Chapter 7: Lord Śiva Saves the Universe by Drinking Poison

 

8.7.1

śrī-śuka uvāca

te nāga-rājam āmantrya

phala-bhāgena vāsukim

parivīya girau tasmin

netram abdhiḿ mudānvitāḥ

ārebhire surā yattā

amṛtārthe kurūdvaha

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; te — all of them (the demigods and the demons); nāga-rājam — the king of the Nāgas, snakes; āmantrya — inviting, or requesting; phala-bhāgena — by promising a share of the nectar; vāsukim — the snake Vāsuki; parivīya — encircling; girau — Mandara Mountain; tasmin — unto it; netram — the churning rope; abdhim — the ocean of milk; mudā anvitāḥ — all surcharged with great pleasure; ārebhire — began to act; surāḥ — the demigods; yattāḥ — with great endeavor; amṛta-arthe — for gaining nectar; kuru-udvaha — O King Parīkṣit, best of the Kurus.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O best of the Kurus, Mahārāja Parīkṣit, the demigods and demons summoned Vāsuki, king of the serpents, requesting him to come and promising to give him a share of the nectar. They coiled Vāsuki around Mandara Mountain as a churning rope, and with great pleasure they endeavored to produce nectar by churning the ocean of milk.

 

8.7.2

hariḥ purastāj jagṛhe

pūrvaḿ devās tato 'bhavan

 

hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Ajita; purastāt — from the front; jagṛhe — took; pūrvam — at first; devāḥ — the demigods; tataḥ — thereafter; abhavan — took the front portion of Vāsuki.

 

TRANSLATION

 

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

 

8.7.3

tan naicchan daitya-patayo

mahā-puruṣa-ceṣṭitam

na gṛhṇīmo vayaḿ puccham

aher ańgam amańgalam

svādhyāya-śruta-sampannāḥ

prakhyātā janma-karmabhiḥ

 

tat — that arrangement; na aicchan — not liking; daitya-patayaḥ — the leaders of the demons; mahā-puruṣa — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ceṣṭitam — attempt; na — not; gṛhṇīmaḥ — shall take; vayam — all of us (the Daityas); puccham — the tail; aheḥ — of the serpent; ańgam — part of the body; amańgalam — inauspicious, inferior; svādhyāya — with Vedic study; śruta — and Vedic knowledge; sampannāḥ — fully equipped; prakhyātāḥ — prominent; janma-karmabhiḥ — 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.

 

8.7.4

iti tūṣṇīḿ sthitān daityān

vilokya puruṣottamaḥ

smayamāno visṛjyāgraḿ

pucchaḿ jagrāha sāmaraḥ

 

iti — thus; tūṣṇīm — silently; sthitān — staying; daityān — the demons; vilokya — seeing; puruṣa-uttamaḥ — the Personality of Godhead; smayamānaḥ — smiling; visṛjya — giving up; agram — the front portion of the snake; puccham — the rear portion; jagrāha — grasped; sa-amaraḥ — 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.

 

8.7.5

kṛta-sthāna-vibhāgās ta

evaḿ kaśyapa-nandanāḥ

mamanthuḥ paramaḿ yattā

amṛtārthaḿ payo-nidhim

 

kṛta — adjusting; sthāna-vibhāgāḥ — the division of the places they were to hold; te — they; evam — in this way; kaśyapa-nandanāḥ — the sons of Kaśyapa (both the demigods and the demons); mamanthuḥ — churned; paramam — with great; yattāḥ — endeavor; amṛta-artham — for getting nectar; payaḥ-nidhim — the ocean of milk.

 

TRANSLATION

 

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

 

8.7.6

mathyamāne 'rṇave so 'drir

anādhāro hy apo 'viśat

dhriyamāṇo 'pi balibhir

gauravāt pāṇḍu-nandana

 

mathyamāne — while the churning was going on; arṇave — in the ocean of milk; saḥ — that; adriḥ — hill; anādhāraḥ — without being supported by anything; hi — indeed; apaḥ — in the water; aviśat — drowned; dhriyamāṇaḥ — captured; api — although; balibhiḥ — by the powerful demigods and demons; gauravāt — from being very heavy; pāṇḍu-nandana — O son of Pāṇḍu (Mahārāja Parīkṣit).

 

TRANSLATION

 

O son of the Pāṇḍu 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.

