> 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 Eight: The Churning of the Milk Ocean

> *****

> TEXT 1

> srî-suka uvâca

> pite gare vrsânkena

> prîtâs te 'mara-dânavâh

> mamanthus tarasâ sindhum

> havirdhânî tato 'bhavat

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; pîte--was drunk; gare--when the poison; vrsa-ankena--by Lord Siva, who sits on a bull; prîtâh--being pleased; te--all of them; amara--the demigods; dânavâh--and the demons; mamanthuh--again began to churn; tarasâ--with great force; sindhum--the ocean of milk; havirdhânî--the surabhi cow, who is the source of clarified butter; tatah--from that churning; abhavat--was generated.

> TRANSLATION

> Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Upon Lord Siva's drinking the poison, both the demigods and the demons, being very pleased, began to churn the ocean with renewed vigor. As a result of this, there appeared a cow known as surabhi.

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> TEXT 2

> tâm agni-hotrîm rsayo

> jagrhur brahma-vâdinah

> yajnasya deva-yânasya

> medhyâya havise nrpa

> tâm--that cow; agni-hotrîm--absolutely necessary for the production of yogurt, milk and ghee to offer as oblations in the fire; rsayah--sages who perform such sacrifices; jagrhuh--took in charge; brahma-vâdinah--because such sages know the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies; yajnasya--of sacrifice; deva-yânasya--which fulfills the desire to be elevated to the higher planetary systems and to Brahmaloka; medhyâya--fit for offering oblations; havise--for the sake of pure clarified butter; nrpa--O King.

> TRANSLATION

> O King Pariksit, great sages who were completely aware of the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies took charge of that surabhi cow, which produced all the yogurt, milk and ghee absolutely necessary for offering oblations into the fire. They did this just for the sake of pure ghee, which they wanted for the performance of sacrifices to elevate themselves to the higher planetary systems, up to Brahmaloka.

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> TEXT 3

> tata uccaihsravâ nâma

> hayo 'bhûc candra-pândurah

> tasmin balih sprhâm cakre

> nendra îsvara-siksayâ

> tatah--thereafter; uccaihsravâh nâma--by the name Uccaihsravâ; hayah--a horse; abhût--was generated; candra-pândurah--being as white as the moon; tasmin--unto it; balih--Mahârâja Bali; sprhâm cakre--desired to possess; na--not; indrah--the King of the demigods; îsvara-siksayâ--by the previous advice of the Lord.

> TRANSLATION

> Thereafter, a horse named Uccaihsrava, which was as white as the moon, was generated. Bali Maharaja desired to possess this horse, and Indra, the King of heaven, did not protest, for he had previously been so advised by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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> TEXT 4

> tata airâvato nâma

> vâranendro vinirgatah

> dantais caturbhih svetâdrer

> haran bhagavato mahim

> tatah--thereafter; airâvatah nâma--of the name Airâvata; vârana-indrah--the king of elephants; vinirgatah--was generated; dantaih--with its tusks; caturbhih--four; sveta--white; adreh--of the mountain; haran--defying; bhagavatah--of Lord Siva; mahim--the glories.

> TRANSLATION

> As the next result of the churning, the king of elephants, named Airavata, was generated. This elephant was white, and with its four tusks it defied the glories of Kailasa Mountain, the glorious abode of Lord Siva.

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> TEXT 5

> airâvanâdayas tv astau

> dig-gajâ abhavams tatah

> abhramu-prabhrtayo 'stau ca

> karinyas tv abhavan nrpa

> airâvana-âdayah--headed by Airâvana; tu--but; astau--eight; dik-gajâh--elephants that could go in any direction; abhavan--were generated; tatah--thereafter; abhramu-prabhrtayah--headed by the she-elephant named Abhramu; astau--eight; ca--also; karinyah--female elephants; tu--indeed; abhavan--also generated; nrpa--O King.

> TRANSLATION

> Thereafter, O King, eight great elephants, which could go in any direction, were generated. They were headed by Airavana. Eight she-elephants, headed by Abhramu, were also generated.

> PURPORT

> The names of the eight elephants were Airavana, Pundarika, Vamana, Kumuda, Anjana, Puspadanta, Sarvabhauma and Supratika.

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> TEXT 6

> kaustubhâkhyam abhûd ratnam

> padmarâgo mahodadheh

> tasmin manau sprhâm cakre

> vakso-'lankarane harih

> tato 'bhavat pârijâtah

> sura-loka-vibhûsanam

> pûrayaty arthino yo 'rthaih

> sasvad bhuvi yathâ bhavân

> kaustubha-âkhyam--known as Kaustubha; abhût--was generated; ratnam--a valuable gem; padmarâgah--another gem, named Padmarâga; mahâ-udadheh--from that great ocean of milk; tasmin--that; manau--jewel; sprhâm cakre--desired to possess; vaksah-alankarane--to decorate His chest; harih--the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tatah--thereafter; abhavat--was generated; pârijâtah--the celestial flower named pârijâta; sura-loka-vibhûsanam--which decorates the heavenly planets; pûrayati--fulfills; arthinah--giving persons desiring material wealth; yah--that which; arthaih--by what is desired; sasvat--always; bhuvi--on this planet; yathâ--as; bhavân--Your Lordship (Mahârâja Parîksit).

