> Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 8
> Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> Canto 8: 'Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations'

> *****

> Chapter Seven: Lord Siva Saves the Universe by Drinking Poison

> *****

> TEXT 1

> srî-suka uvâca

> te nâga-râjam âmantrya

> phala-bhâgena vâsukim

> parivîya girau tasmin

> netram abdhim mudânvitâh

> ârebhire surâ yattâ

> amrtârthe kurûdvaha

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; te--all of them (the demigods and the demons); nâga-râjam--the king of the Nâgas, snakes; âmantrya--inviting, or requesting; phala-bhâgena--by promising a share of the nectar; vâsukim--the snake Vâsuki; parivîya--encircling; girau--Mandara Mountain; tasmin--unto it; netram--the churning rope; abdhim--the ocean of milk; mudâ anvitâh--all surcharged with great pleasure; ârebhire--began to act; surâh--the demigods; yattâh--with great endeavor; amrta-arthe--for gaining nectar; kuru-udvaha--O King Parîksit, best of the Kurus.

> TRANSLATION

> Sukadeva Gosvami said: O best of the Kurus, Maharaja Pariksit, the demigods and demons summoned Vasuki, king of the serpents, requesting him to come and promising to give him a share of the nectar. They coiled Vasuki around Mandara Mountain as a churning rope, and with great pleasure they endeavored to produce nectar by churning the ocean of milk.

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> TEXT 2

> harih purastâj jagrhe

> pûrvam devâs tato 'bhavan

> harih--the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Ajita; purastât--from the front; jagrhe--took; pûrvam--at first; devâh--the demigods; tatah--thereafter; abhavan--took the front portion of Vâsuki.

> TRANSLATION

> The Personality of Godhead, Ajita, grasped the front portion of the snake, and then the demigods followed.

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> TEXT 3

> tan naicchan daitya-patayo

> mahâ-purusa-cestitam

> na grhnîmo vayam puccham

> aher angam amangalam

> svâdhyâya-sruta-sampannâh

> prakhyâtâ janma-karmabhih

> tat--that arrangement; na aicchan--not liking; daitya-patayah--the leaders of the demons; mahâ-purusa--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; cestitam--attempt; na--not; grhnîmah--shall take; vayam--all of us (the Daityas); puccham--the tail; aheh--of the serpent; angam--part of the body; amangalam--inauspicious, inferior; svâdhyâya--with Vedic study; sruta--and Vedic knowledge; sampannâh--fully equipped; prakhyâtâh--prominent; janma-karmabhih--by birth and activities.

> TRANSLATION

> The leaders of the demons thought it unwise to hold the tail, the inauspicious portion of the snake. Instead, they wanted to hold the front, which had been taken by the Personality of Godhead and the demigods, because that portion was auspicious and glorious. Thus the demons, on the plea that they were all highly advanced students of Vedic knowledge and were all famous for their birth and activities, protested that they wanted to hold the front of the snake.

> *****

> TEXT 4

> iti tûsnîm sthitân daityân

> vilokya purusottamah

> smayamâno visrjyâgram

> puccham jagrâha sâmarah

> iti--thus; tûsnîm--silently; sthitân--staying; daityân--the demons; vilokya--seeing; purusa-uttamah--the Personality of Godhead; smayamânah--smiling; visrjya--giving up; agram--the front portion of the snake; puccham--the rear portion; jagrâha--grasped; sa-amarah--with the demigods.

> TRANSLATION

> Thus the demons remained silent, opposing the desire of the demigods. Seeing the demons and understanding their motive, the Personality of Godhead smiled. Without discussion, He immediately accepted their proposal by grasping the tail of the snake, and the demigods followed Him.

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> TEXT 5

> krta-sthâna-vibhâgâs ta

> evam kasyapa-nandanâh

> mamanthuh paramam yattâ

> amrtârtham payo-nidhim

> krta--adjusting; sthâna-vibhâgâh--the division of the places they were to hold; te--they; evam--in this way; kasyapa-nandanâh--the sons of Kasyapa (both the demigods and the demons); mamanthuh--churned; paramam--with great; yattâh--endeavor; amrta-artham--for getting nectar; payah-nidhim--the ocean of milk.

> TRANSLATION

> After thus adjusting how the snake was to be held, the sons of Kasyapa, both demigods and demons, began their activities, desiring to get nectar by churning the ocean of milk.

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> TEXT 6

> mathyamâne 'rnave so 'drir

> anâdhâro hy apo 'visat

> dhriyamâno 'pi balibhir

> gauravât pându-nandana

> mathyamâne--while the churning was going on; arnave--in the ocean of milk; sah--that; adrih--hill; anâdhârah--without being supported by anything; hi--indeed; apah--in the water; avisat--drowned; dhriyamânah--captured; api--although; balibhih--by the powerful demigods and demons; gauravât--from being very heavy; pându-nandana--O son of Pându (Mahârâja Parîksit).

> TRANSLATION

> O son of the Pandu dynasty, when Mandara Mountain was thus being used as a churning rod in the ocean of milk, it had no support, and therefore although held by the strong hands of the demigods and demons, it sank into the water.

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> TEXT 7

> te sunirvinna-manasah

> parimlâna-mukha-sriyah

> âsan sva-pauruse naste

> daivenâtibalîyasâ

> te--all of them (the demigods and demons); sunirvinna-manasah--their minds being very disappointed; parimlâna--dried up; mukha-sriyah--the beauty of their faces; âsan--became; sva-pauruse--with their own prowess; naste--being lost; daivena--by a providential arrangement; ati-balîyasâ--which is always stronger than anything else.

