Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 8 · Chapter 6
श्रीशुक उवाच एवं स्तुत: सुरगणैर्भगवान् हरिरीश्वर: । तेषामाविरभूद् राजन्सहस्रार्कोदयद्युति: ॥ १ ॥
sri-suka uvaca evam stutah sura-ganair bhagavan harir isvarah tesam avirabhud rajan sahasrarkodaya-dyutih
Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King Pariksit, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, being thus worshiped with prayers by the demigods and Lord Brahma, appeared before them. His bodily effulgence resembled the simultaneous rising of thousands of suns.
tenaiva sahasa sarve devah pratihateksanah napasyan kham disah ksaunim atmanam ca kuto vibhum
The vision of all the demigods was blocked by the Lord’s effulgence. Thus they could see neither the sky, the directions, the land, nor even themselves, what to speak of seeing the Lord, who was present before them.
विरिञ्चो भगवान्दृष्ट्वा सह शर्वेण तां तनुम् । स्वच्छां मरकतश्यामां कञ्जगर्भारुणेक्षणाम् ॥ ३ ॥ तप्तहेमावदातेन लसत्कौशेयवाससा । प्रसन्नचारुसर्वाङ्गीं सुमुखीं सुन्दरभ्रुवम् ॥ ४ ॥ महामणिकिरीटेन केयूराभ्यां च भूषिताम् । कर्णाभरणनिर्भातकपोलश्रीमुखाम्बुजाम् ॥ ५ ॥ काञ्चीकलापवलयहारनूपुरशोभिताम् । कौस्तुभाभरणां लक्ष्मीं बिभ्रतीं वनमालिनीम् ॥ ६ ॥ सुदर्शनादिभि: स्वास्त्रैर्मूर्तिमद्भिरुपासिताम् । तुष्टाव देवप्रवर: सशर्व: पुरुषं परम् । सर्वामरगणै: साकं सर्वाङ्गैरवनिं गतै: ॥ ७ ॥
virinco bhagavan drstva saha sarvena tam tanum svaccham marakata-syamam kanja-garbharuneksanam tapta-hemavadatena lasat-kauseya-vasasa prasanna-caru-sarvangim sumukhim sundara-bhruvam maha-mani-kiritena keyurabhyam ca bhusitam karnabharana-nirbhata- kapola-sri-mukhambujam kancikalapa-valaya- hara-nupura-sobhitam kaustubhabharanam laksmim bibhratim vana-malinim sudarsanadibhih svastrair murtimadbhir upasitam tustava deva-pravarah sasarvah purusam param sarvamara-ganaih sakam sarvangair avanim gataih
Lord Brahma, along with Lord Siva, saw the crystal-clear personal beauty of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose blackish body resembles a marakata gem, whose eyes are reddish like the depths of a lotus, who is dressed with garments that are yellow like molten gold, and whose entire body is attractively decorated. They saw His beautiful, smiling, lotuslike face, crowned by a helmet bedecked with valuable jewels. The Lord has attractive eyebrows, and His cheeks are adorned with earrings. Lord Brahma and Lord Siva saw the belt on the Lord’s waist, the bangles on His arms, the necklace on His chest, and the ankle bells on His legs. The Lord is bedecked with flower garlands, His neck is decorated with the Kaustubha gem, and He carries with Him the goddess of fortune and His personal weapons, like His disc and club. When Lord Brahma, along with Lord Siva and the other demigods, thus saw the form of the Lord, they all immediately fell to the ground, offering their obeisances.
श्रीब्रह्मोवाच अजातजन्मस्थितिसंयमाया- गुणाय निर्वाणसुखार्णवाय । अणोरणिम्नेऽपरिगण्यधाम्ने
sri-brahmovaca ajata-janma-sthiti-samyamaya- gunaya nirvana-sukharnavaya anor animne ’pariganya-dhamne mahanubhavaya namo namas te
Lord Brahma said: Although You are never born, Your appearance and disappearance as an incarnation never cease. You are always free from the material qualities, and You are the shelter of transcendental bliss resembling an ocean. Eternally existing in Your transcendental form, You are the supreme subtle of the most extremely subtle. We therefore offer our respectful obeisances unto You, the Supreme, whose existence is inconceivable.
