The Gods' Drinking of the Nectar

Verse 1 (skanda.2.202.1)

स्कन्द उवाच । उत्प्रेक्षन्तो जायमानं मंथितारोऽथ तेऽखिलाः । आयांतं ददृशुर्द्दूरादन्ति धन्वन्तरिं श्रियः

skanda uvāca utprekṣanto jāyamānaṁ maṁthitāro'tha te'khilāḥ āyāṁtaṁ dadṛśurddūrādanti dhanvantariṁ śriyaḥ

Skanda said: Then all those churners, looking eagerly at what was being produced, saw from a distance Dhanvantari approaching close to Shri.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.202.2)

सुधाभृतं हेमकुम्भं दृष्ट्वा चाऽस्य करे धृतम् । असुराः सहसा ब्रह्मन्नुत्प्लुत्य जगृहुश्च तम्

sudhābhṛtaṁ hemakumbhaṁ dṛṣṭvā cā'sya kare dhṛtam asurāḥ sahasā brahmannutplutya jagṛhuśca tam

O brahmin, seeing the golden pot filled with nectar held in his hand, the asuras suddenly leapt up and seized it.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.202.3)

तत्रापि बलिनो ये ते गृहीत्वा दुद्रुवुस्ततः । तान्दुर्बला न्यषेधन्त नीतिवाक्यैरनुद्रुताः

tatrāpi balino ye te gṛhītvā dudruvustataḥ tāndurbalā nyaṣedhanta nītivākyairanudrutāḥ

Even among them, those who were strongest, having seized it, ran off with it; the weaker ones, not chasing after them, tried to restrain them with words of policy.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.202.4)

अहो नैवमधर्मो वः कार्यो धर्मपरायणैः । समश्रमेभ्यो देवेभ्यो दत्त्वा पेयं न चान्यथा

aho naivamadharmo vaḥ kāryo dharmaparāyaṇaiḥ samaśramebhyo devebhyo dattvā peyaṁ na cānyathā

'Ah, such adharma should not be done by those devoted to dharma! It should be given to the gods, who shared equally in the labor — it should be drunk in no other way!'

Verse 5 (skanda.2.202.5)

अनादृत्येति तद्वाक्यं ययुर्दूरं त्वरान्विताः । तत्रापि तेषामन्योन्यं कराकृष्टिर्महत्यभूत्

anādṛtyeti tadvākyaṁ yayurdūraṁ tvarānvitāḥ tatrāpi teṣāmanyonyaṁ karākṛṣṭirmahatyabhūt

Disregarding that speech, they went far off in haste; even there, among themselves, there arose a great pulling of the pot from hand to hand.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.202.6)

अहं पूर्वमहं पूर्वं न त्वं न त्वं पिबाम्यहम् । इत्थं विवदमानास्ते नापुस्तत्प्राशनक्षणम्

ahaṁ pūrvamahaṁ pūrvaṁ na tvaṁ na tvaṁ pibāmyaham itthaṁ vivadamānāste nāpustatprāśanakṣaṇam

'I first! I first! Not you! Not you! I shall drink!' — quarreling thus among themselves, they never reached the moment of drinking it.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.202.7)

अथ देवा म्लानवक्त्रा दृष्ट्वा दैत्यैर्हृता सुधाम् । अशक्तास्तत्प्रतीकारे शरणं प्रापुरच्युतम्

atha devā mlānavaktrā dṛṣṭvā daityairhṛtā sudhām aśaktāstatpratīkāre śaraṇaṁ prāpuracyutam

Then the gods, their faces downcast, seeing the nectar seized by the daityas, and unable to remedy it, went for refuge to Achyuta.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.202.8)

पाहिपाहि जगन्नाथ नष्टं सर्वस्वमेव नः । दैत्यैर्हृता सुधा सर्वा का गतिर्न्नो भविष्यति

pāhipāhi jagannātha naṣṭaṁ sarvasvameva naḥ daityairhṛtā sudhā sarvā kā gatirnno bhaviṣyati

'Save us, save us, O Lord of the universe! All our wealth has been lost. The daityas have taken away the entire nectar. What refuge shall be ours?'