> TRANSLATION

> Because the mountain had been sunk by the strength of providence, the demigods and demons were disappointed, and their faces seemed to shrivel.

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> TEXT 8

> vilokya vighnesa-vidhim tadesvaro

> duranta-vîryo 'vitathâbhisandhih

> krtvâ vapuh kacchapam adbhutam mahat

> pravisya toyam girim ujjahâra

> vilokya--observing; vighna--the obstruction (the sinking of the mountain); îsa-vidhim--by the providential arrangement; tadâ--then; îsvarah--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; duranta-vîryah--inconceivably powerful; avitatha--infallible; abhisandhih--whose determination; krtvâ--expanding; vapuh--body; kacchapam--tortoise; adbhutam--wonderful; mahat--very great; pravisya--entering; toyam--the water; girim--the mountain (Mandara); ujjahâra--lifted.

> TRANSLATION

> Seeing the situation that had been created by the will of the Supreme, the unlimitedly powerful Lord, whose determination is infallible, took the wonderful shape of a tortoise, entered the water, and lifted the great Mandara Mountain.

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> TEXT 9

> tam utthitam vîksya kulâcalam punah

> samudyatâ nirmathitum surâsurâh

> dadhâra prsthena sa laksa-yojana-

> prastârinâ dvîpa ivâparo mahân

> tam--that mountain; utthitam--lifted; vîksya--observing; kulâcalam--known as Mandara; punah--again; samudyatâh--enlivened; nirmathitum--to churn the ocean of milk; sura-asurâh--the demigods and the demons; dadhâra--carried; prsthena--by the back; sah--the Supreme Lord; laksa-yojana--one hundred thousand yojanas (eight hundred thousand miles); prastârinâ--extending; dvîpah--a big island; iva--like; aparah--another; mahân--very big.

> TRANSLATION

> When the demigods and demons saw that Mandara Mountain had been lifted, they were enlivened and encouraged to begin churning again. The mountain rested on the back of the great tortoise, which extended for eight hundred thousand miles like a large island.

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> TEXT 10

> surâsurendrair bhuja-vîrya-vepitam

> paribhramantam girim anga prsthatah

> bibhrat tad-âvartanam âdi-kacchapo

> mene 'nga-kandûyanam aprameyah

> sura-asura-indraih--by the leaders of the demons and the demigods; bhuja-vîrya--by the strength of their arms; vepitam--moving; paribhramantam--rotating; girim--the mountain; anga--O Mahârâja Parîksit; prsthatah--on His back; bibhrat--bore; tat--of that; âvartanam--the rotating; âdi-kacchapah--as the supreme original tortoise; mene--considered; anga-kandûyanam--as pleasing scratching of the body; aprameyah--unlimited.

> TRANSLATION

> O King, when the demigods and demons, by the strength of their arms, rotated Mandara Mountain on the back of the extraordinary tortoise, the tortoise accepted the rolling of the mountain as a means of scratching His body, and thus He felt a pleasing sensation.

> *****

> TEXT 11

> tathâsurân âvisad âsurena

> rûpena tesâm bala-vîryam îrayan

> uddîpayan deva-ganâms ca visnur

> daivena nâgendram abodha-rûpah

> tathâ--thereafter; asurân--unto the demons; âvisat--entered; âsurena--by the quality of passion; rûpena--in such a form; tesâm--of them; bala-vîryam--strength and energy; îrayan--increasing; uddîpayan--encouraging; deva-ganân--the demigods; ca--also; visnuh--Lord Visnu; daivena--by the feature of goodness; nâga-indram--unto the King of the serpents, Vâsuki; abodha-rûpah--by the quality of ignorance.

> TRANSLATION

> Thereafter, Lord Visnu entered the demons as the quality of passion, the demigods as the quality of goodness, and Vasuki as the quality of ignorance to encourage them and increase their various types of strength and energy.

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> TEXT 12

> upary agendram giri-râd ivânya

> âkramya hastena sahasra-bâhuh

> tasthau divi brahma-bhavendra-mukhyair

> abhistuvadbhih sumano-'bhivrstah

> upari--on the top of; agendram--the big mountain; giri-rât--the king of mountains; iva--like; anyah--another; âkramya--catching; hastena--by one hand; sahasra-bâhuh--exhibiting thousands of hands; tasthau--situated; divi--in the sky; brahma--Lord Brahmâ; bhava--Lord Siva; indra--the King of heaven; mukhyaih--headed by; abhistuvadbhih--offered prayers to the Lord; sumanah--by flowers; abhivrstah--being showered.

> TRANSLATION

> Manifesting Himself with thousands of hands, the Lord then appeared on the summit of Mandara Mountain, like another great mountain, and held Mandara Mountain with one hand. In the upper planetary systems, Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, along with Indra, King of heaven, and other demigods, offered prayers to the Lord and showered flowers upon Him.

> *****

> TEXT 13

> upary adhas câtmani gotra-netrayoh

> parena te prâvisatâ samedhitâh

> mamanthur abdhim tarasâ madotkatâ

> mahâdrinâ ksobhita-nakra-cakram

> upari--upward; adhah ca--and downward; âtmani--unto the demons and demigods; gotra-netrayoh--unto the mountain and Vâsuki, who was used as a rope; parena--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; te--they; prâvisatâ--entering them; samedhitâh--sufficiently agitated; mamanthuh--churned; abdhim--the ocean of milk; tarasâ--with great strength; mada-utkatâh--being mad; mahâ-adrinâ--with the great Mandara Mountain; ksobhita--agitated; nakra-cakram--all the alligators in the water.