रूपं तवैतत् पुरुषर्षभेज्यं श्रेयोऽर्थिभिर्वैदिकतान्त्रिकेण । योगेन धात: सह नस्त्रिलोकान् पश्याम्यमुष्मिन्नु ह विश्वमूर्तौ ॥ ९ ॥
rupam tavaitat purusarsabhejyam sreyo ’rthibhir vaidika-tantrikena yogena dhatah saha nas tri-lokan pasyamy amusminn u ha visva-murtau
O best of persons, O supreme director, those who actually aspire for supreme good fortune worship this form of Your Lordship according to the Vedic Tantras. My Lord, we can see all the three worlds in You.
त्वय्यग्र आसीत् त्वयि मध्य आसीत् त्वय्यन्त आसीदिदमात्मतन्त्रे । त्वमादिरन्तो जगतोऽस्य मध्यं घटस्य मृत्स्नेव पर: परस्मात् ॥ १० ॥
tvayy agra asit tvayi madhya asit tvayy anta asid idam atma-tantre tvam adir anto jagato ’sya madhyam ghatasya mrtsneva parah parasmat
My dear Lord, who are always fully independent, this entire cosmic manifestation arises from You, rests upon You and ends in You. Your Lordship is the beginning, sustenance and end of everything, like the earth, which is the cause of an earthen pot, which supports the pot, and to which the pot, when broken, finally returns.
त्वं माययात्माश्रयया स्वयेदं निर्माय विश्वं तदनुप्रविष्ट: । पश्यन्ति युक्ता मनसा मनीषिणो गुणव्यवायेऽप्यगुणं विपश्चित: ॥ ११ ॥
tvam mayayatmasrayaya svayedam nirmaya visvam tad-anupravistah pasyanti yukta manasa manisino guna-vyavaye ’py agunam vipascitah
O Supreme, You are independent in Your self and do not take help from others. Through Your own potency, You create this cosmic manifestation and enter into it. Those who are advanced in Krsna consciousness, who are fully in knowledge of the authoritative sastra, and who, through the practice of bhakti-yoga, are cleansed of all material contamination, can see with clear minds that although You exist within the transformations of the material qualities, Your presence is untouched by these qualities.
यथाग्निमेधस्यमृतं च गोषु भुव्यन्नमम्बूद्यमने च वृत्तिम् । योगैर्मनुष्या अधियन्ति हि त्वां गुणेषु बुद्ध्या कवयो वदन्ति ॥ १२ ॥
yathagnim edhasy amrtam ca gosu bhuvy annam ambudyamane ca vrttim yogair manusya adhiyanti hi tvam gunesu buddhya kavayo vadanti
As one can derive fire from wood, milk from the milk bag of the cow, food grains and water from the land, and prosperity in one’s livelihood from industrial enterprises, so, by the practice of bhakti-yoga, even within this material world, one can achieve Your favor or intelligently approach You. Those who are pious all affirm this.
तं त्वां वयं नाथ समुज्जिहानं सरोजनाभातिचिरेप्सितार्थम् । दृष्ट्वा गता निर्वृतमद्य सर्वे गजा दवार्ता इव गाङ्गमम्भ: ॥ १३ ॥
tam tvam vayam natha samujjihanam saroja-nabhaticirepsitartham drstva gata nirvrtam adya sarve gaja davarta iva gangam ambhah
Elephants afflicted by a forest fire become very happy when they get water from the Ganges. Similarly, O my Lord, from whose navel grows a lotus flower, since You have now appeared before us, we have become transcendentally happy. By seeing Your Lordship, whom we have desired to see for a very long time, we have achieved our ultimate goal in life.
स त्वं विधत्स्वाखिललोकपाला वयं यदर्थास्तव पादमूलम् । समागतास्ते बहिरन्तरात्मन् किं वान्यविज्ञाप्यमशेषसाक्षिण: ॥ १४ ॥
sa tvam vidhatsvakhila-loka-pala vayam yad arthas tava pada-mulam samagatas te bahir-antar-atman kim vanya-vijnapyam asesa-saksinah
My Lord, we, the various demigods, the directors of this universe, have come to Your lotus feet. Please fulfill the purpose for which we have come. You are the witness of everything, from within and without. Nothing is unknown to You, and therefore it is unnecessary to inform You again of anything.
