उन्मत्त प्रेतवद्विप्रः शोभमानोब्रवीदिदम्। इयं विद्याधरी कन्या पीनोन्नत पयोधरा
The sage, appearing wild and possessed like a ghost, yet radiant, spoke: 'This Vidyādhara maiden, with her full and high breasts—'
शोभालंकारसौभाग्यैर्युक्ता दृष्टा ततो मनः। क्षोभमायाति मे चाद्य नाहं कामे विचक्षणः
'—endowed with beauty, ornaments, and good fortune, has been seen. Now my mind is disturbed; I am not wise in matters of desire.'
व्रजामि तावदन्यत्र सौभाग्यं स्वं प्रदर्शयन्। एवमुक्त्वा स राजेंद्र परिबभ्राम मेदिनीम्
'I will go elsewhere for now, displaying my own fortune.' Having spoken thus, O king, he wandered over the earth.
ऐरावतं समारूढं राजानं त्रिदिवौकसाम्। त्रैलोक्याधिपतिं शक्रं भ्राजमानं शचीपतिम्
He saw Indra, lord of the gods, shining, the husband of Śacī, riding Airāvata, the king of the three worlds.
तामात्मशिरसो मालां भ्रमदुन्मत्तषट्पदाम्। आदायामरराजाय चिक्षेपोन्मत्तवन्मुनिः
Taking the garland from his own head, with bees madly swarming around it, the sage, like one possessed, offered it to the king of the gods.
गृहीत्वा देवराजेन माला सा गजमूर्द्धनि। मुक्ता रराज सा माला कैलासे जाह्नवी यथा
Indra, lord of the gods, took the garland and placed it on the elephant's head; that garland shone like the Gaṅgā on Mount Kailāsa.
मदांधकारिताक्षोसौ गंधाघ्राणेन वारणः। करेणादाय चिक्षेप तां मालां पृथिवीतले
But the elephant, its eyes maddened by the scent, took the garland with its trunk and threw it down onto the earth.
ततश्चुक्रोध भगवान्दुर्वासा मुनिपुंगवः। राजेंद्रदेवराजानं क्रुद्धश्चेदमुवाच ह
Then the venerable sage Durvāsas, best among sages, became angry and, enraged, spoke these words to Indra, king of the gods:
ऐश्वर्यमददुष्टात्मन्नतिस्तब्धोसि वासव। श्रियोधामस्रजं यस्मान्मद्दत्तान्नाभिनंदसि
'O Vāsava, your mind is corrupted by the pride of sovereignty; you are arrogant. Because you did not honor the garland of Śrī, the abode of fortune, which I gave you—'
त्रैलोक्यश्रीरतो मूढ विनाशमुपयास्यति। मद्दत्ता भवता माला क्षिप्ता यस्मान्महीतले
'O fool, the fortune of the three worlds will now be destroyed, because the garland I gave was thrown by you onto the earth.'
तस्मात्प्रणष्टलक्ष्मीकं त्रैलोक्यं ते भविष्यति। यस्य संजातकोपस्य भयमेति चराचरम्
Therefore, your three worlds will become bereft of fortune, for all beings, moving and unmoving, fear the wrath that has arisen in him.
तं मां त्वमतिगर्वेण देवराजावमन्यसे। महेंद्रो वारणस्कंधादवतीर्य त्वरान्वितः
You, in your excessive pride, have disregarded me, O king of the gods; Mahendra, hastening, descended from the shoulder of his elephant.
प्रसादयामास मुनिं दुर्वाससमकल्मषम्। प्रसाद्यमानः स तदा प्रणिपातपुरःसरम्
He earnestly sought to appease the sage Durvāsas, pure of sin; and, bowing before him, he tried to pacify him.
नाहं क्षमिष्ये बहुना किमुक्तेन शतक्रतो। इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ विप्रो देवराजोपि तं पुनः
"I will not forgive you—why say more, O wielder of a hundred sacrifices?" Having said this, the sage departed, and the king of the gods followed him again.
आरुह्यैरावतं नागं प्रययावमरावतीम्। ततः प्रभृति निःश्रीकं सशक्रं भुवनत्रयम्
Mounting the elephant Airāvata, he went to Amarāvatī; from that time, the three worlds, along with Indra, became devoid of prosperity.