> TRANSLATION

> The demigods and demons worked almost madly for the nectar, encouraged by the Lord, who was above and below the mountain and who had entered the demigods, the demons, Vasuki and the mountain itself. Because of the strength of the demigods and demons, the ocean of milk was so powerfully agitated that all the alligators in the water were very much perturbed. Nonetheless the churning of the ocean continued in this way.

> *****

> TEXT 14

> ahîndra-sâhasra-kathora-drn-mukha-

> svâsâgni-dhûmâhata-varcaso 'surâh

> pauloma-kâleya-balîlvalâdayo

> davâgni-dagdhâh saralâ ivâbhavan

> ahîndra--of the King of serpents; sâhasra--by thousands; kathora--very, very hard; drk--all directions; mukha--by the mouth; svâsa--breathing; agni--fire coming out; dhûma--smoke; âhata--being affected; varcasah--by the rays; asurâh--the demons; pauloma--Pauloma; kâleya--Kâleya; bali--Bali; ilvala--Ilvala; âdayah--headed by; dava-agni--by a forest fire; dagdhâh--burned; saralâh--sarala trees; iva--like; abhavan--all of them became.

> TRANSLATION

> Vasuki had thousands of eyes and mouths. From his mouths he breathed smoke and blazing fire, which affected the demons, headed by Pauloma, Kaleya, Bali and Ilvala. Thus the demons, who appeared like sarala trees burned by a forest fire, gradually became powerless.

> *****

> TEXT 15

> devâms ca tac-chvâsa-sikhâ-hata-prabhân

> dhûmrâmbara-srag-vara-kancukânanân

> samabhyavarsan bhagavad-vasâ ghanâ

> vavuh samudrormy-upagûdha-vâyavah

> devân--all the demigods; ca--also; tat--of Vâsuki; svâsa--from the breathing; sikhâ--by the flames; hata--being affected; prabhân--their bodily luster; dhûmra--smoky; ambara--dress; srak-vara--excellent garlands; kancuka--armaments; ânanân--and faces; samabhyavarsan--sufficiently rained; bhagavat-vasâh--under the control of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ghanâh--clouds; vavuh--blew; samudra--of the ocean of milk; ûrmi--from the waves; upagûdha--bearing fragments of water; vâyavah--breezes.

> TRANSLATION

> Because the demigods were also affected by the blazing breath of Vasuki, their bodily lusters diminished, and their garments, garlands, weapons and faces were blackened by smoke. However, by the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, clouds appeared on the sea, pouring torrents of rain, and breezes blew, carrying particles of water from the sea waves, to give the demigods relief.

> *****

> TEXT 16

> mathyamânat tathâ sindhor

> devâsura-varûtha-paih

> yadâ sudhâ na jâyeta

> nirmamanthâjitah svayam

> mathyamânât--sufficiently being churned; tathâ--in this way; sindhoh--from the ocean of milk; deva--of the demigods; asura--and the demons; varûtha-paih--by the best; yadâ--when; sudhâ--nectar; na jâyeta--did not come out; nirmamantha--churned; ajitah--the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Ajita; svayam--personally.

> TRANSLATION

> When nectar did not come from the ocean of milk, despite so much endeavor by the best of the demigods and demons, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Ajita, personally began to churn the ocean.

> *****

> TEXT 17

> megha-syâmah kanaka-paridhih karna-vidyota-vidyun

> mûrdhni bhrâjad-vilulita-kacah srag-dharo rakta-netrah

> jaitrair dorbhir jagad-abhaya-dair dandasûkam grhîtvâ

> mathnan mathnâ pratigirir ivâsobhatâtho dhrtâdrih

> megha-syâmah--blackish like a cloud; kanaka-paridhih--wearing yellow garments; karna--on the ears; vidyota-vidyut--whose earrings shone like lightning; mûrdhni--on the head; bhrâjat--gleaming; vilulita--disheveled; kacah--whose hair; srak-dharah--wearing a flower garland; rakta-netrah--with red eyes; jaitraih--with victorious; dorbhih--with arms; jagat--to the universe; abhaya-daih--which give fearlessness; dandasûkam--the snake (Vâsuki); grhîtvâ--after taking; mathnan--churning; mathnâ--by the churning rod (Mandara Mountain); pratigirih--another mountain; iva--like; asobhata--He appeared; atho--then; dhrta-adrih--having taken the mountain.

> TRANSLATION

> The Lord appeared like a blackish cloud. He was dressed with yellow garments, His earrings shone on His ears like lightning, and His hair spread over His shoulders. He wore a garland of flowers, and His eyes were pinkish. With His strong, glorious arms, which award fearlessness throughout the universe, He took hold of Vasuki and began churning the ocean, using Mandara Mountain as a churning rod. When engaged in this way, the Lord appeared like a beautifully situated mountain named Indranila.