> TRANSLATION

> Generated thereafter from the great ocean were the celebrated gems Kaustubha-mani and Padmaraga-mani. Lord Visnu, to decorate His chest, desired to possess them. Generated next was the parijata flower, which decorates the celestial planets. O King, as you fulfill the desires of everyone on this planet by fulfilling all ambitions, the parijata fulfills the desires of everyone.

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> TEXT 7

> tatas câpsaraso jâtâ

> niska-kanthyah suvâsasah

> ramanyah svarginâm valgu-

> gati-lîlâvalokanaih

> tatah--thereafter; ca--also; apsarasah--the residents of Apsaroloka; jâtâh--were generated; niska-kanthyah--decorated with golden necklaces; su-vâsasah--dressed with fine clothing; ramanyah--extremely beautiful and attractive; svarginâm--of the inhabitants of the heavenly planets; valgu-gati-lîlâ-avalokanaih--moving very softly, they attract everyone's heart.

> TRANSLATION

> Next there appeared the Apsaras [who are used as prostitutes on the heavenly planets]. They were fully decorated with golden ornaments and lockets and were dressed in fine and attractive clothing. The Apsaras move very slowly in an attractive style that bewilders the inhabitants of the heavenly planets.

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> TEXT 8

> tatas câvirabhût sâksâc

> chrî ramâ bhagavat-parâ

> ranjayantî disah kântyâ

> vidyut saudâmanî yathâ

> tatah--thereafter; ca--and; âvirabhût--manifested; sâksât--directly; srî--the goddess of fortune; ramâ--known as Ramâ; bhagavat-parâ--absolutely inclined to be possessed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ranjayantî--illuminating; disah--all directions; kântyâ--by luster; vidyut--lightning; saudâmanî--Saudâmanî; yathâ--as.

> TRANSLATION

> Then there appeared the goddess of fortune, Rama, who is absolutely dedicated to being enjoyed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. She appeared like electricity, surpassing the lightning that might illuminate a marble mountain.

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> TEXT 9

> tasyâm cakruh sprhâm sarve

> sasurâsura-mânavâh

> rûpaudârya-vayo-varna-

> mahimâksipta-cetasah

> tasyâm--unto her; cakruh--did; sprhâm--desire; sarve--everyone; sa-sura-asura-mânavâh--the demigods, the demons and the human beings; rûpa-audârya--by the exquisite beauty and bodily features; vayah--youth; varna--complexion; mahimâ--glories; âksipta--agitated; cetasah--their minds.

> TRANSLATION

> Because of her exquisite beauty, her bodily features, her youth, her complexion and her glories, everyone, including the demigods, the demons and the human beings, desired her. They were attracted because she is the source of all opulences.

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> TEXT 10

> tasyâ âsanam âninye

> mahendro mahad-adbhutam

> mûrtimatyah saric-chresthâ

> hema-kumbhair jalam suci

> tasyâh--for her; asanam--a sitting place; âninye--brought; mahâ-indrah--the King of heaven, Indra; mahat--glorious; adbhutam--wonderful; mûrti-matyah--accepting forms; sarit-sresthâh--the best of various sacred waters; hema--golden; kumbhaih--with waterpots; jalam--water; suci--pure.

> TRANSLATION

> The King of heaven, Indra, brought a suitable sitting place for the goddess of fortune. All the rivers of sacred water, such as the Ganges and Yamuna, personified themselves, and each of them brought pure water in golden waterpots for mother Laksmi, the goddess of fortune.

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> TEXT 11

> âbhisecanikâ bhûmir

> âharat sakalausadhîh

> gâvah panca pavitrâni

> vasanto madhu-mâdhavau

> âbhisecanikâh--paraphernalia required for installing the Deity; bhûmih--the land; âharat--collected; sakala--all kinds of; ausadhîh--drugs and herbs; gâvah--the cows; panca--five different varieties of products from the cow, namely milk, yogurt, clarified butter, cow dung and cow urine; pavitrâni--uncontaminated; vasantah--personified springtime; madhu-mâdhavau--flowers and fruits produced during spring, or in the months of Caitra and Vaisâkha.

> TRANSLATION

> The land became a person and collected all the drugs and herbs needed for installing the Deity. The cows delivered five products, namely milk, yogurt, ghee, urine and cow dung, and spring personified collected everything produced in spring, during the months of Caitra and Vaisakha [April and May].