 

8.7.7

te sunirviṇṇa-manasaḥ

parimlāna-mukha-śriyaḥ

āsan sva-pauruṣe naṣṭe

daivenātibalīyasā

 

te — all of them (the demigods and demons); sunirviṇṇa-manasaḥ — their minds being very disappointed; parimlāna — dried up; mukha-śriyaḥ — the beauty of their faces; āsan — became; sva-pauruṣe — with their own prowess; naṣṭe — being lost; daivena — by a providential arrangement; ati-balīyasā — 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.

 

8.7.8

vilokya vighneśa-vidhiḿ tadeśvaro

duranta-vīryo 'vitathābhisandhiḥ

kṛtvā vapuḥ kacchapam adbhutaḿ mahat

praviśya toyaḿ girim ujjahāra

 

vilokya — observing; vighna — the obstruction (the sinking of the mountain); īśa-vidhim — by the providential arrangement; tadā — then; īśvaraḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; duranta-vīryaḥ — inconceivably powerful; avitatha — infallible; abhisandhiḥ — whose determination; kṛtvā — expanding; vapuḥ — body; kacchapam — tortoise; adbhutam — wonderful; mahat — very great; praviśya — entering; toyam — the water; girim — the mountain (Mandara); ujjahāra — 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.

 

8.7.9

tam utthitaḿ vīkṣya kulācalaḿ punaḥ

samudyatā nirmathituḿ surāsurāḥ

dadhāra pṛṣṭhena sa lakṣa-yojana-

prastāriṇā dvīpa ivāparo mahān

 

tam — that mountain; utthitam — lifted; vīkṣya — observing; kulācalam — known as Mandara; punaḥ — again; samudyatāḥ — enlivened; nirmathitum — to churn the ocean of milk; sura-asurāḥ — the demigods and the demons; dadhāra — carried; pṛṣṭhena — by the back; saḥ — the Supreme Lord; lakṣa-yojana — one hundred thousand yojanas (eight hundred thousand miles); prastāriṇā — extending; dvīpaḥ — a big island; iva — like; aparaḥ — another; mahān — 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.

 

8.7.10

surāsurendrair bhuja-vīrya-vepitaḿ

paribhramantaḿ girim ańga pṛṣṭhataḥ

bibhrat tad-āvartanam ādi-kacchapo

mene 'ńga-kaṇḍūyanam aprameyaḥ

 

sura-asura-indraiḥ — by the leaders of the demons and the demigods; bhuja-vīrya — by the strength of their arms; vepitam — moving; paribhramantam — rotating; girim — the mountain; ańga — O Mahārāja Parīkṣit; pṛṣṭhataḥ — on His back; bibhrat — bore; tat — of that; āvartanam — the rotating; ādi-kacchapaḥ — as the supreme original tortoise; mene — considered; ańga-kaṇḍūyanam — as pleasing scratching of the body; aprameyaḥ — 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.

 

8.7.11

tathāsurān āviśad āsureṇa

rūpeṇa teṣāḿ bala-vīryam īrayan

uddīpayan deva-gaṇāḿś ca viṣṇur

daivena nāgendram abodha-rūpaḥ

 

tathā — thereafter; asurān — unto the demons; āviśat — entered; āsureṇa — by the quality of passion; rūpeṇa — in such a form; teṣām — of them; bala-vīryam — strength and energy; īrayan — increasing; uddīpayan — encouraging; deva-gaṇān — the demigods; ca — also; viṣṇuḥ — Lord Viṣṇu; daivena — by the feature of goodness; nāga-indram — unto the King of the serpents, Vāsuki; abodha-rūpaḥ — by the quality of ignorance.

 

TRANSLATION

 

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

 

8.7.12

upary agendraḿ giri-rāḍ ivānya

ākramya hastena sahasra-bāhuḥ

tasthau divi brahma-bhavendra-mukhyair

abhiṣṭuvadbhiḥ sumano-'bhivṛṣṭaḥ

 

upari — on the top of; agendram — the big mountain; giri-rāṭ — the king of mountains; iva — like; anyaḥ — another; ākramya — catching; hastena — by one hand; sahasra-bāhuḥ — exhibiting thousands of hands; tasthau — situated; divi — in the sky; brahma — Lord Brahmā; bhava — Lord Śiva; indra — the King of heaven; mukhyaiḥ — headed by; abhiṣṭuvadbhiḥ — offered prayers to the Lord; sumanaḥ — by flowers; abhivṛṣṭaḥ — 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 Brahmā and Lord Śiva, along with Indra, King of heaven, and other demigods, offered prayers to the Lord and showered flowers upon Him.

