Vishvamitra's Tale of the Churning of the Ocean

Shloka 1 (bala.45.1)

विश्वामित्रवचः श्रुत्वा राघवः सहलक्ष्मणः। विस्मयं परमं गत्वा विश्वामित्रमथाब्रवीत् ॥ १-४५-१ ॥

viśvāmitravacaḥ śrutvā rāghavaḥ sahalakṣmaṇaḥ| vismayaṃ paramaṃ gatvā viśvāmitramathābravīt || 1-45-1 ||

Having heard the words of Vishvamitra, Raghava, together with Lakshmana, filled with the greatest wonder, then spoke to Vishvamitra:

Shloka 2 (bala.45.2)

अत्यद्भुतमिदं ब्रह्मन् कथितं परमं त्वया। गंगावतरणं पुण्यं सागरस्यापि पूरणम् ॥ १-४५-२ ॥

atyadbhutamidaṃ brahman kathitaṃ paramaṃ tvayā| gaṃgāvataraṇaṃ puṇyaṃ sāgarasyāpi pūraṇam || 1-45-2 ||

"Most wondrous indeed, O Brahmin, is this supreme tale you have told me — the sacred descent of Ganga, and also the filling of the ocean."

Shloka 3 (bala.45.3)

क्षणभूतेव नौ रात्रिः संवृत्तेयं परंतप। इमां चिंतयतोः सर्वां निखिलेन कथां तव ॥ १-४५-३ ॥

kṣaṇabhūteva nau rātriḥ saṃvṛtteyaṃ paraṃtapa| imāṃ ciṃtayatoḥ sarvāṃ nikhilena kathāṃ tava || 1-45-3 ||

"O scorcher of foes, this night has passed for us as though it were but a moment, while we two were pondering, in its entirety, this whole tale of yours."

Shloka 4 (bala.45.4)

तस्य सा शर्वरी सर्वा मम सौमित्रिणा सह। जगाम चिंतयानस्य विश्वामित्रकथां शुभाम् ॥ १-४५-४ ॥

tasya sā śarvarī sarvā mama saumitriṇā saha| jagāma ciṃtayānasya viśvāmitrakathāṃ śubhām || 1-45-4 ||

"That entire night passed for me, together with Saumitri, while thinking of your auspicious tale, O Vishvamitra."

Shloka 5 (bala.45.5)

ततः प्रभाते विमले विश्वामित्रं तपोधनम्। उवाच राघवो वाक्यं कृताह्निकमरिन्दमः ॥ १-४५-५ ॥

tataḥ prabhāte vimale viśvāmitraṃ tapodhanam| uvāca rāghavo vākyaṃ kṛtāhnikamarindamaḥ || 1-45-5 ||

Then, at the clear dawn, Raghava, the subduer of foes, having performed his morning rites, spoke this word to Vishvamitra, whose wealth was austerity.

Shloka 6 (bala.45.6)

गता भगवती रात्रिः श्रोतव्यं परमं श्रुतम्। तराम सरितं श्रेष्ठं पुण्यां त्रिपथगां नदीम् ॥ १-४५-६ ॥

gatā bhagavatī rātriḥ śrotavyaṃ paramaṃ śrutam| tarāma saritaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ puṇyāṃ tripathagāṃ nadīm || 1-45-6 ||

"The blessed night has passed, and the supreme tale worth hearing has been heard; let us now cross that foremost of rivers, the holy Tripathaga."

Shloka 7 (bala.45.7)

नौरेषा हि सुखास्तीर्णा ऋषीणां पुण्यकर्मणाम्। भगवन्तमिह प्राप्तं ज्ञात्वा त्वरितमागता ॥ १-४५-७ ॥

naureṣā hi sukhāstīrṇā ṛṣīṇāṃ puṇyakarmaṇām| bhagavantamiha prāptaṃ jñātvā tvaritamāgatā || 1-45-7 ||

"For here is a boat, comfortably furnished, belonging to the sages of holy deeds; knowing that your holiness had arrived here, it has come swiftly."