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> TEXT 12

> rsayah kalpayâm cakrur

> âbhisekam yathâ-vidhi

> jagur bhadrâni gandharvâ

> natyas ca nanrtur jaguh

> rsayah--the great sages; kalpayâm cakruh--executed; âbhisekam--the abhiseka ceremony, which is required during the installation of the Deity; yathâ-vidhi--as directed in the authorized scriptures; jaguh--chanted Vedic mantras; bhadrâni--all good fortune; gandharvâh--and the inhabitants of Gandharvaloka; natyah--the women who were professional dancers; ca--also; nanrtuh--very nicely danced on the occasion; jaguh--and sang authorized songs prescribed in the Vedas.

> TRANSLATION

> The great sages performed the bathing ceremony of the goddess of fortune as directed in the authorized scriptures, the Gandharvas chanted all-auspicious Vedic mantras, and the professional women dancers very nicely danced and sang authorized songs prescribed in the Vedas.

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> TEXT 13

> meghâ mrdanga-panava-

> murajânaka-gomukhân

> vyanâdayan sankha-venu-

> vînâs tumula-nihsvanân

> meghâh--personified clouds; mrdanga--drums; panava--kettledrums; muraja--another kind of drum; ânaka--another type of drum; gomukhân--a type of bugle; vyanâdayan--vibrated; sankha--conchshells; venu--flutes; vînâh--stringed instruments; tumula--tumultuous; nihsvanân--vibration.

> TRANSLATION

> The clouds in personified form beat various types of drums, known as mrdangas, panavas, murajas and anakas. They also blew conchshells and bugles known as gomukhas and played flutes and stringed instruments. The combined sound of these instruments was tumultuous.

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> TEXT 14

> tato 'bhisisicur devîm

> sriyam padma-karâm satîm

> digibhâh pûrna-kalasaih

> sûkta-vâkyair dvijeritaih

> tatah--thereafter; abhisisicuh--poured all-auspicious water on the body; devîm--the goddess of fortune; sriyam--very beautiful; padma-karâm--with a lotus in her hand; satîm--she who is most chaste, not knowing anyone but the Supreme Personality of Godhead; digibhâh--the great elephants; pûrna-kalasaih--by completely full water jugs; sûkta-vâkyaih--with Vedic mantras; dvi-ja--by brâhmanas; îritaih--chanted.

> TRANSLATION

> Thereafter, the great elephants from all the directions carried big water jugs full of Ganges water and bathed the goddess of fortune, to the accompaniment of Vedic mantras chanted by learned brahmanas. While thus being bathed, the goddess of fortune maintained her original style, with a lotus flower in her hand, and she appeared very beautiful. The goddess of fortune is the most chaste, for she does not know anyone but the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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> TEXT 15

> samudrah pîta-kauseya-

> vâsasî samupâharat

> varunah srajam vaijayantîm

> madhunâ matta-satpadâm

> samudrah--the ocean; pîta-kauseya--yellow silk; vâsasî--both the upper and lower portions of a garment; samupâharat--presented; varunah--the predominating deity of the water; srajam--garland; vaijayantîm--the most decorated and the biggest; madhunâ--with honey; matta--drunken; sat-padâm--bumblebees, which have six legs.

> TRANSLATION

> The ocean, which is the source of all valuable jewels, supplied the upper and lower portions of a yellow silken garment. The predominating deity of the water, Varuna, presented flower garlands surrounded by six-legged bumblebees, drunken with honey.

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> TEXT 16

> bhûsanâni vicitrâni

> visvakarmâ prajâpatih

> hâram sarasvatî padmam

> ajo nâgâs ca kundale

> bhûsanâni--varieties of ornaments; vicitrâni--all very nicely decorated; visvakarmâ prajâpatih--Visvakarmâ, one of the prajâpatis, the sons of Lord Brahmâ who generate progeny; hâram--garland or necklace; sarasvatî--the goddess of education; padmam--a lotus flower; ajah--Lord Brahmâ; nâgâh ca--the inhabitants of Nâgaloka; kundale--two earrings.

> TRANSLATION

> Visvakarma, one of the prajapatis, supplied varieties of decorated ornaments. The goddess of learning, Sarasvati, supplied a necklace, Lord Brahma supplied a lotus flower, and the inhabitants of Nagaloka supplied earrings.

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> TEXT 17

> tatah krta-svastyayanotpala-srajam

> nadad-dvirephâm parigrhya pâninâ

> cacâla vaktram sukapola-kundalam

> savrîda-hâsam dadhatî susobhanam

> tatah--thereafter; krta-svastyayanâ--being worshiped regularly by all-auspicious ritualistic ceremonies; utpala-srajam--a garland of lotuses; nadat--humming; dvirephâm--surrounded by bumblebees; parigrhya--capturing; pâninâ--by the hand; cacâla--went on; vaktram--face; su-kapola-kundalam--her cheeks decorated with earrings; sa-vrîda-hâsam--smiling with shyness; dadhatî--expanding; su-sobhanam--her natural beauty.