 

8.7.13

upary adhaś cātmani gotra-netrayoḥ

pareṇa te prāviśatā samedhitāḥ

mamanthur abdhiḿ tarasā madotkaṭā

mahādriṇā kṣobhita-nakra-cakram

 

upari — upward; adhaḥ ca — and downward; ātmani — unto the demons and demigods; gotra-netrayoḥ — unto the mountain and Vāsuki, who was used as a rope; pareṇa — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; te — they; prāviśatā — entering them; samedhitāḥ — sufficiently agitated; mamanthuḥ — churned; abdhim — the ocean of milk; tarasā — with great strength; mada-utkaṭāḥ — being mad; mahā-adriṇā — with the great Mandara Mountain; kṣobhita — 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, Vāsuki 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.

 

8.7.14

ahīndra-sāhasra-kaṭhora-dṛń-mukha-

śvāsāgni-dhūmāhata-varcaso 'surāḥ

pauloma-kāleya-balīlvalādayo

davāgni-dagdhāḥ saralā ivābhavan

 

ahīndra — of the King of serpents; sāhasra — by thousands; kaṭhora — very, very hard; dṛk — all directions; mukha — by the mouth; śvāsa — breathing; agni — fire coming out; dhūma — smoke; āhata — being affected; varcasaḥ — by the rays; asurāḥ — the demons; pauloma — Pauloma; kāleya — Kāleya; bali — Bali; ilvala — Ilvala; ādayaḥ — headed by; dava-agni — by a forest fire; dagdhāḥ — burned; saralāḥ — sarala trees; iva — like; abhavan — all of them became.

 

TRANSLATION

 

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

 

8.7.15

devāḿś ca tac-chvāsa-śikhā-hata-prabhān

dhūmrāmbara-srag-vara-kañcukānanān

samabhyavarṣan bhagavad-vaśā ghanā

vavuḥ samudrormy-upagūḍha-vāyavaḥ

 

devān — all the demigods; ca — also; tat — of Vāsuki; śvāsa — from the breathing; śikhā — by the flames; hata — being affected; prabhān — their bodily luster; dhūmra — smoky; ambara — dress; srak-vara — excellent garlands; kañcuka — armaments; ānanān — and faces; samabhyavarṣan — sufficiently rained; bhagavat-vaśāḥ — under the control of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ghanāḥ — clouds; vavuḥ — blew; samudra — of the ocean of milk; ūrmi — from the waves; upagūḍha — bearing fragments of water; vāyavaḥ — breezes.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Because the demigods were also affected by the blazing breath of Vāsuki, 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.

 

8.7.16

mathyamānāt tathā sindhor

devāsura-varūtha-paiḥ

yadā sudhā na jāyeta

nirmamanthājitaḥ svayam

 

mathyamānāt — sufficiently being churned; tathā — in this way; sindhoḥ — from the ocean of milk; deva — of the demigods; asura — and the demons; varūtha-paiḥ — by the best; yadā — when; sudhā — nectar; na jāyeta — did not come out; nirmamantha — churned; ajitaḥ — 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.

 

8.7.17

megha-śyāmaḥ kanaka-paridhiḥ karṇa-vidyota-vidyun

mūrdhni bhrājad-vilulita-kacaḥ srag-dharo rakta-netraḥ

jaitrair dorbhir jagad-abhaya-dair dandaśūkaḿ gṛhītvā

mathnan mathnā pratigirir ivāśobhatātho dhṛtādriḥ

 

megha-śyāmaḥ — blackish like a cloud; kanaka-paridhiḥ — wearing yellow garments; karṇa — on the ears; vidyota-vidyut — whose earrings shone like lightning; mūrdhni — on the head; bhrājat — gleaming; vilulita — disheveled; kacaḥ — whose hair; srak-dharaḥ — wearing a flower garland; rakta-netraḥ — with red eyes; jaitraiḥ — with victorious; dorbhiḥ — with arms; jagat — to the universe; abhaya-daiḥ — which give fearlessness; dandaśūkam — the snake (Vāsuki); gṛhītvā — after taking; mathnan — churning; mathnā — by the churning rod (Mandara Mountain); pratigiriḥ — another mountain; iva — like; aśobhata — He appeared; atho — then; dhṛta-adriḥ — 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 Vāsuki 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 Indranīla.

