Bala Kanda: Chapter 45

विश्वामित्रवचः श्रुत्वा राघवः सहलक्ष्मणः। विस्मयं परमं गत्वा विश्वामित्रमथाब्रवीत्॥
Hearing the words of Viśvāmitra, Rāghava, together with Laksmana, was struck with amazement, and spoke to Viśvāmitra, saying,

अत्यद्भुतमिदं ब्रह्मन् कथितं परमं त्वया। गङ्गावतरणं पुण्यं सागरस्यापि पूरणम्॥
O Brāhmaṇa, wonderful is the story that you have recited to us, viz; that of Ganga's sacred dissension and the replenishing of the Ocean.

क्षणभूतेव नौ रात्रिः संवृत्तेयं परंतप। इमां चिन्तयतोः सर्वा निखिलेन कथां तव॥
And, O afflicter of foes, as we had been reflecting upon all this at length, the night has passed away as if it were as moment.

तस्य सा शर्वरी सर्वा मम सौमित्रिणा सह। जगाम चिन्तयानस्य विश्वामित्र कथां शुभाम्॥
And the live-long night has passed away as I in company with Sumitrā's son, was pondering over Viśvāmitra's auspicious speech.'

ततः प्रभाते विमले विश्वामित्रं तपोधनम्। उवाच राघवो वाक्यं कृताह्निकमरिंदमः॥
Then in the morning which happened to be bright, that subduer of his foes, Raghu's descendant, addressed the ascetic Viśvāmitra, who had finished his devotion.

गता भगवती रात्रिः श्रोतव्यं परमं श्रुतम्। तराम सरितां श्रेष्ठां पुण्यां त्रिपथगां नदीम्॥
The auspicious night is past, and we shall (again) listen to your wonderful narrations. Let us now cross over this sacred stream, foremost of rivers, wending in three ways.

नौरेषा हि सुखास्तीर्णा ऋषीणां पुण्यकर्मणाम्। भगवन्तमिह प्राप्तं ज्ञात्वा त्वरितमागता॥
And learning that you have arrived at this place, the pious ascetics have speedily come hither, and have also brought this barque with a spacious carpet.

तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा राघवस्य महात्मनः। संतारं कारयामास सर्षिसङ्घस्य कौशिकः॥ उत्तरं तीरमासाद्य सम्पूज्यर्षिगणं ततः। गङ्गाकूले निविष्टास्ते विशालां ददृशुः पुरीम्॥
Hearing those words of the high-souled Rāghava, Kausika crossed over the crowds of ascetics; and on reaching the north bank, he paid homage to the saints. And when they had landed on the banks of the Gangā, they beheld a city named Viśālā.

ततो मुनिवरस्तूर्ण जगाम सहराघवः। विशाला नगरी रम्यां दिव्यां स्वर्गोपमां तदा॥
And thereupon speedily that that foremost of ascetics in company with Rāghava, went towards Viśālā, beautiful and elegant like to the celestial regions.

अथ रामो महाप्राज्ञो विश्वामित्रं महामुनिम्। पप्रच्छ प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा विशालामुत्तमां पुरीम्॥
Then the highly wise Rāma, with folded hands, asked that mighty ascetic Viśvāmitra concerning the excellent city of Viśālā.

कतमो राजवंशोऽयं विशालायां महामुने। श्रोतुमिच्छामि भद्रं ते परं कौतूहलं हि मे॥
O mighty ascetic, what royal line reside in yonder large city? I desire to hear this, good betide you; and great is my curiosity.

तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा रामस्य मुनिपुङ्गवः। आख्यातुं तत्समारेभे विशालायाः पुरातनम्॥
Hearing those words of Rāma, that foremost of ascetics began to relate the history of Viśālā, saying,

श्रूयतां राम शक्रस्य कथां कथयतः श्रुताम्। अस्मिन् देशे हि यद् वृत्तं शृणु तत्त्वेन राघव॥
Do you listen, O Rāma to what I had heard from Sakra relating this history; and, O descendant of Raghu, do you listen to all that befell in this city.

पूर्वं कृतयुगे राम दितेः पुत्रा महाबलाः। अदितेश्च महाभागा वीर्यवन्तः सुधार्मिकाः॥
Formerly in the Krita age, O Rāma, Diti's highly powerful sons, as well as those of Aditi, possessed of prowess, and virtuous and pious, high-souled ones both.

