ततः प्रभाते विमले विश्वामित्रं तपोधनम्। उवाच राघवो वाक्यं कृताह्निकमरिन्दमः
Then, at dawn, when the day was clear, Rāghava, destroyer of enemies, having completed his morning rites, spoke to the ascetic Viśvāmitra.
गता भगवती रात्रिः श्रोतव्यं परमं श्रुतम्। तराम सरितां श्रेष्ठां पुण्यां त्रिपथगां नदीम्
The blessed night has passed, and the supreme story has been heard; let us cross the sacred river, the best of streams, the threefold-flowing Gaṅgā.
नौरेषा हि सुखास्तीर्णा ऋषीणां पुण्यकर्मणाम्। भगवन्तमिह प्राप्तं ज्ञात्वा त्वरितमागता
Indeed, this boat, easily crossed by the sages of virtuous deeds, has come quickly upon learning that the venerable one is here.
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा राघवस्य महात्मनः। सन्तारं कारयामास सर्षिसङ्घस्य कौशिकः
Hearing those words of the great-souled Rāghava, Kauśika arranged for the crossing of the entire assembly of sages.
उत्तरं तीरमासाद्य सम्पूज्यर्षिगणं ततः। गङ्गाकूले निविष्टास्ते विशालां ददृशुः पुरीम्
Having reached the northern bank and duly honoring the group of sages, they settled on the bank of the Gaṅgā and beheld the city of Viśālā.
ततो मुनिवरस्तूर्णं जगाम सहराघवः। विशालां नगरीं रम्यां दिव्यां स्वर्गोपमां तदा
Then the eminent sage, together with Rāghava, swiftly went to the delightful and splendid city of Viśālā, which was like heaven.
अथ रामो महाप्राज्ञो विश्वामित्रं महामुनिम्। पप्रच्छ प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा विशालामुत्तमां पुरीम्
Then Rāma, the highly wise, with joined palms, questioned the great sage Viśvāmitra about the excellent and vast city.
कतमो राजवंशोऽयं विशालायां महामुने। श्रोतुमिच्छामि भद्रं ते परं कौतूहलं हि मे
O great sage, which royal lineage is established here in Viśālā? I wish to hear—may good be yours—for I am greatly curious.
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा रामस्य मुनिपुङ्गवः। आख्यातुं तत्समारेभे विशालायाः पुरातनम्
Hearing those words of Rāma, the foremost among sages began to recount the ancient history of Viśālā.
श्रूयतां राम शक्रस्य कथां कथयतः श्रुताम्। अस्मिन् देशे हि यद् वृत्तं शृणु तत्त्वेन राघव
Listen, Rāma, to the tale of Indra as I have heard it; hear truly what happened in this land, O descendant of Raghu.
पूर्वं कृतयुगे राम दितेः पुत्रा महाबलाः। अदितेश्च महाभागा वीर्यवन्तः सुधार्मिकाः
Formerly, in the Kṛta age, O Rāma, the mighty sons of Diti and the greatly fortunate, powerful, and righteous sons of Aditi existed.
ततस्तेषां नरव्याघ्र बुद्धिरासीन्महात्मनाम्। अमरा विजराश्चैव कथं स्यामो निरामयाः
Then, O tiger among men, those great souls deliberated: How might we become immortal, ageless, and free from disease?
तेषां चिन्तयतां तत्र बुद्धिरासीद् विपश्चिताम्। क्षीरोदमथनं कृत्वा रसं प्राप्स्याम तत्र वै
As those wise ones pondered, the thought arose among them: By churning the ocean of milk, we shall obtain the essence there.
ततो निश्चित्य मथनं योक्त्रं कृत्वा च वासुकिम्। मन्थानं मन्दरं कृत्वा ममन्थुरमितौजसः
Having resolved to churn, they used Vāsuki as the rope and Mandara as the churning rod, and with great energy they began to churn.
अथ वर्षसहस्रेण योक्त्रसर्पशिरांसि च। वमन्तोऽतिविषं तत्र ददंशुर्दशनैः शिलाः
Then, after a thousand years, the serpent used as the rope began to emit deadly poison from its heads, biting the rocks with its fangs.