Shloka 8 (bala.45.8)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा राघवस्य महात्मनः। संतारं कारयामास सर्षिसंघस्य कौशिकः ॥ १-४५-८ ॥

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā rāghavasya mahātmanaḥ| saṃtāraṃ kārayāmāsa sarṣisaṃghasya kauśikaḥ || 1-45-8 ||

Having heard those words of the great-souled Raghava, Kaushika (Vishvamitra) caused the crossing to be made, along with the whole company of sages.

Shloka 9 (bala.45.9)

उत्तरं तीरमासाद्य संपूज्यर्षिगणं ततः। गंगाकूले निविष्टास्ते विशालां ददृशुः पुरिम् ॥ १-४५-९ ॥

uttaraṃ tīramāsādya saṃpūjyarṣigaṇaṃ tataḥ| gaṃgākūle niviṣṭāste viśālāṃ dadṛśuḥ purim || 1-45-9 ||

Having reached the northern bank, and having then duly honored the assembly of sages, they, having settled on the bank of Ganga, beheld the city of Vishala.

Shloka 10 (bala.45.10)

ततो मुनिवरस्तूर्णं जगाम सहराघवः। विशालां नगरीं रम्यां दिव्यां स्वर्गोपमां तदा ॥ १-४५-१० ॥

tato munivarastūrṇaṃ jagāma saharāghavaḥ| viśālāṃ nagarīṃ ramyāṃ divyāṃ svargopamāṃ tadā || 1-45-10 ||

Then the foremost of sages, together with the Raghavas, swiftly went on to the charming, divine city of Vishala, resembling heaven.

Shloka 11 (bala.45.11)

अथ रामो महाप्राज्ञो विश्वामित्रं महामुनिम्। पप्रच्छ प्रांजलिर्भूत्वा विशालामुत्तमां पुरीम् ॥ १-४५-११ ॥

atha rāmo mahāprājño viśvāmitraṃ mahāmunim| papraccha prāṃjalirbhūtvā viśālāmuttamāṃ purīm || 1-45-11 ||

Then Rama, of great wisdom, with joined palms, asked the great sage Vishvamitra about that excellent city of Vishala.

Shloka 12 (bala.45.12)

कतमो राजवंशोऽयं विशालायां महामुने। श्रोतुमिच्छामि भद्रं ते परं कौतूहलं हि मे ॥ १-४५-१२ ॥

katamo rājavaṃśo'yaṃ viśālāyāṃ mahāmune| śrotumicchāmi bhadraṃ te paraṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me || 1-45-12 ||

"O great sage, what royal dynasty is this that rules in Vishala? I wish to hear of it; may good befall you — indeed, my curiosity is great."

Shloka 13 (bala.45.13)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा रामस्य मुनिपुंगवः। आख्यातुं तत्समारेभे विशालस्य पुरातनम् ॥ १-४५-१३ ॥

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā rāmasya munipuṃgavaḥ| ākhyātuṃ tatsamārebhe viśālasya purātanam || 1-45-13 ||

Having heard that speech of Rama, the eminent sage began to narrate the ancient history of Vishala.

Shloka 14 (bala.45.14)

श्रूयतां राम शक्रस्य कथां कथयतः श्रुताम्। अस्मिन् देशे हि यद्वृत्तं शृणु तत्त्वेन राघव ॥ १-४५-१४ ॥

śrūyatāṃ rāma śakrasya kathāṃ kathayataḥ śrutām| asmin deśe hi yadvṛttaṃ śṛṇu tattvena rāghava || 1-45-14 ||

"Listen, O Rama, to the tale of Indra as I tell it, just as I have heard it. Listen, O Raghava, in its true essence, to what has come to pass in this land."

Shloka 15 (bala.45.15)

पूर्वं कृतयुगे राम दितेः पुत्रा महाबलाः। अदितेश्च महाभागा वीर्यवन्तः सुधार्मिकाः ॥ १-४५-१५ ॥

pūrvaṃ kṛtayuge rāma diteḥ putrā mahābalāḥ| aditeśca mahābhāgā vīryavantaḥ sudhārmikāḥ || 1-45-15 ||

"Once, in the Krita Yuga, O Rama, the sons of Diti were mighty, and the sons of Aditi, greatly fortunate, were vigorous and highly righteous."