Verse 9 (skanda.2.202.9)

सुधापानादृतेप्येते हन्तुमस्मानलं क्षमाः । पीतेऽमृते तु तैरद्य किं करिष्यामहे वयम्

sudhāpānādṛtepyete hantumasmānalaṁ kṣamāḥ pīte'mṛte tu tairadya kiṁ kariṣyāmahe vayam

'Even without drinking the nectar, they are quite capable of destroying us; but if they drink the nectar today, what shall we do?'

Verse 10 (skanda.2.202.10)

स्कन्द उवाच । निशम्य दैन्यं देवानां भगवान्भक्तकार्यकृत् । मा भैष्टेति सुरानुक्त्वा सुधामादित्सदासुरात्

skanda uvāca niśamya dainyaṁ devānāṁ bhagavānbhaktakāryakṛt mā bhaiṣṭeti surānuktvā sudhāmāditsadāsurāt

Skanda said: Hearing the wretchedness of the gods, the Blessed Lord, who accomplishes the tasks of his devotees, said to the gods, 'Do not fear,' and set about to take the nectar back from the asuras.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.202.11)

स्त्रीरूपमद्भुतं धृत्वा सर्वलोकविमोहनम् । दैत्यान्तिकमुपागत्य चक्रे कन्दुकखेलनम्

strīrūpamadbhutaṁ dhṛtvā sarvalokavimohanam daityāntikamupāgatya cakre kandukakhelanam

Taking on a wondrous female form, bewildering to all the worlds, he approached near the daityas and began to play with a ball.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.202.12)

ते तु तद्रूपमालोक्य मोहिताः कामविह्वलाः । त्यक्त्वा परस्परोन्मर्द्दं तामुपेत्याब्रुवन्वचः

te tu tadrūpamālokya mohitāḥ kāmavihvalāḥ tyaktvā parasparonmarddaṁ tāmupetyābruvanvacaḥ

They, seeing that form, were bewildered, overwhelmed by desire; abandoning their mutual struggle, they approached her and spoke these words.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.202.13)

सुधाकुम्भमिमं भद्रे गृहीत्वा त्वं विभज्य नः । सर्वान्पायय सुश्रोणि वयं कश्यपसूनवः

sudhākumbhamimaṁ bhadre gṛhītvā tvaṁ vibhajya naḥ sarvānpāyaya suśroṇi vayaṁ kaśyapasūnavaḥ

'O gracious lady, taking this pot of nectar, divide it and give all of us, the sons of Kashyapa, to drink, O fair one.'

Verse 14 (skanda.2.202.14)

इत्युक्त्वा तं ददुस्तस्मै तेऽनिच्छन्त्या अपि स्त्रियै । सा प्राह मम विश्रम्भो न कार्यः स्वैरिणी ह्यहम्

ityuktvā taṁ dadustasmai te'nicchantyā api striyai sā prāha mama viśrambho na kāryaḥ svairiṇī hyaham

Having said this, they gave it to her, though the woman seemed unwilling; she said, 'Trust must not be placed in me, for I am a wayward woman.'

Verse 15 (skanda.2.202.15)

अकार्यं वः कृतं ह्येतद्विभजिष्ये निजेच्छया । इत्युक्ता अपि ते मूढा यथेष्टं कुर्विति ब्रुवन्

akāryaṁ vaḥ kṛtaṁ hyetadvibhajiṣye nijecchayā ityuktā api te mūḍhā yatheṣṭaṁ kurviti bruvan

'This deed of yours was indeed improper; I shall divide it as I myself wish.' Though told this, those foolish ones still said, 'Do as you please.'