 

8.7.18

nirmathyamānād udadher abhūd viṣaḿ

maholbaṇaḿ hālahalāhvam agrataḥ

sambhrānta-mīnonmakarāhi-kacchapāt

timi-dvipa-grāha-timińgilākulāt

 

nirmathyamānāt — while the activities of churning were going on; udadheḥ — from the ocean; abhūt — there was; viṣam — poison; mahā-ulbaṇam — very fierce; hālahala-āhvam — by the name hālahala; agrataḥ — at first; sambhrānta — agitated and going here and there; mīna — various kinds of fish; unmakara — sharks; ahi — different kinds of snakes; kacchapāt — and many kinds of tortoises; timi — whales; dvipa — water elephants; grāha — crocodiles; timińgila — whales that can swallow whales; ākulāt — 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 timińgila 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 hālahala.

 

8.7.19

tad ugra-vegaḿ diśi diśy upary adho

visarpad utsarpad asahyam aprati

bhītāḥ prajā dudruvur ańga seśvarā

arakṣyamāṇāḥ śaraṇaḿ sadāśivam

 

tat — that; ugra-vegam — very fierce and potent poison; diśi diśi — in all directions; upari — upward; adhaḥ — downward; visarpat — curling; utsarpat — going upward; asahyam — unbearable; aprati — uncontrollable; bhītāḥ — being very much afraid; prajāḥ — the residents of all the worlds; dudruvuḥ — moved here and there; ańga — O Mahārāja Parīkṣit; sa-īśvarāḥ — with the Supreme Lord; arakṣyamāṇāḥ — not being protected; śaraṇam — shelter; sadāśivam — unto the lotus feet of Lord Śiva.

 

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 Śiva [Sadāśiva]. Feeling unsheltered and very much afraid, they sought shelter of him.

 

8.7.20

vilokya taḿ deva-varaḿ tri-lokyā

bhavāya devyābhimataḿ munīnām

āsīnam adrāv apavarga-hetos

tapo juṣāṇaḿ stutibhiḥ praṇemuḥ

 

vilokya — observing; tam — him; deva-varam — the best of the demigods; tri-lokyāḥ — of the three worlds; bhavāya — for the flourishing; devyā — with his wife, Bhavānī; abhimatam — accepted by; munīnām — great saintly persons; āsīnam — sitting together; adrau — from the top of Kailāsa Hill; apavarga-hetoḥ — desiring liberation; tapaḥ — in austerity; juṣāṇam — being served by them; stutibhiḥ — by prayers; praṇemuḥ — offered their respectful obeisances.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The demigods observed Lord Śiva sitting on the summit of Kailāsa Hill with his wife, Bhavānī, 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.

 

8.7.21

śrī-prajāpataya ūcuḥ

deva-deva mahā-deva

bhūtātman bhūta-bhāvana

trāhi naḥ śaraṇāpannāḿs

trailokya-dahanād viṣāt

 

śrī-prajāpatayaḥ ūcuḥ — the prajāpatis said; deva-deva — O Lord Mahādeva, best of the demigods; mahā-deva — O great demigod; bhūta-ātman — O life and soul of everyone in this world; bhūta-bhāvana — O the cause of the happiness and flourishing of all of them; trāhi — deliver; naḥ — us; śaraṇa-āpannān — who have taken shelter at your lotus feet; trailokya — of the three worlds; dahanāt — which is causing the burning; viṣāt — from this poison.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The prajāpatis said: O greatest of all demigods, Mahādeva, 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.

 

8.7.22

tvam ekaḥ sarva-jagata

īśvaro bandha-mokṣayoḥ

taḿ tvām arcanti kuśalāḥ

prapannārti-haraḿ gurum

 

tvam ekaḥ — Your Lordship is indeed; sarva-jagataḥ — of the three worlds; īśvaraḥ — the controller; bandha-mokṣayoḥ — of both bondage and liberation; tam — that controller; tvām arcanti — worship you; kuśalāḥ — persons who want good fortune; prapanna-ārti-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.