Shloka 16 (bala.45.16)

ततस्तेषां नरव्याघ्र बुद्धिरासीन्महात्मनाम्। अमरा निर्जराश्चैव कथं स्यामो निरामयाः ॥ १-४५-१६ ॥

tatasteṣāṃ naravyāghra buddhirāsīnmahātmanām| amarā nirjarāścaiva kathaṃ syāmo nirāmayāḥ || 1-45-16 ||

"Then, O tiger among men, this thought arose in those great souls: 'How may we become immortal, ageless, and free from disease?'"

Shloka 17 (bala.45.17)

तेषां चिंतयतां तत्र बुद्धिरासीद्विपश्चिताम्। क्षीरोदमथनं कृत्वा रसं प्राप्स्याम तत्र वै ॥ १-४५-१७ ॥

teṣāṃ ciṃtayatāṃ tatra buddhirāsīdvipaścitām| kṣīrodamathanaṃ kṛtvā rasaṃ prāpsyāma tatra vai || 1-45-17 ||

"As those wise ones pondered on this, a thought occurred to them: 'By churning the ocean of milk, we shall indeed obtain the elixir from it.'"

Shloka 18 (bala.45.18)

ततो निश्चित्य मथनं योक्त्रं कृत्वा च वासुकिम्। मन्थानं मन्दरं कृत्वा ममन्थुरमितौजसः ॥ १-४५-१८ ॥

tato niścitya mathanaṃ yoktraṃ kṛtvā ca vāsukim| manthānaṃ mandaraṃ kṛtvā mamanthuramitaujasaḥ || 1-45-18 ||

"Then, having resolved upon churning, and having made Vasuki the churning-rope and Mount Mandara the churning-rod, those of boundless might churned the ocean."

Shloka 19 (bala.45.19)

अथ वर्षसहस्रेण योक्त्रं सर्पशिरांसि च। वमन्त्यतिविषं तत्र ददंशुर्दशनैः शिलाः ॥ १-४५-१९ ॥

atha varṣasahasreṇa yoktraṃ sarpaśirāṃsi ca| vamantyativiṣaṃ tatra dadaṃśurdaśanaiḥ śilāḥ || 1-45-19 ||

"Then, after a thousand years, the serpent's heads, used as the rope, began to disgorge terrible venom there, as the mountain's rocks bit into them like fangs."

Shloka 20 (bala.45.20)

उत्पपाताग्निसंकाशं हालाहलमहाविषम्। तेन दग्धं जगत्सर्वं सदेवासुरमानुषम् ॥ १-४५-२० ॥

utpapātāgnisaṃkāśaṃ hālāhalamahāviṣam| tena dagdhaṃ jagatsarvaṃ sadevāsuramānuṣam || 1-45-20 ||

"There arose a terrible poison, Halahala, like unto fire, by which the whole world — gods, asuras, and men together — was scorched."

Shloka 21 (bala.45.21)

अथ देवा महादेवं शंकरं शरणार्थिनः। जग्मुः पशुपतिं रुद्रं त्राहि त्राहीति तुष्टुवुः ॥ १-४५-२१ ॥

atha devā mahādevaṃ śaṃkaraṃ śaraṇārthinaḥ| jagmuḥ paśupatiṃ rudraṃ trāhi trāhīti tuṣṭuvuḥ || 1-45-21 ||

"Then the gods, seeking refuge, went to the great god Shankara, Pashupati Rudra, and praised him, crying, 'Save us, save us!'"

Shloka 22 (bala.45.22)

एवमुक्तस्ततो देवैर्देवदेवेश्वरः प्रभुः। प्रादुरासीत् ततोऽत्रैव शंखचक्रधरो हरिः ॥ १-४५-२२ ॥

evamuktastato devairdevadeveśvaraḥ prabhuḥ| prādurāsīt tato'traiva śaṃkhacakradharo hariḥ || 1-45-22 ||

Thus addressed by the gods, the lord, God of gods, was present there; and then, right there, Hari, bearer of conch and discus, also appeared.