> TRANSLATION

> Thereafter, mother Laksmi, the goddess of fortune, having been properly celebrated with an auspicious ritualistic ceremony, began moving about, holding in her hand a garland of lotus flowers, which were surrounded by humming bumblebees. Smiling with shyness, her cheeks decorated by her earrings, she looked extremely beautiful.

> *****

> TEXT 18

> stana-dvayam câtikrsodarî samam

> nirantaram candana-kunkumoksitam

> tatas tato nûpura-valgu sinjitair

> visarpatî hema-lateva sâ babhau

> stana-dvayam--her two breasts; ca--also; ati-krsa-udarî--the middle portion of her body being very thin; samam--equally; nirantaram--constantly; candana-kunkuma--with sandalwood pulp and kunkuma, a reddish powder; uksitam--smeared; tatah tatah--here and there; nûpura--of ankle bells; valgu--very beautiful; sinjitaih--with the light resounding; visarpatî--walking; hema-latâ--a golden creeper; iva--exactly like; sâ--the goddess of fortune; babhau--appeared.

> TRANSLATION

> Her two breasts, which were symmetrical and nicely situated, were covered with sandalwood pulp and kunkuma powder, and her waist was very thin. As she walked here and there, her ankle bells jingling softly, she appeared like a creeper of gold.

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> TEXT 19

> vilokayantî niravadyam âtmanah

> padam dhruvam câvyabhicâri-sad-gunam

> gandharva-siddhâsura-yaksa-cârana-

> traipistapeyâdisu nânvavindata

> vilokayantî--observing, examining; niravadyam--without any fault; âtmanah--for herself; padam--position; dhruvam--eternal; ca--also; avyabhicâri-sat-gunam--without any change of qualities; gandharva--among the inhabitants of Gandharvaloka; siddha--the inhabitants of Siddhaloka; asura--the demons; yaksa--the Yaksas; cârana--the inhabitants of Câranaloka; traipistapeya-âdisu--and among the demigods; na--not; anvavindata--could accept any one of them.

> TRANSLATION

> While walking among the Gandharvas, Yaksas, asuras, Siddhas, Caranas and denizens of heaven, Laksmidevi, the goddess of fortune, was scrutinizingly examining them, but she could not find anyone naturally endowed with all good qualities. None of them was devoid of faults, and therefore she could not take shelter of any of them.

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> TEXT 20

> nûnam tapo yasya na manyu-nirjayo

> jnânam kvacit tac ca na sanga-varjitam

> kascin mahâms tasya na kâma-nirjayah

> sa îsvarah kim parato vyapâsrayah

> nûnam--certainly; tapah--austerity; yasya--of someone; na--not; manyu--anger; nirjayah--conquered; jnânam--knowledge; kvacit--in some saintly person; tat--that; ca--also; na--not; sanga-varjitam--without the contamination of association; kascit--someone; mahân--a very great exalted person; tasya--his; na--not; kâma--material desires; nirjayah--conquered; sah--such a person; îsvarah--controller; kim--how can he be; paratah--of others; vyapâsrayah--under the control.

> TRANSLATION

> The goddess of fortune, examining the assembly, thought in this way: Someone who has undergone great austerity has not yet conquered anger. Someone possesses knowledge, but he has not conquered material desires. Someone is a very great personality, but he cannot conquer lusty desires. Even a great personality depends on something else. How, then, can he be the supreme controller?

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> TEXT 21

> dharmah kvacit tatra na bhûta-sauhrdam

> tyâgah kvacit tatra na mukti-kâranam

> vîryam na pumso 'sty aja-vega-niskrtam

> na hi dvitîyo guna-sanga-varjitah

> dharmah--religion; kvacit--one may have full knowledge of; tatra--therein; na--not; bhûta-sauhrdam--friendship with other living entities; tyâgah--renunciation; kvacit--one may possess; tatra--therein; na--not; mukti-kâranam--the cause of liberation; vîryam--power; na--not; pumsah--of any person; asti--there may be; aja-vega-niskrtam--no release from the power of time; na--nor; hi--indeed; dvitîyah--the second one; guna-sanga-varjitah--completely freed from the contamination of the modes of nature.

> TRANSLATION

> Someone may possess full knowledge of religion but still not be kind to all living entities. In someone, whether human or demigod, there may be renunciation, but that is not the cause of liberation. Someone may possess great power and yet be unable to check the power of eternal time. Someone else may have renounced attachment to the material world, yet he cannot compare to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, no one is completely freed from the influence of the material modes of nature.