> *****

> TEXT 18

> nirmathyamânâd udadher abhûd visam

> maholbanam hâlahalâhvam agratah

> sambhrânta-mînonmakarâhi-kacchapât

> timi-dvipa-grâha-timingilâkulât

> nirmathyamânât--while the activities of churning were going on; udadheh--from the ocean; abhût--there was; visam--poison; mahâ-ulbanam--very fierce; hâlahala-âhvam--by the name hâlahala; agratah--at first; sambhrânta--agitated and going here and there; mîna--various kinds of fish; unmakara--sharks; ahi--different kinds of snakes; kacchapât--and many kinds of tortoises; timi--whales; dvipa--water elephants; grâha--crocodiles; timingila--whales that can swallow whales; âkulât--being very much agitated.

> TRANSLATION

> The fish, sharks, tortoises and snakes were most agitated and perturbed. The entire ocean became turbulent, and even the large aquatic animals like whales, water elephants, crocodiles and timingila fish [large whales that can swallow small whales] came to the surface. While the ocean was being churned in this way, it first produced a fiercely dangerous poison called halahala.

> *****

> TEXT 19

> tad ugra-vegam disi disy upary adho

> visarpad utsarpad asahyam aprati

> bhîtâh prajâ dudruvur anga sesvarâ

> araksyamânâh saranam sadâsivam

> tat--that; ugra-vegam--very fierce and potent poison; disi disi--in all directions; upari--upward; adhah--downward; visarpat--curling; utsarpat--going upward; asahyam--unbearable; aprati--uncontrollable; bhîtâh--being very much afraid; prajâh--the residents of all the worlds; dudruvuh--moved here and there; anga--O Mahârâja Parîksit; sa-îsvarâh--with the Supreme Lord; araksyamânâh--not being protected; saranam--shelter; sadâsivam--unto the lotus feet of Lord Siva.

> TRANSLATION

> O King, when that uncontrollable poison was forcefully spreading up and down in all directions, all the demigods, along with the Lord Himself, approached Lord Siva [Sadasiva]. Feeling unsheltered and very much afraid, they sought shelter of him.

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> TEXT 20

> vilokya tam deva-varam tri-lokyâ

> bhavâya devyâbhimatam munînâm

> âsînam adrâv apavarga-hetos

> tapo jusânam stutibhih pranemuh

> vilokya--observing; tam--him; deva-varam--the best of the demigods; tri-lokyâh--of the three worlds; bhavâya--for the flourishing; devyâ--with his wife, Bhavânî; abhimatam--accepted by; munînâm--great saintly persons; âsînam--sitting together; adrau--from the top of Kailâsa Hill; apavarga-hetoh--desiring liberation; tapah--in austerity; jusânam--being served by them; stutibhih--by prayers; pranemuh--offered their respectful obeisances.

> TRANSLATION

> The demigods observed Lord Siva sitting on the summit of Kailasa Hill with his wife, Bhavani, for the auspicious development of the three worlds. He was being worshiped by great saintly persons desiring liberation. The demigods offered him their obeisances and prayers with great respect.

> *****

> TEXT 21

> srî-prajâpataya ûcuh

> deva-deva mahâ-deva

> bhûtâtman bhûta-bhâvana

> trâhi nah saranâpannâms

> trailokya-dahanâd visât

> srî-prajâpatayah ûcuh--the prajâpatis said; deva-deva--O Lord Mahâdeva, best of the demigods; mahâ-deva--O great demigod; bhûta-âtman--O life and soul of everyone in this world; bhûta-bhâvana--O the cause of the happiness and flourishing of all of them; trâhi--deliver; nah--us; sarana-âpannân--who have taken shelter at your lotus feet; trailokya--of the three worlds; dahanât--which is causing the burning; visât--from this poison.

> TRANSLATION

> The prajapatis said: O greatest of all demigods, Mahadeva, Supersoul of all living entities and cause of their happiness and prosperity, we have come to the shelter of your lotus feet. Now please save us from this fiery poison, which is spreading all over the three worlds.

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> TEXT 22

> tvam ekah sarva-jagata

> îsvaro bandha-moksayoh

> tam tvâm arcanti kusalâh

> prapannârti-haram gurum

> tvam ekah--Your Lordship is indeed; sarva-jagatah--of the three worlds; îsvarah--the controller; bandha-moksayoh--of both bondage and liberation; tam--that controller; tvâm arcanti--worship you; kusalâh--persons who want good fortune; prapanna-ârti-haram--who can mitigate all the distresses of a sheltered devotee; gurum--you who act as a good advisor to all fallen souls.

> TRANSLATION

> O lord, you are the cause of bondage and liberation of the entire universe because you are its ruler. Those who are advanced in spiritual consciousness surrender unto you, and therefore you are the cause of mitigating their distresses, and you are also the cause of their liberation. We therefore worship Your Lordship.

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> TEXT 23

> guna-mayyâ sva-saktyâsya

> sarga-sthity-apyayân vibho

> dhatse yadâ sva-drg bhûman

> brahma-visnu-sivâbhidhâm

> guna-mayyâ--acting in three modes of activity; sva-saktyâ--by the external energy of Your Lordship; asya--of this material world; sarga-sthiti-apyayân--creation, maintenance and annihilation; vibho--O lord; dhatse--you execute; yadâ--when; sva-drk--you manifest yourself; bhûman--O great one; brahma-visnu-siva-abhidhâm--as Lord Brahmâ, Lord Visnu or Lord Siva.

> TRANSLATION

> O lord, you are self-effulgent and supreme. You create this material world by your personal energy, and you assume the names Brahma, Visnu and Mahesvara when you act in creation, maintenance and annihilation.

