The sound of the churning was great, like the roaring of the Samvartaka clouds of dissolution, magnified by its own echo.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.200.31)

अत्याकर्षणखिन्नाङ्गवासुकर्म्मुखकृत्कृतैः । हतौजसोऽतिखिन्नाश्च दैत्या निङ्गालवद्बभुः

atyākarṣaṇakhinnāṅgavāsukarmmukhakṛtkṛtaiḥ hataujaso'tikhinnāśca daityā niṅgālavadbabhuḥ

The daityas, their strength destroyed, exceedingly exhausted from pulling so forcefully at the mouth-end of Vasuki, whose body was worn out by it, looked like corpses.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.200.32)

अविषह्यं विषाग्निं च मर्षन्ति बहुधा मुहुः । लम्बन्ते स्माहिराजस्य सहस्रं वदनान्यधः

aviṣahyaṁ viṣāgniṁ ca marṣanti bahudhā muhuḥ lambante smāhirājasya sahasraṁ vadanānyadhaḥ

They endured, again and again, in many ways, the unbearable fire of poison; the thousand mouths of the serpent-king hung down below.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.200.33)

दधार सहसा तानि भगवन्प्रेरितो विभुः । संकर्षणो महातेजाः सहमानो विषानलम्

dadhāra sahasā tāni bhagavanprerito vibhuḥ saṁkarṣaṇo mahātejāḥ sahamāno viṣānalam

Impelled by the Lord, the mighty Sankarshana, of great splendor, suddenly bore up those mouths, enduring the fire of the poison.

Verse 34 (skanda.2.200.34)

सहस्रमेकं वर्षाणां मथ्यमानात्पयोनिधेः । हालाहलं विषमभूदुत्सर्पद्विदिशो दिशः

sahasramekaṁ varṣāṇāṁ mathyamānātpayonidheḥ hālāhalaṁ viṣamabhūdutsarpadvidiśo diśaḥ

After a thousand years of churning, from the ocean of milk arose the Halahala poison, spreading out in every direction.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.200.35)

यदाहुः कालकूटाख्यं सर्वलोकातिदाहकम् । तेन दन्दह्यमानाङ्गास्ते तु चक्रुः पलायनम्

yadāhuḥ kālakūṭākhyaṁ sarvalokātidāhakam tena dandahyamānāṅgāste tu cakruḥ palāyanam

Which they call by the name Kalakuta, exceedingly scorching to all the worlds; their bodies burning from it, they took to flight.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.200.36)

ततो ब्रह्मा प्रजेशाश्च देवाः सर्वेप्युमापतिम् । प्रार्थयंस्तस्य पानार्थं स्तुवन्तः स्तुतिभिर्मुने

tato brahmā prajeśāśca devāḥ sarvepyumāpatim prārthayaṁstasya pānārthaṁ stuvantaḥ stutibhirmune

O sage, then Brahma, the lords of creatures, and all the gods, praising him with hymns, entreated the husband of Uma to drink it.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.200.37)

भगवानथ तं प्राह सुराणामग्रजो भवान् । भवतीत्यग्रजं वार्द्धेर्गृहाणेदं विषं शिव

bhagavānatha taṁ prāha surāṇāmagrajo bhavān bhavatītyagrajaṁ vārddhergṛhāṇedaṁ viṣaṁ śiva

Then the Blessed Lord said to him: 'You are the eldest-born of the gods; therefore, O Shiva, take this eldest-born of the churned ocean, this poison.'

Verse 38 (skanda.2.200.38)

देवानां स भयं दृष्ट्वा करुणश्चाज्ञया हरेः । आकर्षद्योगकलया विषं पाणितलेऽखिलम्

devānāṁ sa bhayaṁ dṛṣṭvā karuṇaścājñayā hareḥ ākarṣadyogakalayā viṣaṁ pāṇitale'khilam

Seeing the fear of the gods, and being compassionate, by the command of Hari, he drew the entire poison into the palm of his hand through his yogic power.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.200.39)

पपौ तत्कण्ठमध्ये च शोषयामास तत्क्षणम् । नीलकण्ठ इति ख्यातः शंकराख्यश्च पऽभवत्

papau tatkaṇṭhamadhye ca śoṣayāmāsa tatkṣaṇam nīlakaṇṭha iti khyātaḥ śaṁkarākhyaśca pa'bhavat

He drank it and at once dried it up within his throat; thus he became renowned by the name Nilakantha, the blue-throated one, while remaining known as Shankara.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.200.40)

पास्यतस्तस्य पाणेर्ये पतिता भुविबिन्दवः । तान्नागा वृश्चिकाद्याश्च जगृहुः काश्चनौषधीः

pāsyatastasya pāṇerye patitā bhuvibindavaḥ tānnāgā vṛścikādyāśca jagṛhuḥ kāścanauṣadhīḥ

The drops that fell to the earth from his hand as he drank it were taken up, some by serpents and scorpions and the like, and some by certain herbs.