ततस्तेषां नरव्याघ्र बुद्धिरासीन्महात्मनाम्। अमरा विजराश्चैव कथं स्यामो निरामयाः॥
O foremost of men, fell to reflecting, 'How can we become exempt from decrepitude and disease, and immortal.'

तेषां चिन्तयतां तत्र बुद्धिरासीद् विपश्चिताम्। क्षीरोदमथनं कृत्वा रसं प्राप्स्याम तत्र वै॥
And as they reflected, it struck them, 'By churning the ocean of milk, we must obtain ambrosia.'

ततो निश्चित्य मथनं योक्त्रं कृत्वा च वासुकिम्। मन्थानं मन्दरं कृत्वा ममन्थुरमितौजसः॥
Then deciding upon churning (the ocean), those ones of immeasurable energy making Vasuki the cord, and the Mandara (hill), the stick, began to churn the deep.

अथ वर्षसहस्रेण योक्त्रसर्पशिरांसि च। वमन्तोऽतिविषं तत्र ददंशुर्दशनैः शिलाः॥
After a thousand years had gone by, the hoods (of the serpent) serving as the churning cord, began to vomit virulent venom and to bite at the crags, with their fangs.

उत्पपाताग्निसंकाशं हालाहलमहाविषम्। तेन दग्धं जगत् सर्वं सदेवासुरमानुषम्॥
And thereat there came out powerful poison like to fire; and in consequence the entire universe with celestials, and Asuras, and men, began to burm.

अथ देवा महादेवं शङ्करं शरणार्थिनः। जग्मुः पशुपतिं रुद्रं त्राहि त्राहीति तुष्टुवुः॥
And thereupon, intending to seek refuge, they appeared before that mighty god, Sarkara, or Pasupati, or Rudra, hymning him.

एवमुक्तस्ततो देवैर्देवदेवेश्वरः प्रभुः। प्रादुरासीत् ततोऽत्रैव शङ्खचक्रधरो हरिः॥
'Save us, Save us.' When that master, the lord of the celestials, was being thus addressed by the deities, there appeared before them Hari bearing the conch and the discus.

उवाचैनं स्मितं कृत्वा रुद्रं शूलधरं हरिः। दैवतैर्मथ्यमाने तु यत्पूर्वं समुपस्थितम्॥ तत् त्वदीयं सुरश्रेष्ठ सुराणामग्रतो हि यत्। अग्रपूजागिह स्थित्वा गृहाणेदं विषं प्रभो॥
Smiling Hari said to the trident-bearing Rudra, 'O chief of the celestials, since you are the foremost of the gods, this that has come out of the ocean churned by the celestials, in your as Remaining here, O lord, do you receive the first offering in the form of this poison.'

इत्युक्त्वा च सुरश्रेष्ठस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत। देवतानां भयं दृष्ट्वा श्रुत्वा वाक्यं तु शाङ्गिणः॥ हालाहलं विषं घोरं संजग्राहामृतोपमम्। देवान् विसृज्य देवेशो जगाम भगवान् हरः॥
Having said this, that best of celestials vanished there. Witnessing the dismay of the celestials, and hearing also the words of Śārngiņa, Śiva took in that dreadful poison as if it were nectar, and then leaving the deities, the worshipful Hara wen away.

ततो देवासुराः सर्वे ममन्थू रघुनन्दन। प्रविवेशाथ पातालं मन्थानः पर्वतोत्तमः॥
And then, O descendant of Raghu, as the celestials resumed the churning, that foremost of hills serving the cord, entered the subterranean regions.

ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वास्तुष्टवुर्मधुसूदनम्। त्वं गतिः सर्वभूतानां विशेषेण दिवौकसाम् ॥ पालयास्मान् महाबाहो गिरिमुद्धर्तुमर्हसि।
Thereupon the gods and the Gandharvas felt to extolling the slayer of Madhu, saying, “You are the way of all beings, of the celestials in especial. do you, O mighty-armed one, protect us, and recover the mountain.'

इति श्रुत्वा हृषीकेशः कामठं रूपमास्थितः॥ पर्वतं पृष्ठतः कृत्वा शिश्ये तत्रोदधौ हरिः।
Having heard this, Hrsikesa, or Hari, assuming the form of a tortoise, stood in the sea, supporting the hill on his back.

पर्वताग्रं तु लोकात्मा हस्तेनाक्रम्य केशवः॥ देवानां मध्यतः स्थित्वा ममन्थ पुरुषोत्तमः।
That Soul of all, Kesava, best of male beings, taking hold of the top of the hill by his hand, began to churn the deep, stationed in the midst of the celestials.