> PURPORT

> This prayer is actually offered to Lord Visnu, the purusa, who in His incarnations as the guna-avataras assumes the names Brahma, Visnu and Mahesvara.

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> TEXT 24

> tvam brahma paramam guhyam

> sad-asad-bhâva-bhâvanam

> nânâ-saktibhir âbhâtas

> tvam âtmâ jagad-îsvarah

> tvam--Your Lordship; brahma--impersonal Brahman; paramam--supreme; guhyam--confidential; sat-asat-bhâva-bhâvanam--the cause of varieties of creation, its cause and effect; nânâ-saktibhih--with varieties of potencies; âbhâtah--manifest; tvam--you are; âtmâ--the Supersoul; jagat-îsvarah--the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> TRANSLATION

> You are the cause of all causes, the self-effulgent, inconceivable, impersonal Brahman, which is originally Parabrahman. You manifest various potencies in this cosmic manifestation.

> PURPORT

> This prayer is offered to the impersonal Brahman, which consists of the effulgent rays of Parabrahman. Parabrahman is the Supreme Personality of Godhead (param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan). When Lord Siva is worshiped as Parabrahman, the worship is meant for Lord Visnu.

> *****

> TEXT 25

> tvam sabda-yonir jagad-âdir âtmâ

> prânendriya-dravya-gunah svabhâvah

> kâlah kratuh satyam rtam ca dharmas

> tvayy aksaram yat tri-vrd-âmananti

> tvam--Your Lordship; sabda-yonih--the origin and source of Vedic literature; jagat-âdih--the original cause of material creation; âtmâ--the soul; prâna--the living force; indriya--the senses; dravya--the material elements; gunah--the three qualities; sva-bhâvah--material nature; kâlah--eternal time; kratuh--sacrifice; satyam--truth; rtam--truthfulness; ca--and; dharmah--two different types of religion; tvayi--unto you; aksaram--the original syllable, omkâra; yat--that which; tri-vrt--consisting of he letters a, u and m; âmananti--they say.

> TRANSLATION

> O Lord, you are the original source of Vedic literature. You are the original cause of material creation, the life force, the senses, the five elements, the three modes and the mahat-tattva. You are eternal time, determination and the two religious systems called truth [satya] and truthfulness [rta]. You are the shelter of the syllable om, which consists of three letters a-u-m.

> *****

> TEXT 26

> agnir mukham te 'khila-devatâtmâ

> ksitim vidur loka-bhavânghri-pankajam

> kâlam gatim te 'khila-devatâtmano

> disas ca karnau rasanam jalesam

> agnih--fire; mukham--mouth; te--of Your Lordship; akhila-devatâ-âtmâ--the origin of all demigods; ksitim--the surface of the globe; viduh--they know; loka-bhava--O origin of all planets; anghri-pankajam--your lotus feet; kâlam--eternal time; gatim--progress; te--of Your Lordship; akhila-devatâ-âtmanah--the total aggregate of all the demigods; disah--all directions; ca--and; karnau--your ears; rasanam--taste; jala-îsam--the demigod controller of the water.

> TRANSLATION

> O father of all planets, learned scholars know that fire is your mouth, the surface of the globe is your lotus feet, eternal time is your movement, all the directions are your ears, and Varuna, master of the waters, is your tongue.

> *****

> TEXT 27

> nâbhir nabhas te svasanam nabhasvân

> sûryas ca caksûmsi jalam sma retah

> parâvarâtmâsrayanam tavâtmâ

> somo mano dyaur bhagavan siras te

> nâbhih--navel; nabhah--the sky; te--of Your Lordship; svasanam--breathing; nabhasvân--the air; sûryah ca--and the sun globe; caksûmsi--your eyes; jalam--the water; sma--indeed; retah--semen; para-avara-âtma-âsrayanam--the shelter of all living entities, low and high; tava--your; âtmâ--self; somah--the moon; manah--mind; dyauh--the higher planetary systems; bhagavan--O Your Lordship; sirah--head; te--of you.

> TRANSLATION

> O lord, the sky is your navel, the air is your breathing, the sun is your eyes, and the water is your semen. You are the shelter of all kinds of living entities, high and low. The god of the moon is your mind, and the upper planetary system is your head.

> *****

> TEXT 28

> kuksih samudrâ girayo 'sthi-sanghâ

> români sarvausadhi-vîrudhas te

> chandâmsi sâksât tava sapta dhâtavas

> trayî-mayâtman hrdayam sarva-dharmah

> kuksih--abdomen; samudrâh--the oceans; girayah--the mountains; asthi--bones; sanghâh--combination; români--the hairs of the body; sarva--all; ausadhi--drugs; virudhah--plants and creepers; te--your; chandâmsi--Vedic mantras; sâksât--directly; tava--your; sapta--seven; dhâtavah--layers of the body; trayî-maya-âtman--O three Vedas personified; hrdayam--core of the heart; sarva-dharmah--all kinds of religion.

> TRANSLATION

> O lord, you are the three Vedas personified. The seven seas are your abdomen, and the mountains are your bones. All drugs, creepers and vegetables are the hairs on your body, the Vedic mantras like Gayatri are the seven layers of your body, and the Vedic religious system is the core of your heart.