Shloka 23 (bala.45.23)

उवाचैनं स्मितं कृत्वा रुद्रं शूलधरं हरिः। दैवतैर्मथ्यमाने तु तत्पूर्वं समुपस्थितम् ॥ १-४५-२३ ॥

uvācainaṃ smitaṃ kṛtvā rudraṃ śūladharaṃ hariḥ| daivatairmathyamāne tu tatpūrvaṃ samupasthitam || 1-45-23 ||

Hari, smiling, spoke to him, Rudra the trident-bearer: "That which first arose while the gods were churning—"

Shloka 24 (bala.45.24)

तत्त्वदीयं सुरश्रेष्ठ सुराणामग्रतो हि यत्। अग्रपूजामिह स्थित्वा गृहाणेदं विषं प्रभो ॥ १-४५-२४ ॥

tattvadīyaṃ suraśreṣṭha surāṇāmagrato hi yat| agrapūjāmiha sthitvā gṛhāṇedaṃ viṣaṃ prabho || 1-45-24 ||

"—that is rightfully yours, O best of gods, since you stand foremost among the gods. Standing here in the place of the first honor, accept this poison, O Lord."

Shloka 25 (bala.45.25)

इत्युक्त्वा च सुरश्रेष्ठस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत। देवतानां भयं दृष्ट्वा श्रुत्वा वाक्यं तु शार्ङ्गिणः ॥ १-४५-२५ ॥

ityuktvā ca suraśreṣṭhastatraivāntaradhīyata| devatānāṃ bhayaṃ dṛṣṭvā śrutvā vākyaṃ tu śārṅgiṇaḥ || 1-45-25 ||

Having spoken thus, that foremost of gods vanished then and there. Seeing the fear of the gods, and having heard the words of the wielder of the Sharnga bow (Vishnu)—

Shloka 26 (bala.45.26)

हालाहलं विषं घोरं संजग्राहामृतोपमम्। देवान् विसृज्य देवेशो जगाम भगवान् हरः ॥ १-४५-२६ ॥

hālāhalaṃ viṣaṃ ghoraṃ saṃjagrāhāmṛtopamam| devān visṛjya deveśo jagāma bhagavān haraḥ || 1-45-26 ||

— Shiva took up that terrible poison Halahala as though it were ambrosia. Then, leaving the gods, the lord of the gods, the blessed Hara, departed.

Shloka 27 (bala.45.27)

ततो देवासुराः सर्वे ममन्थू रघुनन्दन। प्रविवेशाथ पातालं मन्थानः पर्वतोत्तमः ॥ १-४५-२७ ॥

tato devāsurāḥ sarve mamanthū raghunandana| praviveśātha pātālaṃ manthānaḥ parvatottamaḥ || 1-45-27 ||

Then, O delight of Raghu's line, all the gods and asuras resumed churning; and thereupon the loftiest of mountains, the churning-rod, sank into the netherworld.

Shloka 28 (bala.45.28)

ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वाः तुष्टुवुर्मधुसूदनम्। त्वं गतिः सर्वभूतानां विशेषेण दिवौकसाम् ॥ १-४५-२८ ॥

tato devāḥ sagandharvāḥ tuṣṭuvurmadhusūdanam| tvaṃ gatiḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ viśeṣeṇa divaukasām || 1-45-28 ||

Then the gods, together with the gandharvas, praised Madhusudana: "You are the refuge of all beings, especially of the dwellers in heaven."

Shloka 29 (bala.45.29)

पालयास्मान् महाबाहो गिरिमुद्धर्तुमर्हसि। इति श्रुत्वा हृषीकेशः कामठं रूपमास्थितः ॥ १-४५-२९ ॥

pālayāsmān mahābāho girimuddhartumarhasi| iti śrutvā hṛṣīkeśaḥ kāmaṭhaṃ rūpamāsthitaḥ || 1-45-29 ||

"'Protect us, O mighty-armed one; it behooves you to raise up the mountain.'" Hearing this, Hrishikesha assumed the form of a tortoise,

Shloka 30 (bala.45.30)

पर्वतं पृष्ठतः कृत्वा शिश्ये तत्रोदधौ हरिः। पर्वताग्रं तु लोकात्मा हस्तेनाक्रम्य केशवः ॥ १-४५-३० ॥

parvataṃ pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā śiśye tatrodadhau hariḥ| parvatāgraṃ tu lokātmā hastenākramya keśavaḥ || 1-45-30 ||

— and, placing the mountain upon his back, Hari lay down there in the ocean. And Keshava, the Soul of all worlds, grasping the mountain's peak with his hand—