अहं गिरित्रश्च सुरादयो ये दक्षादयोऽग्नेरिव केतवस्ते । किं वा विदामेश पृथग्विभाता विधत्स्व शं नो द्विजदेवमन्त्रम् ॥ १५ ॥
aham giritras ca suradayo ye daksadayo ’gner iva ketavas te kim va vidamesa prthag-vibhata vidhatsva sam no dvija-deva-mantram
I (Lord Brahma), Lord Siva and all the demigods, accompanied by the prajapatis like Daksa, are nothing but sparks illuminated by You, who are the original fire. Since we are particles of You, what can we understand about our welfare? O Supreme Lord, please give us the means of deliverance that is suitable for the brahmanas and demigods.
श्रीशुक उवाच एवं विरिञ्चादिभिरीडितस्तद् विज्ञाय तेषां हृदयं यथैव । जगाद जीमूतगभीरया गिरा बद्धाञ्जलीन्संवृतसर्वकारकान् ॥ १६ ॥
sri-suka uvaca evam virincadibhir iditas tad vijnaya tesam hrdayam yathaiva jagada jimuta-gabhiraya gira baddhanjalin samvrta-sarva-karakan
Sukadeva Gosvami continued: When the Lord was thus offered prayers by the demigods, headed by Lord Brahma, He understood the purpose for which they had approached Him. Therefore, in a deep voice that resembled the rumbling of clouds, the Lord replied to the demigods, who all stood there attentively with folded hands.
एक एवेश्वरस्तस्मिन्सुरकार्ये सुरेश्वर: । विहर्तुकामस्तानाह समुद्रोन्मथनादिभि: ॥ १७ ॥
eka evesvaras tasmin sura-karye suresvarah vihartu-kamas tan aha samudronmathanadibhih
Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of the demigods, was capable of performing the activities of the demigods by Himself, He wanted to enjoy pastimes in churning the ocean. Therefore He spoke as follows.
श्रीभगवानुवाच हन्त ब्रह्मन्नहो शम्भो हे देवा मम भाषितम् । शृणुतावहिता: सर्वे श्रेयो व: स्याद् यथा सुरा: ॥ १८ ॥
sri-bhagavan uvaca hanta brahmann aho sambho he deva mama bhasitam srnutavahitah sarve sreyo vah syad yatha surah
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and other demigods, please hear Me with great attention, for what I say will bring good fortune for all of you.
यात दानवदैतेयैस्तावत् सन्धिर्विधीयताम् । कालेनानुगृहीतैस्तैर्यावद् वो भव आत्मन: ॥ १९ ॥
yata danava-daiteyais tavat sandhir vidhiyatam kalenanugrhitais tair yavad vo bhava atmanah
As long as you are not flourishing, you should make a truce with the demons and asuras, who are now being favored by time.
अरयोऽपि हि सन्धेया: सति कार्यार्थगौरवे । अहिमूषिकवद् देवा ह्यर्थस्य पदवीं गतै: ॥ २० ॥
arayo ’pi hi sandheyah sati karyartha-gaurave ahi-musikavad deva hy arthasya padavim gataih
O demigods, fulfilling one’s own interests is so important that one may even have to make a truce with one’s enemies. For the sake of one’s self-interest, one has to act according to the logic of the snake and the mouse.
अमृतोत्पादने यत्न: क्रियतामविलम्बितम् । यस्य पीतस्य वै जन्तुर्मृत्युग्रस्तोऽमरो भवेत् ॥ २१ ॥
amrtotpadane yatnah kriyatam avilambitam yasya pitasya vai jantur mrtyu-grasto ’maro bhavet
Immediately endeavor to produce nectar, which a person who is about to die may drink to become immortal.