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> TEXT 22

> kvacic cirâyur na hi sîla-mangalam

> kvacit tad apy asti na vedyam âyusah

> yatrobhayam kutra ca so 'py amangalah

> sumangalah kasca na kânksate hi mâm

> kvacit--someone; cira-âyuh--has a long duration of life; na--not; hi--indeed; sîla-mangalam--good behavior or auspiciousness; kvacit--someone; tat api--although possessing good behavior; asti--is; na--not; vedyam âyusah--aware of the duration of life; yatra ubhayam--if there are both (behavior and auspiciousness); kutra--somewhere; ca--also; sah--that person; api--although; amangalah--a little inauspicious in some other detail; su-mangalah--auspicious in every respect; kasca--someone; na--not; kânksate--desires; hi--indeed; mâm--me.

> TRANSLATION

> Someone may have longevity but not have auspiciousness or good behavior. Someone may have both auspiciousness and good behavior, but the duration of his life is not fixed. Although such demigods as Lord Siva have eternal life, they have inauspicious habits like living in crematoriums. And even if others are well qualified in all respects, they are not devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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> TEXT 23

> evam vimrsyâvyabhicâri-sad-gunair

> varam nijaikâsrayatayâgunâsrayam

> vavre varam sarva-gunair apeksitam

> ramâ mukundam nirapeksam îpsitam

> evam--in this way; vimrsya--after full deliberation; avyabhicâri-sat-gunaih--with extraordinary transcendental qualities; varam--superior; nija-eka-âsrayatayâ--because of possessing all good qualities without depending on others; aguna-âsrayam--the reservoir of all transcendental qualities; vavre--accepted; varam--as a bridegroom; sarva-gunaih--with all transcendental qualities; apeksitam--qualified; ramâ--the goddess of fortune; mukundam--unto Mukunda; nirapeksam--although He did not wait for her; îpsitam--the most desirable.

> TRANSLATION

> Sukadeva Gosvami continued: In this way, after full deliberation, the goddess of fortune accepted Mukunda as her husband because although He is independent and not in want of her, He possesses all transcendental qualities and mystic powers and is therefore the most desirable.

> *****

> TEXT 24

> tasyâmsa-desa usatîm nava-kanja-mâlâm

> mâdyan-madhuvrata-varûtha-giropaghustâm

> tasthau nidhâya nikate tad-urah sva-dhâma

> savrîda-hâsa-vikasan-nayanena yâtâ

> tasya--of Him (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); amsa-dese--on the shoulders; usatîm--very beautiful; nava--new; kanja-mâlâm--garland of lotus flowers; mâdyat--maddened; madhuvrata-varûtha--of bumblebees; girâ--with the vibrating; upaghustâm--surrounded by their humming; tasthau--remained; nidhâya--after placing the garland; nikate--nearby; tat-urah--the bosom of the Lord; sva-dhâma--her real resort; sa-vrîda-hâsa--smiling with shyness; vikasat--glittering; nayanena--with the eyes; yâtâ--so situated.

> TRANSLATION

> Approaching the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the goddess of fortune placed upon His shoulders the garland of newly grown lotus flowers, which was surrounded by humming bumblebees searching for honey. Then, expecting to get a place on the bosom of the Lord, she remained standing by His side, her face smiling in shyness.

> *****

> TEXT 25

> tasyâh sriyas tri-jagato janako jananyâ

> vakso nivâsam akarot paramam vibhûteh

> srîh svâh prajâh sakarunena nirîksanena

> yatra sthitaidhayata sâdhipatîms tri-lokân

> tasyâh--of her; sriyah--the goddess of fortune; tri-jagatah--of the three worlds; janakah--the father; jananyâh--of the mother; vaksah--bosom; nivâsam--residence; akarot--made; paramam--supreme; vibhûteh--of the opulent; srîh--the goddess of fortune; svâh--own; prajâh--descendants; sa-karunena--with favorable mercy; nirîsanena--by glancing over; yatra--wherein; sthitâ--staying; aidhayata--increased; sa-adhipatîn-with the great directors and leaders; tri-lokân--the three worlds.

> TRANSLATION

> The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the father of the three worlds, and His bosom is the residence of mother Laksmi, the goddess of fortune, the proprietor of all opulences. The goddess of fortune, by her favorable and merciful glance, can increase the opulence of the three worlds, along with their inhabitants and their directors, the demigods.

> *****

> TEXT 26

> sankha-tûya-mrdangânâm

> vâditrânâm prthuh svanah

> devânugânâm sastrînâm

> nrtyatâm gâyatâm abhût

> sankha--conchshells; tûrya--bugles; mrdangânâm--and of different types of drums; vâditrânâm--of the musical instruments; prthuh--very great; svanah--sound; deva-anugânâm--the inhabitants of the upper planets like the Gandharvas and Câranas, who follow the demigods; sa-strînâm--as along with their own wives; nrtyatâm--engaged in dancing; gâyatâm--singing; abhût--became.