> *****

> TEXT 29

> mukhâni pancopanisadas tavesa

> yais trimsad-astottara-mantra-vargah

> yat tac chivâkhyam paramâtma-tattvam

> deva svayam-jyotir avasthitis te

> mukhâni--faces; panca--five; upanisadah--Vedic literatures; tava--your; îsa--O lord; yaih--by which; trimsat-asta-uttara-mantra-vargah--in the category of thirty-eight important Vedic mantras; yat--that; tat--as it is; siva-âkhyam--celebrated by the name Siva; parama-âtma-tattvam--which ascertain the truth about Paramâtmâ; deva--O lord; svayam-jyotih--self-illuminated; avasthitih--situation; te--of Your Lordship.

> TRANSLATION

> O lord, the five important Vedic mantras are represented by your five faces, from which the thirty-eight most celebrated Vedic mantras have been generated. Your Lordship, being celebrated as Lord Siva, is self-illuminated. You are directly situated as the supreme truth, known as Paramatma.

> *****

> TEXT 30

> châyâ tv adharmormisu yair visargo

> netra-trayam sattva-rajas-tamâmsi

> sânkhyâtmanah sâstra-krtas taveksâ

> chandomayo deva rsih purânah

> châyâ--shadow; tu--but; adharma-ûrmisu--in the waves of irreligion, like kâma, krodha, lobha and moha; yaih--by which; visargah--so many varieties of creation; netra-trayam--three eyes; sattva--goodness; rajah--passion; tamâmsi--and darkness; sânkhya-âtmanah--the origin of all Vedic literatures; sâstra--scriptures; krtah--made; tava--by you; îksâ--simply by glancing; chandah-mayah--full of Vedic verses; deva--O lord; rsih--all Vedic literatures; purânah--and the purânas, the supplementary Vedas.

> TRANSLATION

> O lord, your shadow is seen in irreligion, which brings about varieties of irreligious creations. The three modes of nature--goodness, passion and ignorance--are your three eyes. All the Vedic literatures, which are full of verses, are emanations from you because their compilers wrote the various scriptures after receiving your glance.

> *****

> TEXT 31

> na te giri-trâkhila-loka-pâla-

> virinca-vaikuntha-surendra-gamyam

> jyotih param yatra rajas tamas ca

> sattvam na yad brahma nirasta-bhedam

> na--not; te--of Your Lordship; giri-tra--O King of the mountains; akhila-loka-pâla--all the directors of departments of material activities; virinca--Lord Brahmâ; vaikuntha--Lord Visnu; sura-indra--the King of heaven; gamyam--they can understand; jyotih--effulgence; param--transcendental; yatra--wherein; rajah--the mode of passion; tamah ca--and the mode of ignorance; sattvam--the mode of goodness; na--not; yat brahma--which is impersonal Brahman; nirasta-bhedam--without distinction between demigods and human beings.

> TRANSLATION

> O Lord Girisa, since the impersonal Brahman effulgence is transcendental to the material modes of goodness, passion and ignorance, the various directors of this material world certainly cannot appreciate it or even know where it is. It is not understandable even to Lord Brahma, Lord Visnu or the King of heaven, Mahendra.

> *****

> TEXT 32

> kâmâdhvara-tripura-kâlagarâdy-aneka-

> bhûta-druhah ksapayatah stutaye na tat te

> yas tv anta-kâla idam âtma-krtam sva-netra-

> vahni-sphulinga-sikhayâ bhasitam na veda

> kâma-adhvara--sacrifices for sense gratification (like Daksa-yajna, the sacrifices performed by Daksa); tripura--the demon named Tripurâsura; kâlagara--Kâlagara; âdi--and others; aneka--many; bhûta-druhah--who are meant for giving trouble to the living entities; ksapayatah--being engaged in their destruction; stutaye--your prayer; na--not; tat--that; te--speaking to you; yah tu--because; anta-kâle--at the time of annihilation; idam--in this material world; âtma-krtam--done by yourself; sva-netra--by your eyes; vahni-sphulinga-sikhayâ--by the sparks of fire; bhasitam--burned to ashes; na veda--I do not know how it is happening.

> TRANSLATION

> When annihilation is performed by the flames and sparks emanating from your eyes, the entire creation is burned to ashes. Nonetheless, you do not know how this happens. What then is to be said of your destroying the Daksa-yajna, Tripurasura and the kalakuta poison? Such activities cannot be subject matters for prayers offered to you.

> *****

> TEXT 33

> ye tv âtma-râma-gurubhir hrdi cintitânghri-

> dvandvam carantam umayâ tapasâbhitaptam

> katthanta ugra-parusam niratam smasâne

> te nûnam ûtim avidams tava hâta-lajjâh

> ye--persons who; tu--indeed; âtma-râma-gurubhih--by those who are self-satisfied and who are considered to be spiritual masters of the world; hrdi--within the heart; cintita-anghri-dvandvam--thinking of your two lotus feet; carantam--moving; umayâ--with your consort, Umâ; tapasâ abhitaptam--highly advanced through practice of austerity and penance; katthante--criticize your acts; ugra-parusam--not a gentle person; niratam--always; smasâne--in the crematorium; te--such persons; nûnam--indeed; ûtim--such activities; avidan--not knowing; tava--your activities; hâta-lajjâh--shameless.

> TRANSLATION

> Exalted, self-satisfied persons who preach to the entire world think of your lotus feet constantly within their hearts. However, when persons who do not know your austerity see you moving with Uma, they misunderstand you to be lusty, or when they see you wandering in the crematorium they mistakenly think that you are ferocious and envious. Certainly they are shameless. They cannot understand your activities.