न यज्ञाः संप्रवर्तंते न तपस्यंति तापसाः। न च दानानि दीयंते नष्टप्रायमभूज्जगत्
Sacrifices no longer took place, ascetics ceased their austerities, gifts were not given; the world became almost entirely ruined.
एवमत्यंतनिःश्रीके त्रैलोक्ये सत्त्ववर्जिते। देवान्प्रतिबलोद्योगं चक्रुर्दैतेयदानवाः
Thus, when the three worlds were utterly deprived of prosperity and devoid of virtue, the Daityas and Dānavas prepared to overpower the gods.
विजितास्त्रिदशा दैत्यैरिंद्राद्याः शरणं ययुः। पितामहं महाभागं हुताशनपुरोगमाः
The gods, including Indra, were defeated by the Daityas and sought refuge with the blessed Grandsire, led by Agni.
यथावत्कथिते देवैर्ब्रह्मा प्राह तथा सुरान्। क्षीरोदस्योत्तरं कूलं जगाम सहितः सुरैः
Hearing the gods' account, Brahmā spoke to them accordingly and went, together with the gods, to the northern shore of the Milky Ocean.
गत्वा जगाद भगवान्वासुदेवं पितामहः। उत्तिष्ठ विष्णो शीघ्रं त्वं देवतानां हितं कुरु
Having arrived, the venerable Grandsire addressed Vāsudeva: "Arise, O Viṣṇu, quickly act for the welfare of the gods!"
त्वया विना दानवैस्तु जिताः सर्वे पुनःपुनः। इत्युक्तः पुंडरीकाक्षः पुरुषः पुरुषोत्तमः
"Without you, the gods are repeatedly defeated by the Daityas." Thus addressed, the lotus-eyed, supreme person spoke.
अपूर्वरूपसंस्थानान्दृष्ट्वा देवानुवाच ह। तेजसो भवतां देवाः करिष्याम्युपबृंहणम्
Seeing the gods in their unprecedented state, he said: "I will increase your power, O gods."
वदाम्यहं यत्क्रियतां भवद्भिस्तदिदं सुराः। आनीय सहिता दैत्यैः क्षीराब्धौ सकलौषधीः
"I will tell you what should be done, O gods: bring all the herbs together with the Daityas to the Milky Ocean."
मंथानं मंदरं कृत्वा नेत्रं कृत्वा च वासुकिम्। मथ्यताममृतं देवाः सहाये मय्यवस्थिते
"Make Mandara the churning rod, and Vāsuki the rope; with me as your helper, churn the nectar, O gods."
सामपूर्वं च दैतेयांस्तत्र सम्भाष्य कर्मणि। समानफलभोक्तारो यूंय चात्र भविष्यथ
First, speak amicably with the Daityas about this task; you shall all partake equally in the results here.
मथ्यमाने च तत्राब्धौ यत्समुत्पद्यतेऽमृतम्। तत्पानाद्बलिनो यूयममराः संभविष्यथ
When the ocean is churned and nectar arises, by drinking it you will become strong and immortal.
तथैवाहं करिष्यामि यथा त्रिदशविद्विषः। न प्राप्स्यंत्यमृतं देवाः केवलं क्लेशभागिनः
"In the same way, I will act so that the enemies of the gods will not obtain the nectar; the gods alone, though bearing hardship, will not be deprived."
इत्युक्ता देवदेवेन सर्व एव ततः सुराः। संधानमसुरैः कृत्वा यत्नवंतोऽमृतेभवन्
Thus addressed by the god of gods, all the deities then made a pact with the Asuras and strove for the nectar.
सर्वौषधीः समानीय देवदैतेयदानवाः। क्षिप्त्वा क्षीराब्धिपयसि शरदभ्रामलत्विषि
The gods, asuras, and danavas gathered all medicinal herbs and cast them into the milky ocean, whose brightness resembled autumn clouds.
मंथानं मंदरं कृत्वा नेत्रं कृत्वा च वासुकिम्। ततो मथितुमारब्धा राजेंद्र तरसामृतम्
Using Mount Mandara as the churning rod and Vasuki as the rope, they began to churn vigorously, O king, to obtain the nectar.