srimahabharat -Adiparva - chapters -11th to 20th

 

The Mahabharata in Sanskrit

                                      Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
                                                        translated by
                                  Sreemaan Brahmasri  Kisari Mohan Ganguli

 

 

Book 1
Chapter 11

  1 [du]
      sakhā babhūva me pūrvaṃ khagamo nāma vai dvijaḥ
      bhṛśaṃ saṃśitavāk tāta tapobalasamanvitaḥ
  2 sa mayā krīḍatā bālye kṛtvā tārṇam athoragam
      agnihotre prasaktaḥ san bhīṣitaḥ pramumoha vai
  3 labdhvā ca sa punaḥ saṃjñāṃ mām uvāca tapodhanaḥ
      nirdahann iva kopena satyavāk saṃśitavrataḥ
  4 yathā vīryas tvayā sarpaḥ kṛto 'yaṃ mad vibhīṣayā
      tathā vīryo bhujaṃgas tvaṃ mama kopād bhaviṣyasi
  5 tasyāhaṃ tapaso vīryaṃ jānamānas tapodhana
      bhṛśam udvignahṛdayas tam avocaṃ vanaukasam
  6 prayataḥ saṃbhramāc caiva prāñjaliḥ praṇataḥ sthitaḥ
      sakheti hasatedaṃ te narmārthaṃ vai kṛtaṃ mayā
  7 kṣantum arhasi me brahmañ śāpo 'yaṃ vinivartyatām
      so 'tha mām abravīd dṛṣṭvā bhṛśam udvignacetasam
  8 muhur uṣṇaṃ viniḥśvasya susaṃbhrāntas tapodhanaḥ
      nānṛtaṃ vai mayā proktaṃ bhavitedaṃ kathaṃ cana
  9 yat tu vakṣyāmi te vākyaṃ śṛṇu tan me dhṛtavrata
      śrutvā ca hṛdi te vākyam idam astu tapodhana
  10 utpatsyati rurur nāma pramater ātmajaḥ śuciḥ
     taṃ dṛṣṭvā śāpamokṣas te bhavitā nacirād iva
 11 sa tvaṃ rurur iti khyātaḥ pramater ātmajaḥ śuciḥ
     svarūpaṃ pratilabhyāham adya vakṣyāmi te hitam
 12 ahiṃsā paramo dharmaḥ sarvaprāṇabhṛtāṃ smṛtaḥ
     tasmāt prāṇabhṛtaḥ sarvān na hiṃsyād brāhmaṇaḥ kva cit
 13 brāhmaṇaḥ saumya eveha jāyateti parā śrutiḥ
     vedavedāṅgavit tāta sarvabhūtābhaya pradaḥ
 14 ahiṃsā satyavacanaṃ kṣamā ceti viniścitam
     brāhmaṇasya paro dharmo vedānāṃ dharaṇād api
 15 kṣatriyasya tu yo dharmaḥ sa neheṣyati vai tava
     daṇḍadhāraṇam ugratvaṃ prajānāṃ paripālanam
 16 tad idaṃ kṣatriyasyāsīt karma vai śṛṇu me ruro
     janamejayasya dharmātman sarpāṇāṃ hiṃsanaṃ purā
 17 paritrāṇaṃ ca bhītānāṃ sarpāṇāṃ brāhmaṇād api
     tapo vīryabalopetād vedavedāṅgapāragāt
     āstīkād dvijamukhyād vai sarpasattre dvijottama

SECTION XI

(Pauloma Parva continued)

"Sauti continued 'The Dundubha then said, 'In former times, I had a friend Khagama by name. He was impetuous in his speech and possessed of spiritual power by virtue of his austerities. And one day when he was engaged in the Agni-hotra (Fire-sacrifice), I made a mock snake of blades of grass, and in a frolic attempted to frighten him with it. And anon he fell into a swoon. On recovering his senses, that truth-telling and vow-observing ascetic, burning with wrath, exclaimed, 'Since thou hast made a powerless mock snake to frighten me, thou shalt be turned even into a venomless serpent thyself by my curse.' O ascetic, I well knew the power of his penances; therefore with an agitated heart, I addressed him thus, bending low with joined hands, 'Friend, I did this by way of a joke, to excite thy laughter. It behoveth thee to forgive me and revoke thy curse.' And seeing me sorely troubled, the ascetic was moved, and
he replied, breathing hot and hard. 'What I have said must come to pass. Listen to what I say and lay it to thy heart. O pious one! when Ruru the pure son of Pramati, will appear, thou shall be delivered from the curse the moment thou seest him. Thou art the very Ruru and the son of Pramati. On regaining my native form, I will tell thee something for thy good.
"And that illustrious man and the best of Brahmanas then left his snake-body, and attained his own form and original brightness. He then addressed the following words to Ruru of incomparable power, 'O thou first of created beings, verily the highest virtue of man is sparing the life of others. Therefore a Brahmana should never take the life of any creature. A Brahmana should ever be mild. This is the most sacred injunction of the Vedas. A Brahmana should be versed in the Vedas and Vedangas, and should inspire all creatures with belief in God. He should be benevolent to all creatures, truthful, and forgiving, even as it is his paramount duty to retain the Vedas in his memory. The duties of the Kshatriya are not thine. To be stern, to wield the sceptre and to rule the subjects properly are the duties of the Kshatriya. Listen, O Ruru, to the account of the destruction of snakes at the sacrifice of Janamejaya in days of yore, and the deliverance of the terrified reptiles by that best of Dwijas, Astika, profound in Vedic lore and might in spiritual energy.'"
And so ends the eleventh section of the Pauloma Parva of the Adi Parva.