उत्पपाताग्निसंकाशं हालाहलमहाविषम्। तेन दग्धं जगत् सर्वं सदेवासुरमानुषम्
A blazing, fire-like, dreadful poison called Hālāhala arose; by it, the entire world—gods, asuras, and humans—was scorched.
अथ देवा महादेवं शङ्करं शरणार्थिनः। जग्मुः पशुपतिं रुद्रं त्राहि त्राहीति तुष्टुवुः
Then the gods, seeking refuge, approached the great god Śaṅkara, Lord of Beasts, Rudra, and praised him, crying, 'Save us, save us!'
एवमुक्तस्ततो देवैर्देवदेवेश्वरः प्रभुः। प्रादुरासीत् ततोऽत्रैव शङ्खचक्रधरो हरिः
Thus addressed by the gods, the Lord of lords of gods appeared there; then Hari, bearing the conch and discus, manifested.
उवाचैनं स्मितं कृत्वा रुद्रं शूलधरं हरिः। दैवतैर्मथ्यमाने तु यत्पूर्वं समुपस्थितम्
Hari, smiling, spoke to Rudra, the wielder of the trident: 'What has arisen here while the gods were churning—'
तत् त्वदीयं सुरश्रेष्ठ सुराणामग्रतो हि यत्। अग्रपूजामिह स्थित्वा गृहाणेदं विषं प्रभो
'That which is yours, O best of gods, and which has appeared before the gods—standing here at the forefront, accept this poison, O Lord.'
इत्युक्त्वा च सुरश्रेष्ठस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत। देवतानां भयं दृष्ट्वा श्रुत्वा वाक्यं तु शार्ङ्गिणः
Having spoken thus, the best of gods vanished there; seeing the gods' fear and hearing the words of the wielder of Śārṅga—
हालाहलं विषं घोरं संजग्राहामृतोपमम्। देवान् विसृज्य देवेशो जगाम भगवान् हरः
The Lord of gods, Hara, took up the dreadful Hālāhala poison, equal to nectar, and, dismissing the gods, departed.
ततो देवासुराः सर्वे ममन्थू रघुनन्दन। प्रविवेशाथ पातालं मन्थानः पर्वतोत्तमः
Then all the gods and asuras resumed churning, O delight of the Raghus, and the great mountain churning rod sank into the netherworld.
ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वास्तुष्टुवुर्मधुसूदनम्। त्वं गतिः सर्वभूतानां विशेषेण दिवौकसाम्
Then the gods, along with the Gandharvas, praised Madhusūdana: 'You are the refuge of all beings, especially of the dwellers in heaven.'
पालयास्मान् महाबाहो गिरिमुद्धर्तुमर्हसि। इति श्रुत्वा हृषीकेशः कामठं रूपमास्थितः
Protect us, O mighty-armed one; you ought to lift the mountain. Hearing this, Hṛṣīkeśa assumed the form of a tortoise.
पर्वतं पृष्ठतः कृत्वा शिष्ये तत्रोदधौ हरिः। पर्वताग्रं तु लोकात्मा हस्तेनाक्रम्य केशवः
The Hari lay in the ocean, placing the mountain upon his back; and Keśava, the soul of the worlds, grasped the mountain's summit with his hand.
देवानां मध्यतः स्थित्वा ममन्थ पुरुषोत्तमः। अथ वर्षसहस्रेण आयुर्वेदमयः पुमान्
Standing among the gods, the supreme person churned; then, after a thousand years, a man composed of the science of life arose.
उदतिष्ठत् सुधर्मात्मा सदण्डः सकमण्डलुः। पूर्वं धन्वन्तरिर्नाम अप्सराश्च सुवर्चसः
The virtuous one emerged, holding a staff and water-pot; first, named Dhanvantari, and radiant apsarases as well.
अप्सु निर्मथनादेव रसात् तस्माद् वरस्त्रियः। उत्पेतुर्मनुजश्रेष्ठ तस्मादप्सरसोऽभवन्
From the churning of the waters, O best of men, the essence produced those excellent women; thus, apsarases came into being.
षष्टिः कोट्योऽभवंस्तासामप्सराणां सुवर्चसाम्। असंख्येयास्तु काकुत्स्थ यास्तासां परिचारिकाः
Sixty crores of those radiant apsarases arose; and, O Kākutstha, their attendants were countless.