 

8.7.23

guṇa-mayyā sva-śaktyāsya

sarga-sthity-apyayān vibho

dhatse yadā sva-dṛg bhūman

brahma-viṣṇu-śivābhidhām

 

guṇa-mayyā — acting in three modes of activity; sva-śaktyā — by the external energy of Your Lordship; asya — of this material world; sarga-sthiti-apyayān — creation, maintenance and annihilation; vibho — O lord; dhatse — you execute; yadā — when; sva-dṛk — you manifest yourself; bhūman — O great one; brahma-viṣṇu-śiva-abhidhām — as Lord Brahmā, Lord Viṣṇu or Lord Śiva.

 

TRANSLATION

 

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

 

8.7.24

tvaḿ brahma paramaḿ guhyaḿ

sad-asad-bhāva-bhāvanam

nānā-śaktibhir ābhātas

tvam ātmā jagad-īśvaraḥ

 

tvam — Your Lordship; brahma — impersonal Brahman; paramam — supreme; guhyam — confidential; sat-asat-bhāva-bhāvanam — the cause of varieties of creation, its cause and effect; nānā-śaktibhiḥ — with varieties of potencies; ābhātaḥ — manifest; tvam — you are; ātmā — the Supersoul; jagat-īśvaraḥ — 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.

 

8.7.25

tvaḿ śabda-yonir jagad-ādir ātmā

prāṇendriya-dravya-guṇaḥ svabhāvaḥ

kālaḥ kratuḥ satyam ṛtaḿ ca dharmas

tvayy akṣaraḿ yat tri-vṛd-āmananti

 

tvam — Your Lordship; śabda-yoniḥ — the origin and source of Vedic literature; jagat-ādiḥ — the original cause of material creation; ātmā — the soul; prāṇa — the living force; indriya — the senses; dravya — the material elements; guṇaḥ — the three qualities; sva-bhāvaḥ — material nature; kālaḥ — eternal time; kratuḥ — sacrifice; satyam — truth; ṛtam — truthfulness; ca — and; dharmaḥ — two different types of religion; tvayi — unto you; akṣaram — the original syllable, oḿkāra; yat — that which; tri-vṛt — consisting of the letters a, u and m; āmananti — 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 [ṛta]. You are the shelter of the syllable oḿ, which consists of three letters a-u-m.

 

8.7.26

agnir mukhaḿ te 'khila-devatātmā

kṣitiḿ vidur loka-bhavāńghri-pańkajam

kālaḿ gatiḿ te 'khila-devatātmano

diśaś ca karṇau rasanaḿ jaleśam

 

agniḥ — fire; mukham — mouth; te — of Your Lordship; akhila-devatā-ātmā — the origin of all demigods; kṣitim — the surface of the globe; viduḥ — they know; loka-bhava — O origin of all planets; ańghri-pańkajam — your lotus feet; kālam — eternal time; gatim — progress; te — of Your Lordship; akhila-devatā-ātmanaḥ — the total aggregate of all the demigods; diśaḥ — all directions; ca — and; karṇau — your ears; rasanam — taste; jala-īśam — 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 Varuṇa, master of the waters, is your tongue.

 

8.7.27

nābhir nabhas te śvasanaḿ nabhasvān

sūryaś ca cakṣūḿṣi jalaḿ sma retaḥ

parāvarātmāśrayaṇaḿ tavātmā

somo mano dyaur bhagavan śiras te

 

nābhiḥ — navel; nabhaḥ — the sky; te — of Your Lordship; śvasanam — breathing; nabhasvān — the air; sūryaḥ ca — and the sun globe; cakṣūḿṣi — your eyes; jalam — the water; sma — indeed; retaḥ — semen; para-avara-ātma-āśrayaṇam — the shelter of all living entities, low and high; tava — your; ātmā — self; somaḥ — the moon; manaḥ — mind; dyauḥ — the higher planetary systems; bhagavan — O Your Lordship; śiraḥ — 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.

 

8.7.28

kukṣiḥ samudrā girayo 'sthi-sańghā

romāṇi sarvauṣadhi-vīrudhas te

chandāḿsi sākṣāt tava sapta dhātavas

trayī-mayātman hṛdayaḿ sarva-dharmaḥ

 

kukṣiḥ — abdomen; samudrāḥ — the oceans; girayaḥ — the mountains; asthi — bones; sańghāḥ — combination; romāṇi — the hairs of the body; sarva — all; auṣadhi — drugs; vīrudhaḥ — plants and creepers; te — your; chandāḿsi — Vedic mantras; sākṣāt — directly; tava — your; sapta — seven; dhātavaḥ — layers of the body; trayī-maya-ātman — O three Vedas personified; hṛdayam — core of the heart; sarva-dharmaḥ — 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 Gāyatrī are the seven layers of your body, and the Vedic religious system is the core of your heart.