क्षिप्त्वा क्षीरोदधौ सर्वा वीरुत्तृणलतौषधी: । मन्थानं मन्दरं कृत्वा नेत्रं कृत्वा तु वासुकिम् ॥ २२ ॥ सहायेन मया देवा निर्मन्थध्वमतन्द्रिता: । क्लेशभाजो भविष्यन्ति दैत्या यूयं फलग्रहा: ॥ २३ ॥
ksiptva ksirodadhau sarva virut-trna-latausadhih manthanam mandaram krtva netram krtva tu vasukim sahayena maya deva nirmanthadhvam atandritah klesa-bhajo bhavisyanti daitya yuyam phala-grahah
O demigods, cast into the Ocean of Milk all kinds of vegetables, grass, creepers and drugs. Then, with My help, making Mandara Mountain the churning rod and Vasuki the rope for churning, churn the Ocean of Milk with undiverted attention. Thus the demons will be engaged in labor, but you, the demigods, will gain the actual result, the nectar produced from the ocean.
यूयं तदनुमोदध्वं यदिच्छन्त्यसुरा: सुरा: । न संरम्भेण सिध्यन्ति सर्वार्था: सान्त्वया यथा ॥ २४ ॥
yuyam tad anumodadhvam yad icchanty asurah surah na samrambhena sidhyanti sarvarthah santvaya yatha
My dear demigods, with patience and peace everything can be done, but if one is agitated by anger, the goal is not achieved. Therefore, whatever the demons ask, agree to their proposal.
न भेतव्यं कालकूटाद् विषाज्जलधिसम्भवात् । लोभ: कार्यो न वो जातु रोष: कामस्तु वस्तुषु ॥ २५ ॥
na bhetavyam kalakutad visaj jaladhi-sambhavat lobhah karyo na vo jatu rosah kamas tu vastusu
A poison known as kalakuta will be generated from the ocean of milk, but you should not fear it. And when various products are churned from the ocean, you should not be greedy for them or anxious to obtain them, nor should you be angry.
श्रीशुक उवाच इति देवान्समादिश्य भगवान् पुरुषोत्तम: । तेषामन्तर्दधे राजन्स्वच्छन्दगतिरीश्वर: ॥ २६ ॥
sri-suka uvaca iti devan samadisya bhagavan purusottamah tesam antardadhe rajan svacchanda-gatir isvarah
Sukadeva Gosvami continued: O King Pariksit, after advising the demigods in this way, the independent Supreme Personality of Godhead, the best of all living entities, disappeared from their presence.
अथ तस्मै भगवते नमस्कृत्य पितामह: । भवश्च जग्मतु: स्वं स्वं धामोपेयुर्बलिं सुरा: ॥ २७ ॥
atha tasmai bhagavate namaskrtya pitamahah bhavas ca jagmatuh svam svam dhamopeyur balim surah
Then Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, after offering their respectful obeisances to the Lord, returned to their abodes. All the demigods then approached Maharaja Bali.
दृष्ट्वारीनप्यसंयत्ताञ्जातक्षोभान्स्वनायकान् । न्यषेधद् दैत्यराट् श्लोक्य: सन्धिविग्रहकालवित् ॥ २८ ॥
drstvarin apy asamyattan jata-ksobhan sva-nayakan nyasedhad daitya-rat slokyah sandhi-vigraha-kalavit
Maharaja Bali, a most celebrated king of the demons, knew very well when to make peace and when to fight. Thus although his commanders and captains were agitated and were about to kill the demigods, Maharaja Bali, seeing that the demigods were coming to him without a militant attitude, forbade his commanders to kill them.
ते वैरोचनिमासीनं गुप्तं चासुरयूथपै: । श्रिया परमया जुष्टं जिताशेषमुपागमन् ॥ २९ ॥
te vairocanim asinam guptam casura-yutha-paih sriya paramaya justam jitasesam upagaman
The demigods approached Bali Maharaja, the son of Virocana, and sat down near him. Bali Maharaja was protected by the commanders of the demons and was most opulent, having conquered all the universes.
महेन्द्र: श्लक्ष्णया वाचा सान्त्वयित्वा महामति: । अभ्यभाषत तत् सर्वं शिक्षितं पुरुषोत्तमात् ॥ ३० ॥
mahendrah slaksnaya vaca santvayitva maha-matih abhyabhasata tat sarvam siksitam purusottamat
After pleasing Bali Maharaja with mild words, Lord Indra, the King of the demigods, who was most intelligent, very politely submitted all the proposals he had learned from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Visnu.
