क्षुत्पिपासार्दिताः सर्वे ब्रह्मणः सन्निधिं ययुः
All, afflicted by hunger and thirst, went to the presence of Brahmā.
देवानां वचनं श्रुत्वा धाता देवगणैः सह
Hearing the words of the gods, the Creator, together with the hosts of gods,
विष्णुं समर्चयामास क्षीराब्धेरुत्तरे तटे
Worshipped Viṣṇu on the northern shore of the Milk Ocean.
ततः प्रसन्नो भगवान्सर्वेषां च दिवौकसाम्
Then the Blessed Lord, pleased with all the dwellers of heaven,
पीतवस्त्रं चतुर्बाहुं शंखचक्रगदाधरम्
Appeared wearing yellow garments, with four arms, holding conch, discus, and mace.
विष्णुं भवोदधेः पोतं वनमालाविभूषितम्
They saw Viṣṇu, the boat for crossing the ocean of becoming, adorned with a garland of forest flowers.
तुष्टुवुर्जयशब्देन नमश्चक्रुर्निरंतरम् वरदोऽस्मि तद्वदत वो ददामि च नान्यथा
They praised him with cries of victory and offered ceaseless salutations. 'I am the bestower of boons; speak, I will grant your wish without fail.'
देवा ऊचुः- कृपालो ब्रह्मशापेन संपद्धीनं जगत्त्रयम्
The gods said: 'Compassionate one, by Brahmā's curse, the three worlds have been deprived of prosperity.'
रक्ष सर्वानिमाँल्लोकान्याताः स्म शरणं तव ।। श्रीभगवानुवाच- इंदिरा ब्रह्मशापेन चान्तर्द्धानं गता सुराः
'Protect all these worlds; we have come to your refuge.' The Blessed Lord said: 'O gods, by Brahmā's curse, Lakṣmī has disappeared.'
यस्याः कटाक्षमात्रेण जगदैश्वर्यसंयुतम्
By a mere glance from her, the world is endowed with sovereignty.
मंदरं घर्घरं कृत्वा सर्पराजेन वेष्टितम्
Make Mandara, encircled by the king of serpents, churn and cause it to rumble.
तस्मादुत्पत्स्यते लक्ष्मीर्जगन्माता च भोः सुराः
From that, Lakṣmī, the mother of the world, will arise, O gods.
धारयाम्यहमेवाद्रिं कूर्मरूपेण सर्वतः जग्मुः सुरासुराः सर्वे समुद्रमथनं द्विज
I myself will support the mountain in the form of a tortoise, on every side. All the gods and demons went to churn the ocean, O twice-born.
सूत उवाच- ततोऽमरगणास्ते च सगंधर्वाः सदानवा । उत्पाट्य मंदरं शैलं चिक्षिपुः पयसां निधौ
Sūta said: Then those hosts of immortals, together with the Gandharvas and the Dānavas, uprooted Mount Mandara and cast it into the ocean of milk.
ततः सनातनः श्रीमान्दयालुर्जगदीश्वरः । अधारयद्गिरेर्मूलं कूर्मरूपेण पृष्ठतः
Then the eternal, glorious, and compassionate Lord of the world supported the base of the mountain from below, taking the form of a tortoise.
अनंतं तत्र संवेष्ट्य ममंथुर्दुग्धसागरम् । एकादश्यां मथ्यमाने चोद्भूतं प्रथमं द्विज
There, having encircled it with Ananta, they churned the ocean of milk. On the eleventh day, as they churned, the first thing arose, O twice-born.
कालकूटविषं ते तु दृष्ट्वा सर्वे प्रदुद्रुवुः । ततस्तान्विद्रुतान्दृष्ट्वा शंकरश्चोक्तवानिदम्
When they saw the Kālakūṭa poison, all of them fled in fear; then, seeing them running away, Śaṅkara spoke these words:
भोभोऽमरगणा यूयं विषं कुरुतमादरम् । वारयिष्याम्यहं तूर्णं कालकूटं महाविषम्
"O hosts of immortals, you must regard this poison with respect; I will quickly restrain the great and deadly Kālakūṭa."
इत्युक्त्वा पार्वतीनाथो ध्यायन्नारायणं हृदि । महामंत्रं समुच्चार्य विषमादद्भयंकरम्
Having spoken thus, the Lord of Pārvatī, meditating on Nārāyaṇa in his heart, recited the great mantra and swallowed the terrible poison.
महामंत्रप्रभावेण विषं जीर्णं गतं महत् । अच्युतानंतगोविंद इति नामत्रयं हरेः
By the power of the great mantra, the immense poison was digested and destroyed; the three names of Hari—Acyuta, Ananta, Govinda—
योजपेत्प्रयतो भक्त्या प्रणवाद्यं नमोंऽतिकम् । विषभोगाग्निजं तस्य नास्ति मृत्योर्भयं तथा
Whoever recites them with devotion and purity, beginning with Praṇava and ending with Namaḥ, has no fear of death from poison, snakebite, or fire.
ततो हृष्टमना देवा ममंथुः क्षीरसागरम् । ततोऽलक्ष्मीः समुत्पन्ना कालास्या रक्तलोचना
Then the gods, their hearts gladdened, began to churn the ocean of milk; from that, Alakṣmī arose, dark-faced and red-eyed.
रूक्षपिंगलकेशा च जरतीं बिभ्रती तनुम् । सा च ज्येष्ठाब्रवीद्देवान्किंकर्तव्यं मयेति वै
Her hair was rough and tawny, and she bore an aged form; she, Jyeṣṭhā, spoke to the gods: "What should I do?"
देवास्तथाब्रुवंस्तां च देवीं दुःखस्यभाजनम् । येषां नॄणां गृहे देवी कलहः संप्रवर्तते
The gods replied to that goddess, the embodiment of suffering: "O goddess, in whose house quarrels arise among people—
तत्र स्थानं प्रयच्छामो वस ज्येष्ठे शुभान्विता । निष्ठुरं वचनं ये च वदंति येऽनृतं नराः
There we grant you a place to dwell, O Jyeṣṭhā, accompanied by inauspiciousness; and in the homes of those who speak harsh or false words—
संध्यायां ये हि चाश्नंति दुःखदा तिष्ठ तद्गृहे । कपालकेशभस्मास्थि तुषांगाराणि यत्र तु
And in the homes of those who eat at twilight, bringer of sorrow, you shall remain; where skulls, hair, ashes, bones, husks, and coals are found—
स्थानं ज्येष्ठे तत्र तव भविष्यति न संशयः । अकृत्वा पादयोर्धौतं ये चाश्नंति नराधमाः
There, O Jyeṣṭhā, shall be your abode, without doubt; and in the homes of those base men who eat without washing their feet—
तद्गृहे सर्वदा तिष्ठ दुःखदारिद्रदायिनी । वालुकालवणांगारैः कुर्वंति दंतधावनम्
In such houses always remain, bringer of sorrow and poverty; and where people clean their teeth with sand, salt, or charcoal—
तेषां गेहे सदा तिष्ठ दुःखदा कलिना सह । छत्राकं श्रीफलं शिष्टं ये खादंति नराधमाः
In their homes always stay, bringer of suffering, along with Kali; and in the homes of those base men who eat mushrooms, jackfruit, or leftovers—
गेहे तेषां तव स्थानं ज्येष्ठे कलुषदायिनि । तिलपिष्टमलाबुं ये गृंजनं पोतिकादलम्
In their homes shall be your place, O Jyeṣṭhā, bringer of impurity; and where people eat sesame flour, bottle gourd, garlic, or the leaves of the potika plant—