> *****

> TEXT 34

> tat tasya te sad-asatoh paratah parasya

> nânjah svarûpa-gamane prabhavanti bhûmnah

> brahmâdayah kim uta samstavane vayam tu

> tat-sarga-sarga-visayâ api sakti-mâtram

> tat--therefore; tasya--of that; te--of Your Lordship; sat-asatoh--of the living entities, moving and not moving; paratah--transcendentally situated; parasya--very difficult to understand; na--nor; anjah--as it is; svarûpa-gamane--to approach your reality; prabhavanti--it is possible; bhûmnah--O great one; brahma-âdayah--even such persons as Lord Brahmâ; kim uta--what to speak of others; samstavane--in offering prayers; vayam tu--as far as we are concerned; tat--of you; sarga-sarga-visayâh--creations of the creation; api--although; sakti-mâtram--to our ability.

> TRANSLATION

> Even personalities like Lord Brahma and other demigods cannot understand your position, for you are beyond the moving and nonmoving creation. Since no one can understand you in truth, how can one offer you prayers? It is impossible. As far as we are concerned, we are creatures of Lord Brahma's creation. Under the circumstances, therefore, we cannot offer you adequate prayers, but as far as our ability allows, we have expressed our feelings.

> *****

> TEXT 35

> etat param prapasyâmo

> na param te mahesvara

> mrdanâya hi lokasya

> vyaktis te 'vyakta-karmanah

> etat--all these things; param--transcendental; prapasyâmah--we can see; na--not; param--the actual transcendental position; te--of Your Lordship; mahâ-îsvara--O great ruler; mrdanâya--for the happiness; hi--indeed; lokasya--of all the world; vyaktih--manifested; te--of Your Lordship; avyakta-karmanah--whose activities are unknown to everyone.

> TRANSLATION

> O greatest of all rulers, your actual identity is impossible for us to understand. As far as we can see, your presence brings flourishing happiness to everyone. Beyond this, no one can appreciate your activities. We can see this much, and nothing more.

> *****

> TEXT 36

> srî-suka uvâca

> tad-vîksya vyasanam tâsâm

> krpayâ bhrsa-pîditah

> sarva-bhûta-suhrd deva

> idam âha satîm priyâm

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; tat--this situation; vîksya--seeing; vyasanam--dangerous; tâsâm--of all the demigods; krpayâ--out of compassion; bhrsa-pîditah--greatly aggrieved; sarva-bhûta-suhrt--the friend of all living entities; devah--Mahâdeva; idam--this; âha--said; satîm--unto Satîdevî; priyâm--his very dear wife.

> TRANSLATION

> Srila Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Lord Siva is always benevolent toward all living entities. When he saw that the living entities were very much disturbed by the poison, which was spreading everywhere, he was very compassionate. Thus he spoke to his eternal consort, Sati, as follows.

> *****

> TEXT 37

> srî-siva uvâca

> aho bata bhavâny etat

> prajânâm pasya vaisasam

> ksîroda-mathanodbhûtât

> kâlakûtâd upasthitam

> srî-sivah uvâca--Srî Siva said; aho bata--how pitiable; bhavâni--my dear wife, Bhavânî; etat--this situation; prajânâm--of all living entities; pasya--just see; vaisasam--very dangerous; ksîra-uda--of the ocean of milk; mathana-udbhûtât--produced by the churning; kâlakûtât--because of the production of poison; upasthitam--the present situation.

> TRANSLATION

> Lord Siva said: My dear Bhavani, just see how all these living entities have been placed in danger because of the poison produced from the churning of the ocean of milk.

> *****

> TEXT 38

> âsâm prâna-parîpsûnâm

> vidheyam abhayam hi me

> etâvân hi prabhor artho

> yad dîna-paripâlanam

> âsâm--all of these living entities; prâna-parîpsûnâm--very strongly desiring to protect their lives; vidheyam--something must be done; abhayam--safety; hi--indeed; me--by me; etâvân--this much; hi--indeed; prabhoh--of the master; arthah--duty; yat--that which; dîna-paripâlanam--to give protection to suffering humanity.

> TRANSLATION

> It is my duty to give protection and safety to all living entities struggling for existence. Certainly it is the duty of the master to protect his suffering dependents.

> *****

> TEXT 39

> prânaih svaih prâninah pânti

> sâdhavah ksana-bhanguraih

> baddha-vairesu bhûtesu

> mohitesv âtma-mâyayâ

> prânaih--by lives; svaih--their own; prâninah--other living entities; pânti--protect; sâdhavah--devotees; ksana-bhanguraih--temporary; baddha-vairesu--unnecessarily engaged in animosity; bhûtesu--unto living entities; mohitesu--bewildered; âtma-mâyayâ--by the external energy of the Lord.

> TRANSLATION

> People in general, being bewildered by the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, are always engaged in animosity toward one another. But devotees, even at the risk of their own temporary lives, try to save them.

> *****

> TEXT 40

> pumsah krpayato bhadre

> sarvâtmâ prîyate harih

> prîte harau bhagavati

> prîye 'ham sacarâcarah

> tasmâd idam garam bhunje

> prajânâm svastir astu me

> pumsah--with a person; krpayatah--engaged in benevolent activities; bhadre--O most gentle Bhavânî; sarva-âtmâ--the Supersoul; prîyate--becomes pleased; harih--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; prîte--because of His pleasure; harau--the Supreme Lord, Hari; bhagavati--the Personality of Godhead; prîye--also become pleased; aham--I; sa-cara-acarah--with all others, moving and nonmoving; tasmât--therefore; idam--this; garam--poison; bhunje--let me drink; prajânâm--of the living entities; svastih--welfare; astu--let there be; me--by me.

