सौतिरुवाच ततोऽभ्रशिखराकारैर्गिरिशृंङ्गैरलंकृतम्। मन्दरं पर्वतवरं लताजालसमाकुलम्॥
Sauti said: There is a mountain called Mandara with peaks like the clouds. It is the best of mountains and adorned with innumerable creepers.
नानाविहगसंघुष्टं नानादंष्ट्रिसमाकुलम्। किन्नरैरप्सरोभिश्च देवैरपि च सेवितम्॥
On it do many birds pour forth their melody and may beasts of prey roam about; it is frequented by the Kinnaras, Apsaras and। celestials.
एकादशसहस्राणि योजनानां समुच्छ्रितम्। अधोभूमेः सहस्रेषु तावत्स्वेव प्रतिष्ठितम्॥
It rises eleven thousand Yojanas upwards and descends eleven thousand Yojanas downwards.
तमुद्धर्तुमशक्ता वै सर्वे देवगणास्तदा। विष्णुमासीनमभ्येत्य ब्रह्माणं चेदमब्रुवन्॥
The celestials, having failed to uproot it, came to Vishnu and Brahma who were sitting together and said to them.
भवन्तावत्र कुर्वीतां बुद्धिंः नैःश्रेयसी पराम्। मन्दरोद्धरणे यत्नः क्रियतां च हिताय नः॥
"Devise some means you yourselves. Do try to uproot Mandara for our good.”
सौतिरुवाच तथेति चाब्रवीद्विष्णुर्ब्रह्मणा सह भार्गव अचोदयदमेयात्मा फणीन्द्रं पद्मलोचनः॥
O son of Bhrigu, “Let it be so" said both Narayana and Brahma. The lotus-eyed (Vishnu) laid the hard task on the king of the snakes, (Ananta).
ततोऽनन्तः समुत्थाय ब्रह्मणा परिचोदितः। नारायणेन चाप्युक्तस्तस्मिन्कर्मणि वीर्यवान्॥ अथ पर्वतराजानं तमनन्तो महाबलः। उज्जहार बलाद्ब्रह्मन् सवनं सवनौकसम्॥
Being directed by both Brahma and Narayana to do it, the mighty Ananta uprooted the mountain with all the woods and the denizens of woods that were on it.
ततस्तेन सुराः सार्धं समुद्रमुपतस्थिरे। तमूचुरमृतस्यार्थे निर्मथिष्यामहे जलम्॥
Then came all the celestial with Ananta to the shores of the ocean, Addressing it they said, “O Ocean, we have come to churn you for the Ambrosia.
अपां पतिरथोवाच ममाप्यंशो भवेत्ततः। सोढाऽस्मि विपुलं मर्द मन्दरभ्रमणादिति॥
The ocean replied, “Be it so, as I shall get a share of it. I am quite able to bear the great agitation arising out of the churning of my water by Mandara.
ऊचुश्च कूर्मराजानमकूपारे सुरासुराः। अधिष्ठानं गिरेरस्य भवान्भवितुमर्हति॥
The Devas and the Danavas then went to the Tortoise king and said, “You will have to support the mountain on your back.”
कूर्मेण तु तथेत्युक्त्वा पृष्ठमस्य समर्पितम्। तं शैलं तस्य पृष्ठस्थं वज्रणेन्द्रो न्यपीडयत्॥
The Tortoise king having agreed, Indra pressed that mountain on its back by means of his thunderbolt.
मन्थानं मन्दरं कृत्वा तथा नेत्रं च वासुकिम्। देवा मथितुमारब्धाः समुद्र निधिमम्भसाम्॥ अमृतार्थे पुरा ब्रह्मंस्तथैवासुरदानवाः। एकमन्तमुपाश्लिष्टा नागराज्ञो महासुराः॥ विबुधाः सहिताः सर्वे यत: पुच्छं ततः स्थिताः।
The Devas and the Danavas having made Mandara the churning staff and Vasuki the rope. O Brahmana, in days of yore, began to churn the ocean for the Ambrosia. The Asuras held him by the head and the Devas by the tail.
अनन्तो भगवान्देवो यतो नारायणस्ततः। शिर उत्क्षिप्य नागस्य पुनः पुनरवाक्षिपत्॥
And Ananta, who was a manifested form of Narayana, again and again raised and lowered the hood of the Naga.