 

8.7.29

mukhāni pañcopaniṣadas taveśa

yais triḿśad-aṣṭottara-mantra-vargaḥ

yat tac chivākhyaḿ paramātma-tattvaḿ

deva svayaḿ-jyotir avasthitis te

 

mukhāni — faces; pañca — five; upaniṣadaḥ — Vedic literatures; tava — your; īśa — O lord; yaiḥ — by which; triḿśat-aṣṭa-uttara-mantra-vargaḥ — in the category of thirty-eight important Vedic mantras; yat — that; tat — as it is; śiva-ākhyam — celebrated by the name Śiva; paramātma-tattvam — which ascertain the truth about Paramātmā; deva — O lord; svayam-jyotiḥ — self-illuminated; avasthitiḥ — 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 Śiva, is self-illuminated. You are directly situated as the supreme truth, known as Paramātmā.

 

8.7.30

chāyā tv adharmormiṣu yair visargo

netra-trayaḿ sattva-rajas-tamāḿsi

sāńkhyātmanaḥ śāstra-kṛtas tavekṣā

chandomayo deva ṛṣiḥ purāṇaḥ

 

chāyā — shadow; tu — but; adharma-ūrmiṣu — in the waves of irreligion, like kāma, krodha, lobha and moha; yaiḥ — by which; visargaḥ — so many varieties of creation; netra-trayam — three eyes; sattva — goodness; rajaḥ — passion; tamāḿsi — and darkness; sāńkhya-ātmanaḥ — the origin of all Vedic literatures; śāstra — scriptures; kṛtaḥ — made; tava — by you; īkṣā — simply by glancing; chandaḥ-mayaḥ — full of Vedic verses; deva — O lord; ṛṣiḥ — all Vedic literatures; purāṇaḥ — and the purāṇas, 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.

 

8.7.31

na te giri-trākhila-loka-pāla-

viriñca-vaikuṇṭha-surendra-gamyam

jyotiḥ paraḿ yatra rajas tamaś ca

sattvaḿ na yad brahma nirasta-bhedam

 

na — not; te — of Your Lordship; giri-tra — O King of the mountains; akhila-loka-pāla — all the directors of departments of material activities; viriñca — Lord Brahmā; vaikuṇṭha — Lord Viṣṇu; sura-indra — the King of heaven; gamyam — they can understand; jyotiḥ — effulgence; param — transcendental; yatra — wherein; rajaḥ — the mode of passion; tamaḥ 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 Girīśa, 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 Brahmā, Lord Viṣṇu or the King of heaven, Mahendra.

 

8.7.32

kāmādhvara-tripura-kālagarādy-aneka-

bhūta-druhaḥ kṣapayataḥ stutaye na tat te

yas tv anta-kāla idam ātma-kṛtaḿ sva-netra-

vahni-sphulińga-śikhayā bhasitaḿ na veda

 

kāma-adhvara — sacrifices for sense gratification (like Dakṣa-yajña, the sacrifices performed by Dakṣa); tripura — the demon named Tripurāsura; kālagara — Kālagara; ādi — and others; aneka — many; bhūta-druhaḥ — who are meant for giving trouble to the living entities; kṣapayataḥ — being engaged in their destruction; stutaye — your prayer; na — not; tat — that; te — speaking to you; yaḥ tu — because; anta-kāle — at the time of annihilation; idam — in this material world; ātma-kṛtam — done by yourself; sva-netra — by your eyes; vahni-sphulińga-śikhayā — 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 Dakṣa-yajña, Tripurāsura and the kālakūṭa poison? Such activities cannot be subject matters for prayers offered to you.