> TRANSLATION

> The inhabitants of Gandharvaloka and Caranaloka then took the opportunity to play their musical instruments, such as conchshells, bugles and drums. They began dancing and singing along with their wives.

> *****

> TEXT 27

> brahma-rudrângiro-mukhyâh

> sarve visva-srjo vibhum

> îdire 'vitathair mantrais

> tal-lingaih puspa-varsinah

> brahma--Lord Brahmâ; rudra--Lord Siva; angirah--the great sage Angirâ Muni; mukhyâh--headed by; sarve--all of them; visva-srjah--the directors of universal management; vibhum--the very great personality; îdire--worshiped; avitathaih--real; mantraih--by chanting; tat-lingaih--worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead; puspa-varsinah--throwing flowers like showers.

> TRANSLATION

> Lord Brahma, Lord Siva, the great sage Angira, and similar directors of universal management showered flowers and chanted mantras indicating the transcendental glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> *****

> TEXT 28

> sriyâvalokitâ devâh

> saprajâpatayah prajâh

> sîlâdi-guna-sampannâ

> lebhire nirvrtim parâm

> srîyâ--by the goddess of fortune, Laksmî; avalokitâh--being seen favorably with mercy; devâh--all the demigods; sa-prajâpatayah--with all the prajâpatis; prajâh--and their generations; sîla-âdi-guna-sampannâh--all blessed with good behavior and good characteristics; lebhire--achieved; nirvrtim--satisfaction; parâm--the ultimate.

> TRANSLATION

> All the demigods, along with the prajapatis and their descendants, being blessed by Laksmiji's glance upon them, were immediately enriched with good behavior and transcendental qualities. Thus they were very much satisfied.

> *****

> TEXT 29

> nihsattvâ lolupâ râjan

> nirudyogâ gata-trapâh

> yadâ copeksitâ laksmyâ

> babhûvur daitya-dânavâh

> nihsattvâh--without strength; lolupâh--very greedy; râjan--O King; nirudyogâh--frustrated; gata-trapâh--shameless; yadâ--when; ca--also; upeksitâh--neglected; laksmyâ--by the goddess of fortune; babhûvuh--they became; daitya-dânavâh--the demons and Râksasas.

> TRANSLATION

> O King, because of being neglected by the goddess of fortune, the demons and Raksasas were depressed, bewildered and frustrated, and thus they became shameless.

> *****

> TEXT 30

> athâsîd vârunî devî

> kanyâ kamala-locanâ

> asurâ jagrhus tâm vai

> harer anumatena te

> atha--thereafter (after the appearance of the goddess of fortune); âsît--there was; vârunî--Vârunî; devî--the demigoddess who controls drunkards; kanyâ--a young girl; kamala-locanâ--lotus-eyed; asurâh--the demons; jagrhuh--accepted; tâm--her; vai--indeed; hareh--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; anumatena--by the order; te--they (the demons).

> TRANSLATION

> Next appeared Varuni, the lotus-eyed goddess who controls drunkards. With the permission of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, the demons, headed by Bali Maharaja, took possession of this young girl.

> *****

> TEXT 31

> athodadher mathyamânât

> kâsyapair amrtârthibhih

> udatisthan mahârâja

> purusah paramâdbhutah

> atha--thereafter; udadheh--from the ocean of milk; mathyamânât--while being churned; kâsyapaih--by the sons of Kasyapa, namely the demigods and the demons; amrta-arthibhih--anxious to get nectar from the churning; udatisthat--there appeared; mahârâja--O King; purusah--a male person; parama--highly; adbhutah--wonderful.

> TRANSLATION

> O King, thereafter, while the sons of Kasyapa, both demons and demigods, were engaged in churning the ocean of milk, a very wonderful male person appeared.

> *****

> TEXT 32

> dîrgha-pîvara-dor-dandah

> kambu-grîvo 'runeksanah

> syâmalas tarunah sragvî

> sarvâbharana-bhûsitah

> dîrgha--long; pîvara--stout and strong; doh-dandah--the arms; kambu--like a conchshell; grîvah--the neck; aruna-îksanah--reddish eyes; syâmalah--blackish complexion; tarunah--very young; sragvî--wearing a flower garland; sarva--all; âbharana--with ornaments; bhûsitah--decorated.

> TRANSLATION

> He was strongly built; his arms were long, stout and strong; his neck, which was marked with three lines, resembled a conchshell; his eyes were reddish; and his complexion was blackish. He was very young, he was garlanded with flowers, and his entire body was fully decorated with various ornaments.