तत्त्वरोचत दैत्यस्य तत्रान्ये येऽसुराधिपा: । शम्बरोऽरिष्टनेमिश्च ये च त्रिपुरवासिन: ॥ ३१ ॥
tat tv arocata daityasya tatranye ye ’suradhipah sambaro ’ristanemis ca ye ca tripura-vasinah
The proposals submitted by King Indra were immediately accepted by Bali Maharaja and his assistants, headed by Sambara and Aristanemi, and by all the other residents of Tripura.
ततो देवासुरा: कृत्वा संविदं कृतसौहृदा: । उद्यमं परमं चक्रुरमृतार्थे परन्तप ॥ ३२ ॥
tato devasurah krtva samvidam krta-sauhrdah udyamam paramam cakrur amrtarthe parantapa
O Maharaja Pariksit, chastiser of enemies, the demigods and the demons thereafter made an armistice between them. Then, with great enterprise, they arranged to produce nectar, as proposed by Lord Indra.
ततस्ते मन्दरगिरिमोजसोत्पाट्य दुर्मदा: । नदन्त उदधिं निन्यु: शक्ता: परिघबाहव: ॥ ३३ ॥
tatas te mandara-girim ojasotpatya durmadah nadanta udadhim ninyuh saktah parigha-bahavah
Thereafter, with great strength, the demons and demigods, who were all very powerful and who had long, stout arms, uprooted Mandara Mountain. Crying very loudly, they brought it toward the ocean of milk.
दूरभारोद्वहश्रान्ता: शक्रवैरोचनादय: । अपारयन्तस्तं वोढुं विवशा विजहु: पथि ॥ ३४ ॥
dura-bharodvaha-srantah sakra-vairocanadayah aparayantas tam vodhum vivasa vijahuh pathi
Because of conveying the great mountain for a long distance, King Indra, Maharaja Bali and the other demigods and demons became fatigued. Being unable to carry the mountain, they left it on the way.
निपतन्स गिरिस्तत्र बहूनमरदानवान् । चूर्णयामास महता भारेण कनकाचल: ॥ ३५ ॥
nipatan sa giris tatra bahun amara-danavan curnayam asa mahata bharena kanakacalah
The mountain known as Mandara, which was extremely heavy, being made of gold, fell and smashed many demigods and demons.
तांस्तथा भग्नमनसो भग्नबाहूरुकन्धरान् । विज्ञाय भगवांस्तत्र बभूव गरुडध्वज: ॥ ३६ ॥
tams tatha bhagna-manaso bhagna-bahuru-kandharan vijnaya bhagavams tatra babhuva garuda-dhvajah
The demigods and demons were frustrated and disheartened, and their arms, thighs and shoulders were broken. Therefore the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who knows everything, appeared there on the back of His carrier, Garuda.
गिरिपातविनिष्पिष्टान्विलोक्यामरदानवान् । ईक्षया जीवयामास निर्जरान् निर्व्रणान् यथा ॥ ३७ ॥
giri-pata-vinispistan vilokyamara-danavan iksaya jivayam asa nirjaran nirvranan yatha
Observing that most of the demons and the demigods had been crushed by the falling of the mountain, the Lord glanced over them and brought them back to life. Thus they became free from grief, and they even had no bruises on their bodies.
गिरिं चारोप्य गरुडे हस्तेनैकेन लीलया । आरुह्य प्रययावब्धिं सुरासुरगणैर्वृत: ॥ ३८ ॥
girim caropya garude hastenaikena lilaya aruhya prayayav abdhim surasura-ganair vrtah
The Lord very easily lifted the mountain with one hand and placed it on the back of Garuda. Then, He too got on the back of Garuda and went to the ocean of milk, surrounded by the demigods and demons.
अवरोप्य गिरिं स्कन्धात् सुपर्ण: पततां वर: । ययौ जलान्त उत्सृज्य हरिणा स विसर्जित: ॥ ३९ ॥
avaropya girim skandhat suparnah patatam varah yayau jalanta utsrjya harina sa visarjitah
Thereafter, Garuda, the chief of birds, unloaded Mandara Mountain from his shoulder and brought it near the water. Then he was asked by the Lord to leave that place, and he left.