वासुकेरथ नागस्य सहसाक्षिप्यतः सुरैः। सधूमाः सार्चिधो वाता निष्पेतुरसकृन्मुखात्॥
On account of the great agitation, received at the hands of the celestials, black vapours with flames issued from the mouth of the Naga Vasuki.
ते धूमसंघा: संभूता मेघसंघा: सविद्युतः। अभ्यवर्षन्सुरगणान् श्रमसंतापकर्शितान्॥
From these vapours were created clouds with lightning; and they poured showers on the tired celestials who were thus refreshed.
तस्माच्च गिरिकूटाग्रात्प्रच्युताः पुष्पवृष्टयः। सुरासुरगणान्सर्वान्समन्तात्समवाकिरन्॥
The flowers that fell from the trees on the mountain-sides on the Devas and the Danavas also refreshed them.
बभूवात्र महानादो महामेघरवोपमः। उदधेर्मथ्यमानस्य मन्दरेण सुरासुरैः॥
There rose from Mandara being dragged by the Devas and the Danavas, a terrible roar like the roar of the clouds (at the Universal dissolution).
तत्र नानाजलचरा विनिष्पिष्टा महाद्रिणा। विलयं समुपाजग्मुः शतशो लवणाम्भसि॥
Various aquatic animals were crushed by the great mountain and gave up their lives in the salt sea.
वारुणानि च भूतानि विविधानि महीधरः। पातालतलवासीनि विलयं समुपानयत्॥
Many denizens of the lower region and those of the land of Varuna were killed by the mountain.
तस्मिश्च भ्राम्यमाणेऽद्रौ संघृष्यन्तः परस्परम्। न्यपतन्पतगोपेताः पर्वताग्रान्महाद्रुमाः॥
From the whirling Mandara large trees, being struck at one another, were torn from their roots and fell into the ocean with all the birds (that roosted on their branches).
तेषां संघर्षजश्चाग्निरर्चिभि: प्रज्वलन्मुहुः। विद्युद्भिरिव नीलाभ्रमावृणोन्मन्दरं गिरिम्॥
And great fires were produced from the mutual friction of the trees that frequently blazed up and the Mandara mountain looked like black clouds charged with lightning,
ददाह कुंजरांस्तत्र सिंहांश्चैव विनिर्गतान्। विगतासूनि सर्वाणि सत्त्वानि विविधानि च॥
It burnt the lions, elephants and other various creatures that were on the mountain and killed them (on the spot).
तमग्निममरश्रेष्ठः प्रदहन्तमितस्ततः। वारिणा मेघजेनेन्द्रः शमयामास सर्वशः।॥
Then the best of the celestials, Indra began to extinguish the blazing fire by pouring heavy showers.
ततो नानाविधास्तत्र सुस्रुवुः सागराम्भसि। महाद्रुमाणां निर्यासा बहवश्चौषधीरसाः॥
Then the gums of various great trees and juices from herbs mingled with the waters of the ocean.
तेषाममृतवीर्याणां रसानां पयसैव च। अमरत्वं सुरा जग्मुः काञ्चनस्य च नि:स्रवात्॥
The celestials became immortal by drinking the water mixed with the liquid extract of gold and those gums which had the quality of the Ambrosia.
ततस्तस्य समुद्रस्य तज्जातमुदकं पयः। रसोत्तमैर्विमिदं च तत: क्षीरादभूद्धृतम्॥
The milky water of the churned ocean by degrees produced clarified butter by virtue of those gums and juices.
ततो ब्रह्माणमासीनं देवा वरदमब्रुवन्। श्रान्ता:स्म सुभृशं ब्रह्मन्नोद्भवत्यमृतं च तत्॥
Thereupon the Devas came to the boongranting God who was comfortably seated on his seat and said, “O Brahman, we are spent out but the Ambrosia has not yet arisen."
विना नारायणं देवं सर्वेऽन्ये देवदानवाः। चिरारब्धमिदं चापि सागरस्यापि मन्थनम्॥
Except Narayana, both the Devas and the Danavas have no strength to churn the ocean (any longer).
ततो नारायणं देवं ब्रह्मा वचनमब्रवीत्। विधत्स्वैषां बलं विष्णो भवानत्र परायणम्॥
Then did Brahma say to Narayana, “Kindly give the celestials strength to churn the Ocean again with Mandara mountain, O Vishnu you are our refuge."
विष्णुरुवाच बलं ददामि सर्वेषां कमैतद्ये समास्थिताः। क्षोभ्यतां कलशः सर्वैर्मन्दरः परिवर्त्यताम्॥
Narayana said : I grant all necessary strength for all those who are engaged in this action. Go, insert the mountain and churn the Ocean.