Shloka 31 (bala.45.31)

देवानां मध्यतः स्थित्वा ममन्थ पुरुषोत्तमः। अथ वर्षसहस्रेण आयुर्वेदमयः पुमान् ॥ १-४५-३१ ॥

devānāṃ madhyataḥ sthitvā mamantha puruṣottamaḥ| atha varṣasahasreṇa āyurvedamayaḥ pumān || 1-45-31 ||

— standing amid the gods, that Supreme Person churned the ocean. Then, after a thousand years, a being who was the embodiment of the science of life, Ayurveda—

Shloka 32 (bala.45.32)

उदतिष्ठत् सुधर्मात्मा सदण्डः सकमण्डलुः। पूर्वं धन्वन्तरिर्नाम अप्सराश्च सुवर्चसः ॥ १-४५-३२ ॥

udatiṣṭhat sudharmātmā sadaṇḍaḥ sakamaṇḍaluḥ| pūrvaṃ dhanvantarirnāma apsarāśca suvarcasaḥ || 1-45-32 ||

— the righteous-souled one, with staff and water-pot, named Dhanvantari, rose up first; and then the radiant Apsarases also —

Shloka 33 (bala.45.33)

अप्सु निर्मथनादेव रसात्तस्माद्वरस्त्रियः। उत्पेतुर्मनुजश्रेष्ठ तस्मादप्सरसोऽभवन् ॥ १-४५-३३ ॥

apsu nirmathanādeva rasāttasmādvarastriyaḥ| utpeturmanujaśreṣṭha tasmādapsaraso'bhavan || 1-45-33 ||

— from the mere churning of the waters, from that elixir, lovely women arose, O best of men; and therefore they became known as Apsarases.

Shloka 34 (bala.45.34)

षष्टिः कोट्योऽभवंस्तासामप्सराणां सुवर्चसाम्। असन्ख्येयास्तु काकुत्स्थ यास्तासां परिचारिकाः ॥ १-४५-३४ ॥

ṣaṣṭiḥ koṭyo'bhavaṃstāsāmapsarāṇāṃ suvarcasām| asankhyeyāstu kākutstha yāstāsāṃ paricārikāḥ || 1-45-34 ||

There came to be sixty crores of those radiant Apsarases; and, O scion of Kakutstha, their attendant maidens were beyond counting.

Shloka 35 (bala.45.35)

न ताः स्म प्रतिगृह्णन्ति सर्वे ते देवदानवाः। अप्रतिग्रहणादेव ता वै साधारणाः स्मृताः ॥ १-४५-३५ ॥

na tāḥ sma pratigṛhṇanti sarve te devadānavāḥ| apratigrahaṇādeva tā vai sādhāraṇāḥ smṛtāḥ || 1-45-35 ||

None of the gods or the danavas took them in marriage; and, precisely because none accepted them, they came to be known as belonging to all in common.

Shloka 36 (bala.45.36)

वरुणस्य ततः कन्या वारुणी रघुनन्दन। उत्पपात महाभागा मार्गमाणा परिग्रहम् ॥ १-४५-३६ ॥

varuṇasya tataḥ kanyā vāruṇī raghunandana| utpapāta mahābhāgā mārgamāṇā parigraham || 1-45-36 ||

Then, O delight of Raghu's line, the daughter of Varuna, the greatly fortunate Varuni, rose up, seeking one to accept her.

Shloka 37 (bala.45.37)

दितेः पुत्रा न तां राम जगृहुर्वरुणात्मजाम्। अदितेस्तु सुता वीर जगृहुस्तामनिन्दिताम् ॥ १-४५-३७ ॥

diteḥ putrā na tāṃ rāma jagṛhurvaruṇātmajām| aditestu sutā vīra jagṛhustāmaninditām || 1-45-37 ||

The sons of Diti, O Rama, did not accept that daughter of Varuna; but the sons of Aditi, O hero, accepted that blameless one.