Verse 16 (skanda.2.202.16)

ततस्तदाज्ञया सर्वे देवा दैत्याश्च वासुकिः । निषेदुः पंक्तिशस्तत्र स्वस्वमण्डलमाश्रिताः

tatastadājñayā sarve devā daityāśca vāsukiḥ niṣeduḥ paṁktiśastatra svasvamaṇḍalamāśritāḥ

Then, at her command, all the gods, the daityas, and Vasuki sat down there in rows, each keeping to their own group.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.202.17)

पंक्तिबंधोद्यतेष्वेषु मोहिनी सा तु दूरतः । सम्मुखं देवपंक्तीनां हेमासन उपाविशत्

paṁktibaṁdhodyateṣveṣu mohinī sā tu dūrataḥ sammukhaṁ devapaṁktīnāṁ hemāsana upāviśat

While they were engaged in forming these rows, that Mohini seated herself at a distance, upon a golden seat, facing the rows of the gods.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.202.18)

स्वांतिके चामृतघटं निधाय स्त्रैणलीलया । इतस्ततो वीक्षमाणा तस्थौ निःस्पृहवत्क्षणम्

svāṁtike cāmṛtaghaṭaṁ nidhāya straiṇalīlayā itastato vīkṣamāṇā tasthau niḥspṛhavatkṣaṇam

Placing the pot of nectar near herself, with feminine playfulness, glancing here and there, she stood for a moment as if indifferent.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.202.19)

विप्रचित्तिमुखास्तर्हि ये वै दानवयूथपाः । संदिग्धचित्ता मोहिन्यामासन्देवांतिकस्थितेः

vipracittimukhāstarhi ye vai dānavayūthapāḥ saṁdigdhacittā mohinyāmāsandevāṁtikasthiteḥ

Then the leaders of the danava hosts, headed by Vipracitti, grew doubtful in mind about Mohini, because of her position near the gods.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.202.20)

शनैरुपेत्य तद्दृष्टिं वञ्चयित्वा सुधाघटम् । जह्रुः पुनर्दुरात्मानो रहो गत्वा पिपासवः

śanairupetya taddṛṣṭiṁ vañcayitvā sudhāghaṭam jahruḥ punardurātmāno raho gatvā pipāsavaḥ

Slowly approaching, and deceiving her gaze, those evil-minded ones, thirsty for the nectar, seized the pot again and went off to a secret place.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.202.21)

नरनारायणौ तत्र मुनिभिः सह चागतौ । आस्तां तौ ददृशाते तान्दानवान्हरतोऽमृतम्

naranārāyaṇau tatra munibhiḥ saha cāgatau āstāṁ tau dadṛśāte tāndānavānharato'mṛtam

Nara and Narayana, who had come there together with the sages, were present, and they saw those danavas carrying off the nectar.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.202.22)

नारायणेनेरितोऽथ नरस्तान्सहसारुणत् । बलादाच्छिद्य तत्कुम्भं मोहिन्यै स ददौ द्रुतम्

nārāyaṇenerito'tha narastānsahasāruṇat balādācchidya tatkumbhaṁ mohinyai sa dadau drutam

Then Nara, urged by Narayana, at once obstructed them; forcibly seizing that pot, he swiftly gave it to Mohini.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.202.23)

ततो नरं हन्तुकामा आत्तशस्त्रास्तु दानवाः । आपतन्पंक्तिविक्षेपो ह्यसुराणामभून्महान्

tato naraṁ hantukāmā āttaśastrāstu dānavāḥ āpatanpaṁktivikṣepo hyasurāṇāmabhūnmahān

Then the danavas, weapons in hand, desiring to kill Nara, rushed at him; and a great scattering of the ranks of the asuras occurred.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.202.24)

तदा नरोपि भगवान्देवदैत्यनरैरपि । अजेयो निर्भयो ह्येकः साकं तैर्युयुधे बली

tadā naropi bhagavāndevadaityanarairapi ajeyo nirbhayo hyekaḥ sākaṁ tairyuyudhe balī

Then Nara too, the Blessed One, unconquerable even by gods, daityas, and men, fearless, mighty, fought alone against all of them together.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.202.25)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे देवान्पंक्तिस्थान्मोहिनीवपुः । अपाययत्सुधां विष्णुः सर्वशो लघुचङ्क्रमः

etasminnantare devānpaṁktisthānmohinīvapuḥ apāyayatsudhāṁ viṣṇuḥ sarvaśo laghucaṅkramaḥ