> *****

> TEXT 33

> pîta-vâsâ mahoraskah

> sumrsta-mani-kundalah

> snigdha-kuncita-kesânta-

> subhagah simha-vikramah

> amrtâpûrna-kalasam

> bibhrad valaya-bhûsitah

> pîta-vâsâh--wearing yellow garments; mahâ-uraskah--his chest very broad; su-mrsta-mani-kundalah--whose earrings were well polished and made of pearls; snigdha--polished; kuncita-kesa--curling hair; anta--at the end; su-bhagah--separated and beautiful; simha-vikramah--strong like a lion; amrta--with nectar; âpûrna--filled to the top; kalasam--a jar; bibhrat--moving; valaya--with bangles; bhûsitah--decorated.

> TRANSLATION

> He was dressed in yellow garments and wore brightly polished earrings made of pearls. The tips of his hair were anointed with oil, and his chest was very broad. His body had all good features, he was stout and strong like a lion, and he was decorated with bangles. In his hand he carried a jug filled to the top with nectar.

> *****

> TEXT 34

> sa vai bhagavatah sâksâd

> visnor amsâmsa-sambhavah

> dhanvantarir iti khyâta

> âyur-veda-drg ijya-bhâk

> sah--he; vai--indeed; bhagavatah--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sâksât--directly; visnoh--of Lord Visnu; amsa-amsa-sambhavah--incarnation of the plenary portion of a plenary portion; dhanvantarih--Dhanvantari; iti--thus; khyâtah--celebrated; âyuh-veda-drk--fully conversant in the medical science; ijya-bhâk--one of the demigods eligible to share the benefits of sacrifices.

> TRANSLATION

> This person was Dhanvantari, a plenary portion of a plenary portion of Lord Visnu. He was very conversant with the science of medicine, and as one of the demigods he was permitted to take a share in sacrifices.

> *****

> TEXT 35

> tam âlokyâsurâh sarve

> kalasam câmrtâbhrtam

> lipsantah sarva-vastûni

> kalasam tarasâharan

> tam--him; âlokya--seeing; asurâh--the demons; sarve--all of them; kalasam--the container of nectar; ca--also; amrta-âbhrtam--filled with nectar; lipsantah--desiring strongly; sarva-vastûni--all objects; kalasam--the jug; tarasâ--immediately; aharan--snatched away.

> TRANSLATION

> Upon seeing Dhanvantari carrying the jug of nectar, the demons, desiring the jug and its contents, immediately snatched it away by force.

> *****

> TEXT 36

> nîyamâne 'surais tasmin

> kalase 'mrta-bhâjane

> visanna-manaso devâ

> harim saranam âyayuh

> nîyamâne--being carried; asuraih--by the demons; tasmin--that; kalase--jug; amrta-bhâjane--containing nectar; visanna-manasah--aggrieved in mind; devâh--all the demigods; harim--unto the Supreme Lord; saranam--to take shelter; âyayuh--went.

> TRANSLATION

> When the jug of nectar was carried off by the demons, the demigods were morose. Thus they sought shelter at the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari.

> *****

> TEXT 37

> iti tad-dainyam âlokya

> bhagavân bhrtya-kâma-krt

> mâ khidyata mitho 'rtham vah

> sâdhayisye sva-mâyayâ

> iti--in this way; tat--of the demigods; dainyam--moroseness; âlokya--seeing; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhrtya-kâma-krt--who is always ready to fulfill the desires of His servants; mâ khidyata--do not be aggrieved; mithah--by a quarrel; artham--to get nectar; vah--for all of you; sâdhayisye--I shall execute; sva-mâyayâ--by My own energy.

> TRANSLATION

> When the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who always desires to fulfill the ambitions of His devotees, saw that the demigods were morose, He said to them, "Do not be aggrieved. By My own energy I shall bewilder the demons by creating a quarrel among them. In this way I shall fulfill your desire to have the nectar."

> *****

> TEXT 38

> mithah kalir abhût tesâm

> tad-arthe tarsa-cetasâm

> aham pûrvam aham pûrvam

> na tvam na tvam iti prabho

> mithah--among themselves; kalih--disagreement and quarrel; abhût--there was; tesâm--of all of them; tat-arthe--for the sake of nectar; tarsa-cetasâm--bewildered in heart and soul by the illusory energy of Visnu; aham--I; pûrvam--first; aham--I; pûrvam--first; na--not; tvam--you; na--not; tvam--you; iti--thus; prabho--O King.

> TRANSLATION

> O King, a quarrel then arose among the demons over who would get the nectar first. Each of them said, "You cannot drink it first. I must drink it first. Me first, not you!"

