आस्तीक पर्व — समुद्र-मन्थन की कथा

Sauti said: There is a mountain called Mandara with peaks like the clouds. It is the best of mountains and adorned with innumerable creepers.

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.

It rises eleven thousand Yojanas upwards and descends eleven thousand Yojanas downwards.

The celestials, having failed to uproot it, came to Vishnu and Brahma who were sitting together and said to them.

"Devise some means you yourselves. Do try to uproot Mandara for our good.”

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).

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.

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.

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.

The Devas and the Danavas then went to the Tortoise king and said, “You will have to support the mountain on your back.”

The Tortoise king having agreed, Indra pressed that mountain on its back by means of his thunderbolt.

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.

And Ananta, who was a manifested form of Narayana, again and again raised and lowered the hood of the Naga.

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.

From these vapours were created clouds with lightning; and they poured showers on the tired celestials who were thus refreshed.

The flowers that fell from the trees on the mountain-sides on the Devas and the Danavas also refreshed them.

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).

Various aquatic animals were crushed by the great mountain and gave up their lives in the salt sea.

Many denizens of the lower region and those of the land of Varuna were killed by the mountain.

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).

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,

It burnt the lions, elephants and other various creatures that were on the mountain and killed them (on the spot).

Then the best of the celestials, Indra began to extinguish the blazing fire by pouring heavy showers.

Then the gums of various great trees and juices from herbs mingled with the waters of the ocean.

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.

The milky water of the churned ocean by degrees produced clarified butter by virtue of those gums and juices.

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."

Except Narayana, both the Devas and the Danavas have no strength to churn the ocean (any longer).

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."

Narayana said : I grant all necessary strength for all those who are engaged in this action. Go, insert the mountain and churn the Ocean.

Thus hearing the words of Narayana and being re-equipped with fresh strength the celestial recommenced churning of the waters.

Then from churning the ocean rose the amiable and brilliant Moon of thousand rays.

Then rose from that ghee, the whiteclothed Lakshmi; then Sura Devi (Wine) then the great white steed.

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.

Lakshmi, Wine, Moon, Horse (Uchchaishrava) which is fleet as the mind, all directed by Aditya went to the place where the celestials were.

Then rose the divine Dhanvantari with a white vessel in his hand and there in that vessel) was the Ambrosia.

Seeing this wonderful phenomenon, the Danavas raised a a great uproar for the Ambrosia, saying “It is mine."

Then rose the great elephant Airavata, with four white tusks and a huge body and he was seized by the wielder of thunder (Indra).

Because of the great churning, then appeared deadly poison, which soon covered the whole earth and blazed up like a fire with fumes.

The three worlds were stupified by its terrible smell; and then Shiva, asked by Brahma, swallowed it to save the creation.

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).

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.

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.

The foolish Danavas and Daityas becoming fully, enamoured of her, placed the Ambrosia in her hands.