Meanwhile, Vishnu, in the form of Mohini, swift-moving in every direction, gave the nectar to drink to the gods who were seated in their rows.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.202.26)

तत्रापि दानवो राहुः सूर्याचन्द्रमसान्तरे । प्रविश्य देवतापंक्तावुपाविशदलक्षितः

tatrāpi dānavo rāhuḥ sūryācandramasāntare praviśya devatāpaṁktāvupāviśadalakṣitaḥ

There too, the danava Rahu, slipping in between the Sun and the Moon, sat down unnoticed in the row of the gods.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.202.27)

तत्रागतायां मोहिन्यां सिञ्चन्त्यां तन्मुखे सुधाम् । दृशाऽसूसुचतां तस्यै पुष्पवन्तावुभौ च तम्

tatrāgatāyāṁ mohinyāṁ siñcantyāṁ tanmukhe sudhām dṛśā'sūsucatāṁ tasyai puṣpavantāvubhau ca tam

When Mohini came there and was pouring nectar into his mouth, the Sun and the Moon both indicated him to her with a glance.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.202.28)

स्मृत्यागतेन चक्रेण तर्ह्येवाऽस्य च सामृतम् । शिरश्चिच्छेदातिमहन्मायायोषिद्वपुः प्रभुः

smṛtyāgatena cakreṇa tarhyevā'sya ca sāmṛtam śiraścicchedātimahanmāyāyoṣidvapuḥ prabhuḥ

Then, with the discus that came at the very thought of it, the Lord, in that vast illusory female form, at once cut off his head, together with the nectar within it.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.202.29)

तच्छैलशृङ्गप्रतिमं ग्रसल्लोकान्नदद्भृशम् । ग्रहत्वे स्थापयामास लोकानां शान्तये हरिः

tacchailaśṛṅgapratimaṁ grasallokānnadadbhṛśam grahatve sthāpayāmāsa lokānāṁ śāntaye hariḥ

That head, resembling a mountain peak, roaring loudly as though swallowing the worlds, Hari established in the state of a graha, for the peace of the worlds.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.202.30)

देवान्सुधां पाययित्वा जगृहे पौरुषीं तनुम् । भगवानथ देवास्तु युयुधुः सह दानवैः

devānsudhāṁ pāyayitvā jagṛhe pauruṣīṁ tanum bhagavānatha devāstu yuyudhuḥ saha dānavaiḥ

Having given the gods the nectar to drink, the Blessed Lord then resumed his male form; and the gods fought together with the danavas.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.202.31)

उदन्वतस्तटे युद्धं देवानामसुरैः सह । सुधापानातिबलिनामासीद्विष्णुसहायिनाम्

udanvatastaṭe yuddhaṁ devānāmasuraiḥ saha sudhāpānātibalināmāsīdviṣṇusahāyinām

On the shore of the ocean, a battle took place between the gods, made exceedingly strong by drinking the nectar and aided by Vishnu, and the asuras.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.202.32)

तस्मिंस्तु तुमुले युद्धे नरेणेन्द्रादिभिश्च ते । निहन्यमाना असुराः पलाय्य विविशू रसाम्

tasmiṁstu tumule yuddhe nareṇendrādibhiśca te nihanyamānā asurāḥ palāyya viviśū rasām

In that tumultuous battle, being slain by Nara and by Indra and the others, the asuras fled and entered into the netherworld.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.202.33)

सूर्यश्चास्तं गतस्तावत्सर्वे देवगणास्ततः । श्रियोन्तिकमुपाजग्मुस्तद्दर्शनमहोत्सवाः

sūryaścāstaṁ gatastāvatsarve devagaṇāstataḥ śriyontikamupājagmustaddarśanamahotsavāḥ

Meanwhile the sun had set; then all the hosts of gods, rejoicing in the great festival of her sight, went into the presence of Shri.