सूत उवाच नारायणवचः श्रुत्वा बलिनस्ते महोदधेः। तत्पयः सहिता भूयश्चक्रिरे भृशमाकुलम्॥
Thus hearing the words of Narayana and being re-equipped with fresh strength the celestial recommenced churning of the waters.
ततः शतसहस्रांशुर्मथ्यमानात्तु सागरात्। प्रसन्नात्या समुत्पन्नः सोमः शीतांशुरुज्ज्वलः॥
Then from churning the ocean rose the amiable and brilliant Moon of thousand rays.
श्रीरनन्तरमुत्पन्ना घृतात्पाण्डुरवासिनी। सुरादेवी समुत्पन्ना तुरगः पाण्डुरस्तथा॥
Then rose from that ghee, the whiteclothed Lakshmi; then Sura Devi (Wine) then the great white steed.
कौस्तुभस्तु मणिर्दिव्य उत्पन्नो घृतसंभवः। मरीचिविकचः श्रीमान्नारायण उरोगतः॥ पारिजातश्च तत्रैव सुरभिश्च महामुने। जज्ञाते तौ तदा सर्वकामफलप्रदायिनौ॥
Then from the ghee rose the celestial gem Kaustubha, the splendid by rays, which adorns the breast of Narayana. Then rose, O Brahmana, Parijata tree and Surabhi, all giver of everything.
श्री: सुरा चैव सोमश्च तुरगश्च मनोजवः। यतो देवास्ततो जग्मुरादित्यपथमाश्रिताः॥
Lakshmi, Wine, Moon, Horse (Uchchaishrava) which is fleet as the mind, all directed by Aditya went to the place where the celestials were.
धन्वन्तरिस्ततो देवो वपुष्मानुदतिष्ठत। श्वेतं कमण्डलुं बिभ्रदमृतं यत्र तिष्ठति॥
Then rose the divine Dhanvantari with a white vessel in his hand and there in that vessel) was the Ambrosia.
एतदत्यद्भुतं दृष्ट्वा दानवानां समुत्थितः। अमृतार्थे महान्नादो ममेदमिति जल्पताम्॥
Seeing this wonderful phenomenon, the Danavas raised a a great uproar for the Ambrosia, saying “It is mine."
श्वेतैर्दन्तैश्चतुर्भिस्तु महाकायस्ततः परम्। ऐरावतो महानागोऽभवद्वज्रभृता धृतः॥
Then rose the great elephant Airavata, with four white tusks and a huge body and he was seized by the wielder of thunder (Indra).
अतिनिर्मथनादेव कालकूटस्ततः परः। जगदावृत्य सहसा सधूमोऽग्निरिव ज्वलन्॥
Because of the great churning, then appeared deadly poison, which soon covered the whole earth and blazed up like a fire with fumes.
त्रैलोक्यं मोहितं यस्य गन्धमाघ्राय तद्विषम्। प्राग्रसल्लोकरक्षार्थं ब्रह्मणो वचनाच्छिवः॥
The three worlds were stupified by its terrible smell; and then Shiva, asked by Brahma, swallowed it to save the creation.
दधार भगवान्कण्ठे मन्त्रमूर्तिर्महेश्वरः। तदा प्रभृति देवस्तु नीलकण्ठ इति श्रुतिः॥
The great Deity Maheshvara of Mantraform held it in his throat and it is said that from the very day he was called Nilkantha (bluethroated).
एतत्तदद्भुतं दृष्ट्वा निराशा दानवाः स्थिताः। अमृतार्थे च लक्ष्यर्थे महान्तं वैरमाश्रिताः॥
Seeing all those wonderful phenomena, the Danavas were filled with despair. They raised up great hostilities with the celestials for the possession of Lakshmi and Ambrosia.
ततो नारायणो मायां मोहिनी समुपाश्रितः। स्त्रीरूपमद्भुतं कृत्वा दानवानभिसंश्रितः॥
Thereupon Narayana assumed a form of a ravishing beauty by the aid of Maya and he began a flirtation with the Danavas in the form of a female.
ततस्तदमृतं तस्यै ददुस्ते मूढचेतसः। स्त्रियै दानवदैतेयाः सर्वे तद्गतमानसाः॥
The foolish Danavas and Daityas becoming fully, enamoured of her, placed the Ambrosia in her hands.