 

8.7.33

ye tv ātma-rāma-gurubhir hṛdi cintitāńghri-

dvandvaḿ carantam umayā tapasābhitaptam

katthanta ugra-paruṣaḿ nirataḿ śmaśāne

te nūnam ūtim avidaḿs tava hāta-lajjāḥ

 

ye — persons who; tu — indeed; ātma-rāma-gurubhiḥ — by those who are self-satisfied and who are considered to be spiritual masters of the world; hṛdi — within the heart; cintita-ańghri-dvandvam — thinking of your two lotus feet; carantam — moving; umayā — with your consort, Umā; tapasā abhitaptam — highly advanced through practice of austerity and penance; katthante — criticize your acts; ugra-paruṣam — not a gentle person; niratam — always; śmaśāne — in the crematorium; te — such persons; nūnam — indeed; ūtim — such activities; avidan — not knowing; tava — your activities; hāta-lajjāḥ — 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 Umā, 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.

 

8.7.34

tat tasya te sad-asatoḥ parataḥ parasya

nāñjaḥ svarūpa-gamane prabhavanti bhūmnaḥ

brahmādayaḥ kim uta saḿstavane vayaḿ tu

tat-sarga-sarga-viṣayā api śakti-mātram

 

tat — therefore; tasya — of that; te — of Your Lordship; sat-asatoḥ — of the living entities, moving and not moving; parataḥ — transcendentally situated; parasya — very difficult to understand; na — nor; añjaḥ — as it is; svarūpa-gamane — to approach your reality; prabhavanti — it is possible; bhūmnaḥ — O great one; brahma-ādayaḥ — even such persons as Lord Brahmā; kim uta — what to speak of others; saḿstavane — in offering prayers; vayam tu — as far as we are concerned; tat — of you; sarga-sarga-viṣayāḥ — creations of the creation; api — although; śakti-mātram — to our ability.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Even personalities like Lord Brahmā 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 Brahmā's creation. Under the circumstances, therefore, we cannot offer you adequate prayers, but as far as our ability allows, we have expressed our feelings.

 

8.7.35

etat paraḿ prapaśyāmo

na paraḿ te maheśvara

mṛḍanāya hi lokasya

vyaktis te 'vyakta-karmaṇaḥ

 

etat — all these things; param — transcendental; prapaśyāmaḥ — we can see; na — not; param — the actual transcendental position; te — of Your Lordship; mahā-īśvara — O great ruler; mṛḍanāya — for the happiness; hi — indeed; lokasya — of all the world; vyaktiḥ — manifested; te — of Your Lordship; avyakta-karmaṇaḥ — 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.

 

8.7.36

śrī-śuka uvāca

tad-vīkṣya vyasanaḿ tāsāḿ

kṛpayā bhṛśa-pīḍitaḥ

sarva-bhūta-suhṛd deva

idam āha satīḿ priyām

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; tat — this situation; vīkṣya — seeing; vyasanam — dangerous; tāsām — of all the demigods; kṛpayā — out of compassion; bhṛśa-pīḍitaḥ — greatly aggrieved; sarva-bhūta-suhṛt — the friend of all living entities; devaḥ — Mahādeva; idam — this; āha — said; satīm — unto Satīdevī; priyām — his very dear wife.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Lord Śiva 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, Satī, as follows.

 

8.7.37

śrī-śiva uvāca

aho bata bhavāny etat

prajānāḿ paśya vaiśasam

kṣīroda-mathanodbhūtāt

kālakūṭād upasthitam

 

śrī-śivaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śiva said; aho bata — how pitiable; bhavāni — my dear wife, Bhavānī; etat — this situation; prajānām — of all living entities; paśya — just see; vaiśasam — very dangerous; kṣīra-uda — of the ocean of milk; mathana-udbhūtāt — produced by the churning; kālakūṭāt — because of the production of poison; upasthitam — the present situation.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Śiva said: My dear Bhavānī, 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.

 

8.7.38

āsāḿ prāṇa-parīpsūnāḿ

vidheyam abhayaḿ hi me

etāvān hi prabhor artho

yad dīna-paripālanam

 

āsām — all of these living entities; prāṇa-parīpsūnām — very strongly desiring to protect their lives; vidheyam — something must be done; abhayam — safety; hi — indeed; me — by me; etāvān — this much; hi — indeed; prabhoḥ — of the master; arthaḥ — duty; yat — that which; dīna-paripālanam — 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.