Shloka 38 (bala.45.38)

असुरास्तेन दैतेयाः सुरास्तेनादितेः सुताः। हृष्टाः प्रमुदिताश्चासन् वारुणीग्रहणात् सुराः ॥ १-४५-३८ ॥

asurāstena daiteyāḥ surāstenāditeḥ sutāḥ| hṛṣṭāḥ pramuditāścāsan vāruṇīgrahaṇāt surāḥ || 1-45-38 ||

Thereby the sons of Diti became known as Asuras, and the sons of Aditi as Suras; and the gods were glad and greatly rejoiced at accepting Varuni.

Shloka 39 (bala.45.39)

उच्चैःश्रवा हयश्रेष्ठो मणिरत्नं च कौस्तुभम्। उदतिष्ठन्नरश्रेष्ठ तथैवामृतमुत्तमम् ॥ १-४५-३९ ॥

uccaiḥśravā hayaśreṣṭho maṇiratnaṃ ca kaustubham| udatiṣṭhannaraśreṣṭha tathaivāmṛtamuttamam || 1-45-39 ||

Then arose Uccaihshravas, the finest of horses, and the jewel Kaustubha, O best of men, and likewise the supreme ambrosia.

Shloka 40 (bala.45.40)

अथ तस्य कृते राम महानासीत् कुलक्षयः। अदितेस्तु ततः पुत्रा दितेः पुत्रानसूदयन् ॥ १-४५-४० ॥

atha tasya kṛte rāma mahānāsīt kulakṣayaḥ| aditestu tataḥ putrā diteḥ putrānasūdayan || 1-45-40 ||

Then, for the sake of that ambrosia, O Rama, there arose a great destruction of the two lineages; and the sons of Aditi thereupon slew the sons of Diti.

Shloka 41 (bala.45.41)

एकतामगमन् सर्वे असुरा राक्षसैः सह। युद्धमासीन् महाघोरं वीरत्रैलोक्यमोहनम् ॥ १-४५-४१ ॥

ekatāmagaman sarve asurā rākṣasaiḥ saha| yuddhamāsīn mahāghoraṃ vīratrailokyamohanam || 1-45-41 ||

All the asuras banded together with the rakshasas, and there occurred a most terrible battle, bewildering to the heroes of the three worlds.

Shloka 42 (bala.45.42)

यदा क्षयं गतं सर्वं तदा विष्णुर्महाबलः। अमृतं सोऽहरत्तूर्णं मायामास्थाय मोहिनीम् ॥ १-४५-४२ ॥

yadā kṣayaṃ gataṃ sarvaṃ tadā viṣṇurmahābalaḥ| amṛtaṃ so'harattūrṇaṃ māyāmāsthāya mohinīm || 1-45-42 ||

When everything was heading toward ruin, then Vishnu of great might swiftly seized the ambrosia, assuming the illusory form of Mohini.

Shloka 43 (bala.45.43)

ये गताभिमुखं विष्णुमक्षरं पुरुषोत्तमम्। संपिष्टास्ते तदा युद्धे विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना ॥ १-४५-४३ ॥

ye gatābhimukhaṃ viṣṇumakṣaraṃ puruṣottamam| saṃpiṣṭāste tadā yuddhe viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā || 1-45-43 ||

Those who advanced to confront the imperishable Vishnu, the Supreme Person, were then crushed in battle by that all-powerful Vishnu.

Shloka 44 (bala.45.44)

अदितेरात्मजा वीरा दितेः पुत्रान्निजघ्निरे। अस्मिन् घोरे महायुद्धे दैतेयादित्ययोर्भृशम् ॥ १-४५-४४ ॥

aditerātmajā vīrā diteḥ putrānnijaghnire| asmin ghore mahāyuddhe daiteyādityayorbhṛśam || 1-45-44 ||

The heroic sons of Aditi utterly slew the sons of Diti in this terrible, great war between the Daityas and the Adityas.

Shloka 45 (bala.45.45)

निहत्य दितिपुत्रांश्च राज्यं प्राप्य पुरन्दरः। शशास मुदितो लोकान् सर्षिसन्घान् सचारणान् ॥ १-४५-४५ ॥

nihatya ditiputrāṃśca rājyaṃ prāpya purandaraḥ| śaśāsa mudito lokān sarṣisanghān sacāraṇān || 1-45-45 ||

And having slain the sons of Diti and regained the kingdom, Purandara, rejoicing, ruled the worlds together with the hosts of sages and the charanas.