अथ वर्षसहस्रेण आयुर्वेदमयः पुमान्॥ उदतिष्ठत् सुधर्मात्मा सदण्डः सकमण्डलुः। पूर्वं धन्वन्तरि म अप्सराश्च सुवर्चसः॥ अप्सु निर्मथनादेव सरात् तस्माद् वरस्त्रियः। उत्पेतुर्मनुजश्रेष्ठ तस्मादप्सरसोऽभवन्॥
After a thousand years, had rolled on, arose a male being impregnated with the Āyurveda, of exceedingly righteous soul, called Dhanvantari, bearing in his hands a stick, and a Kamandalu. And there arose also, from the cream of the churning waters, those magnificent dames the shining Apsaras. And, O foremost of men, as they had emerged from water, they are called Apsaras.

षष्ठिः कोट्योऽभवंस्तासामप्सराणां सुवर्चसाम्। असंख्येयास्तु काकुत्स्थ यास्तासां परिचारिकाः॥
There sprang sixty koțis of shining Apsaras. And, O Kākutstha, the female attendants of those are numberless.

न ताः स्म प्रतिगृह्णन्ति सर्वे ते देवदानवाः। अप्रतिग्रहणादेव ता वै साधारणाः स्मृताः॥
And neither the deities nor the Dānavas would accept them, and in consequence of this nonacceptance, they are known as women belonging to all.

वरुणस्य ततः कन्या वारुणा रघुनन्दन। उत्पपात महाभागा मार्गमाणा परिग्रहम्॥
And then, O Raghu's descendant, arose the eminently pious daughter of Varuna, Varuni, who fell to looking for acceptance.

दितेः पुत्रा न तां राम जगृहुर्वरुणात्मजाम्। अदितेस्तु सुता वीर जगृहुस्तामनिन्दिताम्॥
And Diti's sons, O Rāma, did not accept the daughter of Varuna and Aditi's sons, O hero, accepted that one of blameless limbs.

असुरास्तेन दैतेयाः सुरास्तेनादितेः : सुताः। हृष्टाः प्रमुदिताश्चासन् वारुणीग्रहणात् सुराः॥
Hence Diti's son go by the name of Asuras; and Aditi's by that of Suras. And the celestials became exceeding glad, on having accepted Vāruņi.

उच्चैःश्रवा हयश्रेष्ठो मणिरत्नं च कौस्तुभम्। उदतिष्ठन्नरश्रेष्ठ तथैवामृतमुत्तमम्॥
O foremost of men, next arose ucchaiśravā best of horses, and also Kaustubha; and next, the excellent ambrosia.

अथ तस्य कृते राम महानासीत् कुलक्षयः। अदितेस्तु ततः पुत्रा दितिपुत्रानयोधयन्॥
O Rāma, tremendous was the carnage for the possession thereof (ambrosia); and Aditi's and Diti's sons fought together.

एकतामगमन् सर्वे असुरा राक्षसैः सह। युद्धमासीन्महाघोरं वीर त्रैलोक्यमोहनम्॥
And the Asuras assembled together with the Raksasas; and, C hero, mighty was the battle that was fought, striking terror into the three worlds.

यदा क्षयं गतं सर्वं तदा विष्णुर्महाबलः। असृतं सोऽहरत् तूर्णं मायामास्थाय मोहिनीम्॥
And when a great havoc had been committed the highly powerful Vişņu, assuming a captivating form speedily stole away the ambrosia.

ये गताभिमुखं विष्णुमक्षरं पुरुषोत्तमम्। सम्पिष्टास्ते तदा युद्धे विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना ॥
And those that came forward before that best of male beings, Visnu, knowing no deterioration, were crushed in conflict by Vişnu in a different form.

अदितेरात्मजा वीरा दितेः पुत्रान् निजघ्निरे। अस्मिन् घोरे महायुद्धे दैतेयादित्ययो शम्॥
And in that exceedingly dreadful battle between the sons of Diti and Aditi, those heroic ones viz., Aditi's heroic sons slaughtered those of Diti.

निहत्य दितिपुत्रांस्तु राज्यं प्राप्य पुरंदरः। शशास मुदितो लोकान् सर्षिसङ्घान् सचारणान्॥
Having slaughtered the sons of Diti's and regained his kingdom, he happily began to rule the worlds, containing saints and Caranas.