> TRANSLATION

> My dear gentle wife Bhavani, when one performs benevolent activities for others, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, is very pleased. And when the Lord is pleased, I am also pleased, along with all other living creatures. Therefore, let me drink this poison, for all the living entities may thus become happy because of me.

> *****

> TEXT 41

> srî-suka uvâca

> evam âmantrya bhagavân

> bhavânîm visva-bhâvanah

> tad visam jagdhum ârebhe

> prabhâva-jnânvamodata

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; evam--in this way; âmantrya--addressing; bhagavân--Lord Siva; bhavânîm--Bhavânî; visva-bhâvanah--the well-wisher of all the universe; tat visam--that poison; jagdhum--to drink; ârebhe--began; prabhâva-jnâ--mother Bhavânî, who perfectly knew the capability of Lord Siva; anvamodata--gave her permission.

> TRANSLATION

> Srila Sukadeva Gosvami continued: After informing Bhavani in this way, Lord Siva began to drink the poison, and Bhavani, who knew perfectly well the capabilities of Lord Siva, gave him her permission to do so.

> *****

> TEXT 42

> tatah karatalî-krtya

> vyâpi hâlâhalam visam

> abhaksayan mahâ-devah

> krpayâ bhûta-bhâvanah

> tatah--thereafter; karatalî-krtya--taking in his hand; vyâpi--widespread; hâlâhalam--called hâlahala; visam--poison; abhaksayat--drank; mahâ-devah--Lord Siva; krpayâ--out of compassion; bhûta-bhâvanah--for the welfare of all living entities.

> TRANSLATION

> Thereafter, Lord Siva, who is dedicated to auspicious, benevolent work for humanity, compassionately took the whole quantity of poison in his palm and drank it.

> *****

> TEXT 43

> tasyâpi darsayâm âsa

> sva-vîryam jala-kalmasah

> yac cakâra gale nîlam

> tac ca sâdhor vibhûsanam

> tasya--of Lord Siva; api--also; darsayâm âsa--exhibited; sva-vîryam--its own potency; jala-kalmasah--that poison born of the water; yat--which; cakâra--made; gale--on the neck; nîlam--bluish line; tat--that; ca--also; sâdhoh--of the saintly person; vibhûsanam--ornament.

> TRANSLATION

> As if in defamation, the poison born from the ocean of milk manifested its potency by marking Lord Siva's neck with a bluish line. That line, however, is now accepted as an ornament of the Lord.

> *****

> TEXT 44

> tapyante loka-tâpena

> sâdhavah prâyaso janâh

> paramârâdhanam tad dhi

> purusasyâkhilâtmanah

> tapyante--voluntarily suffer; loka-tâpena--because of the suffering of people in general; sâdhavah--saintly persons; prâyasah--almost always; janâh--such persons; parama-ârâdhanam--the topmost method of worshiping; tat--that activity; hi--indeed; purusasya--of the Supreme Person; akhila-âtmanah--who is the Supersoul of everyone.

> TRANSLATION

> It is said that great personalities almost always accept voluntary suffering because of the suffering of people in general. This is considered the highest method of worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is present in everyone's heart.

> *****

> TEXT 45

> nisamya karma tac chambhor

> deva-devasya mîdhusah

> prajâ dâksâyanî brahmâ

> vaikunthas ca sasamsire

> nisamya--after hearing; karma--the act; tat--that; sambhoh--of Lord Siva; deva-devasya--who is worshipable even for the demigods; mîdhusah--he who bestows great benedictions upon people in general; prajâh--the people in general; dâksâyanî--Bhavânî, the daughter of Daksa; brahmâ--Lord Brahmâ; vaikunthah ca--Lord Visnu also; sasamsire--praised very much.

> TRANSLATION

> Upon hearing of this act, everyone, including Bhavani [the daughter of Maharaja Daksa], Lord Brahma, Lord Visnu, and the people in general, very highly praised this deed performed by Lord Siva, who is worshiped by the demigods and who bestows benedictions upon the people.

> *****

> TEXT 46

> praskannam pibatah pâner

> yat kincij jagrhuh sma tat

> vrscikâhi-visausadhyo

> dandasûkâs ca ye 'pare

> praskannam--scattered here and there; pibatah--of Lord Siva while drinking; pâneh--from the palm; yat--which; kincit--very little; jagrhuh--took the opportunity to drink; sma--indeed; tat--that; vrscika--the scorpions; ahi--the cobras; visa-ausadhyah--poisonous drugs; dandasûkâh ca--and animals whose bites are poisonous; ye--who; apare--other living entities.

> TRANSLATION

> Scorpions, cobras, poisonous drugs and other animals whose bites are poisonous took the opportunity to drink whatever little poison had fallen and scattered from Lord Siva's hand while he was drinking.

> PURPORT

> Mosquitoes, jackals, dogs and other varieties of dandasuka, or animals whose bites are poisonous, drank the poison of the samudra-manthana, the churned ocean, since it was available after it fell from the palms of Lord Siva.

> Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Seventh Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled "Lord Siva Saves the Universe by Drinking Poison."

> Back to the running text