> *****

> TEXTS 39-40

> devâh svam bhâgam arhanti

> ye tulyâyâsa-hetavah

> satra-yâga ivaitasminn

> esa dharmah sanâtanah

> iti svân pratyasedhan vai

> daiteyâ jâta-matsarâh

> durbalâh prabalân râjan

> grhîta-kalasân muhuh

> devâh--the demigods; svam bhâgam--their own share; arhanti--deserve to take; ye--all of them who; tulya-âyâsa-hetavah--who made an equal endeavor; satra-yâge--in the performance of sacrifices; iva--similarly; etasmin--in this matter; esah--this; dharmah--religion; sanâtanah--eternal; iti--thus; svân--among themselves; pratyasedhan--forbade one another; vai--indeed; daiteyâh--the sons of Diti; jâta-matsarâh--envious; durbalâh--weak; prabalân--by force; râjan--O King; grhîta--possessing; kalasân--the jug containing nectar; muhuh--constantly.

> TRANSLATION

> Some of the demons said, "All the demigods have taken part in churning the ocean of milk. Now, as everyone has an equal right to partake in any public sacrifice, according to the eternal religious system it is befitting that the demigods now have a share of the nectar." O King, in this way the weaker demons forbade the stronger demons to take the nectar.

> *****

> TEXTS 41-46

> etasminn antare visnuh

> sarvopâya-vid îsvarah

> yosid-rûpam anirdesyam

> dadhâra-paramâdbhutam

> preksanîyotpala-syâmam

> sarvâvayava-sundaram

> samâna-karnâbharanam

> sukapolonnasânanam

> nava-yauvana-nirvrtta-

> stana-bhâra-krsodaram

> mukhâmodânuraktâli-

> jhankârodvigna-locanam

> bibhrat sukesa-bhârena

> mâlâm utphulla-mallikâm

> sugrîva-kanthâbharanam

> su-bhujângada-bhûsitam

> virajâmbara-samvîta-

> nitamba-dvîpa-sobhayâ

> kâncyâ pravilasad-valgu-

> calac-carana-nûpuram

> savrîda-smita-viksipta-

> bhrû-vilâsâvalokanaih

> daitya-yûtha-pa-cetahsu

> kâmam uddîpayan muhuh

> etasmin antare--after this incident; visnuh--Lord Visnu; sarva-upâya-vit--one who knows how to deal with different situations; îsvarah--the supreme controller; yosit-rûpam--the form of a beautiful woman; anirdesyam--no one could ascertain who She was; dadhâra--assumed; parama--supremely; adbhutam--wonderful;

> preksanîya--pleasing to look at; utpala-syâmam--blackish like a newly grown lotus; sarva--all; avayava--parts of the body; sundaram--very beautiful; samâna--equally adjusted; karna-âbharanam--ornaments on the ears; su-kapola--very beautiful cheeks; unnasa-ânanam--a raised nose on Her face;

> nava-yauvana--newly youthful; nirvrtta-stana--breasts not agitated; bhâra--weight; krsa--very lean and thin; udaram--waist; mukha--face; âmoda--creating pleasure; anurakta--attracted; ali--bumblebees; jhankâra--making a humming sound; udvigna--from anxiety; locanam--Her eyes;

> bibhrat--moving; su-kesa-bhârena--by the weight of beautiful hair; mâlâm--with a flower garland; utphulla-mallikâm--made of fully grown mallikâ flowers; su-grîva--a nice neck; kantha-âbharanam--ornamented with beautiful jewelry; su-bhuja--very beautiful arms; angada-bhûsitam--decorated with bangles;

> viraja-ambara--very clean cloth; samvîta--spread; nitamba--breast; dvîpa--appearing like an island; sobhayâ--by such beauty; kâncyâ--the belt on the waist; pravilasat--spreading over; valgu--very beautiful; calat-carana-nûpuram--moving ankle bells;

> sa-vrîda-smita--smiling with shyness; viksipta--glancing; bhrû-vilâsa--activities of the eyebrows; avalokanaih--glancing over; daitya-yûtha-pa--the leaders of the demons; cetahsu--in the core of the heart; kâmam--lusty desire; uddîpayat--awakening; muhuh--constantly.

> TRANSLATION

> The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, who can counteract any unfavorable situation, then assumed the form of an extremely beautiful woman. This incarnation as a woman, Mohini-murti, was most pleasing to the mind. Her complexion resembled in color a newly grown blackish lotus, and every part of Her body was beautifully situated. Her ears were equally decorated with earrings, Her cheeks were very beautiful, Her nose was raised and Her face full of youthful luster. Her large breasts made Her waist seem very thin. Attracted by the aroma of Her face and body, bumblebees hummed around Her, and thus Her eyes were restless. Her hair, which was extremely beautiful, was garlanded with mallika flowers. Her attractively constructed neck was decorated with a necklace and other ornaments, Her arms were decorated with bangles, Her body was covered with a clean sari, and Her breasts seemed like islands in an ocean of beauty. Her legs were decorated with ankle bells. Because of the movements of Her eyebrows as She smiled with shyness and glanced over the demons, all the demons were saturated with lusty desires, and every one of them desired to possess Her.

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