 

8.7.39

prāṇaiḥ svaiḥ prāṇinaḥ pānti

sādhavaḥ kṣaṇa-bhańguraiḥ

baddha-vaireṣu bhūteṣu

mohiteṣv ātma-māyayā

 

prāṇaiḥ — by lives; svaiḥ — their own; prāṇinaḥ — other living entities; pānti — protect; sādhavaḥ — devotees; kṣaṇa-bhańguraiḥ — temporary; baddha-vaireṣu — unnecessarily engaged in animosity; bhūteṣu — unto living entities; mohiteṣu — bewildered; ātma-māyayā — 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.

 

8.7.40

puḿsaḥ kṛpayato bhadre

sarvātmā prīyate hariḥ

prīte harau bhagavati

prīye 'haḿ sacarācaraḥ

tasmād idaḿ garaḿ bhuñje

prajānāḿ svastir astu me

 

puḿsaḥ — with a person; kṛpayataḥ — engaged in benevolent activities; bhadre — O most gentle Bhavānī; sarva-ātmā — the Supersoul; prīyate — becomes pleased; hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; prīte — because of His pleasure; harau — the Supreme Lord, Hari; bhagavati — the Personality of Godhead; prīye — also become pleased; aham — I; sa-cara-acaraḥ — with all others, moving and nonmoving; tasmāt — therefore; idam — this; garam — poison; bhuñje — let me drink; prajānām — of the living entities; svastiḥ — welfare; astu — let there be; me — by me.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear gentle wife Bhavānī, 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.

 

8.7.41

śrī-śuka uvāca

evam āmantrya bhagavān

bhavānīḿ viśva-bhāvanaḥ

tad viṣaḿ jagdhum ārebhe

prabhāva-jñānvamodata

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; evam — in this way; āmantrya — addressing; bhagavān — Lord Śiva; bhavānīm — Bhavānī; viśva-bhāvanaḥ — the well-wisher of all the universe; tat viṣam — that poison; jagdhum — to drink; ārebhe — began; prabhāva-jñā — mother Bhavānī, who perfectly knew the capability of Lord Śiva; anvamodata — gave her permission.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: After informing Bhavānī in this way, Lord Śiva began to drink the poison, and Bhavānī, who knew perfectly well the capabilities of Lord Śiva, gave him her permission to do so.

 

8.7.42

tataḥ karatalī-kṛtya

vyāpi hālāhalaḿ viṣam

abhakṣayan mahā-devaḥ

kṛpayā bhūta-bhāvanaḥ

 

tataḥ — thereafter; karatalī-kṛtya — taking in his hand; vyāpi — widespread; hālāhalam — called hālahala; viṣam — poison; abhakṣayat — drank; mahā-devaḥ — Lord Śiva; kṛpayā — out of compassion; bhūta-bhāvanaḥ — for the welfare of all living entities.

 

TRANSLATION

 

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

 

8.7.43

tasyāpi darśayām āsa

sva-vīryaḿ jala-kalmaṣaḥ

yac cakāra gale nīlaḿ

tac ca sādhor vibhūṣaṇam

 

tasya — of Lord Śiva; api — also; darśayām āsa — exhibited; sva-vīryam — its own potency; jala-kalmaṣaḥ — that poison born of the water; yat — which; cakāra — made; gale — on the neck; nīlam — bluish line; tat — that; ca — also; sādhoḥ — of the saintly person; vibhūṣaṇam — ornament.

 

TRANSLATION

 

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

 

8.7.44

tapyante loka-tāpena

sādhavaḥ prāyaśo janāḥ

paramārādhanaḿ tad dhi

puruṣasyākhilātmanaḥ

 

tapyante — voluntarily suffer; loka-tāpena — because of the suffering of people in general; sādhavaḥ — saintly persons; prāyaśaḥ — almost always; janāḥ — such persons; parama-ārādhanam — the topmost method of worshiping; tat — that activity; hi — indeed; puruṣasya — of the Supreme Person; akhila-ātmanaḥ — 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.

 

8.7.45

niśamya karma tac chambhor

deva-devasya mīḍhuṣaḥ

prajā dākṣāyaṇī brahmā

vaikuṇṭhaś ca śaśaḿsire

 

niśamya — after hearing; karma — the act; tat — that; śambhoḥ — of Lord Śiva; deva-devasya — who is worshipable even for the demigods; mīḍhuṣaḥ — he who bestows great benedictions upon people in general; prajāḥ — the people in general; dākṣāyaṇī — Bhavānī, the daughter of Dakṣa; brahmā — Lord Brahmā; vaikuṇṭhah