Book 1
Chapter 12

1 [ru]
      kathaṃ hiṃsitavān sarpān kṣatriyo janamejayaḥ
      sarpā vā hiṃsitās tāta kimarthaṃ dvijasattama
  2 kimarthaṃ mokṣitāś caiva pannagās tena śaṃsa me
      āstīkena tad ācakṣva śrotum icchāmy aśeṣataḥ
  3 [rsi]
      śroṣyasi tvaṃ ruro sarvam āstīka caritaṃ mahat
      brāhmaṇānāṃ kathayatām ity uktvāntaradhīyata
  4 [s]
      ruruś cāpi vanaṃ sarvaṃ paryadhāvat samantataḥ
      tam ṛṣiṃ draṣṭum anvicchan saṃśrānto nyapatad bhuvi
  5 labdhasaṃjño ruruś cāyāt tac cācakhyau pitus tadā
      pitā cāsya tad ākhyānaṃ pṛṣṭaḥ sarvaṃ nyavedayat

SECTION XII

(Pauloma Parva continued)

"Sauti continued, 'Ruru then asked, 'O best of Dwijas, why was king Janamejaya bent upon destroying the serpents?--And why and how were they saved by the wise Astika? I am anxious to hear all this in detail.'
"The Rishi replied, 'O Ruru, the important history of Astika you will learn from the lips of Brahmanas.' Saying this, he vanished.
"Sauti continued, 'Ruru ran about in search of the missing Rishi, and having failed to find him in all the woods, fell down on the ground, fatigued. And revolving in his mind the words of the Rishi, he was greatly confounded and seemed to be deprived of his senses. Regaining consciousness, he came home and asked his father to relate the history in question. Thus asked, his father related all about the story.'"
So ends the twelfth section in the Pauloma Parva of the Adi Parva.

Book 1
Chapter 13

 1 kimarthaṃ rājaśārdūla sa rājā janamejayaḥ
      sarpasatreṇa sarpāṇāṃ gato 'ntaṃ tad vadasva me
  2 āstīkaś ca dvijaśreṣṭhaḥ kimarthaṃ japatāṃ varaḥ
      mokṣayām āsa bhujagān dīptāt tasmād dhutāśanāt
  3 kasya putraḥ sa rājāsīt sarpasatraṃ ya āharat
      sa ca dvijātipravaraḥ kasya putro vadasva me
  4 [s]
      mahad ākhyānam āstīkaṃ yatraitat procyate dvija
      sarvam etad aśeṣeṇa śṛṇu me vadatāṃ vara
  5 [ṣ]
      śrotum icchāmy aśeṣeṇa kathām etāṃ manoramām
      āstīkasya purāṇasya brāhmaṇasya yaśasvinaḥ
  6 [s]
      itihāsam imaṃ vṛddhāḥ purāṇaṃ paricakṣate
      kṛṣṇadvaipāyana proktaṃ naimiṣāraṇyavāsinaḥ
  7 pūrvaṃ pracoditaḥ sūtaḥ pitā me lomaharṣaṇaḥ
      śiṣyo vyāsasya medhāvī brāhmaṇair idam uktavān
  8 tasmād aham upaśrutya pravakṣyāmi yathātatham
      idam āstīkam ākhyānaṃ tubhyaṃ śaunaka pṛcchate
  9 āstīkasya pitā hy āsīt prajāpatisamaḥ prabhuḥ
      brahma cārī yatāhāras tapasy ugre rataḥ sadā
  10 jaratkārur iti khyāta ūrdhvaretā mahān ṛṣiḥ
     yāyāvarāṇāṃ dharmajñaḥ pravaraḥ saṃśitavrataḥ
 11 aṭamānaḥ kadā cit sa svān dadarśa pitāmahān
     lambamānān mahāgarte pādair ūrdhvair adhomukhān
 12 tān abravīt sa dṛṣṭvaiva jaratkāruḥ pitāmahān
     ke bhavanto 'valambante garte 'smin vā adhomukhāḥ
 13 vīraṇastambake lagnāḥ sarvataḥ paribhakṣite
     mūṣakena nigūḍhena garte 'smin nityavāsinā
 14 [pitarah]
     yāyāvarā nāma vayam ṛṣayaḥ saṃśitavratāḥ
     saṃtānaprakṣayād brahmann adho gacchāma medinīm
 15 asmākaṃ saṃtatis tv eko jaratkārur iti śrutaḥ
     mandabhāgyo 'lpabhāgyānāṃ tapa eva samāsthitaḥ
 16 na saputrāñ janayituṃ dārān mūḍhaś cikīrṣati
     tena lambāmahe garte saṃtānaprakṣayād iha
 17 anāthās tena nāthena yathā duṣkṛtinas tathā
     kas tvaṃ bandhur ivāsmākam anuśocasi sattama
 18 jñātum icchāmahe brahman ko bhavān iha dhiṣṭhitaḥ
     kimarthaṃ caiva naḥ śocyān anukampitum arhasi
 19 [j]
     mama pūrve bhavanto vai pitaraḥ sapitāmahāḥ
     brūta kiṃ karavāṇy adya jaratkārur ahaṃ svayam
 20 [p]
     yatasva yatnavāṃs tāta saṃtānāya kulasya naḥ
     ātmano 'rthe 'smadarthe ca dharma ity eva cābhibho
 21 na hi dharmaphalais tāta na tapobhiḥ susaṃcitaiḥ
     tāṃ gatiṃ prāpnuvantīha putriṇo yāṃ vrajanti ha
 22 tad dāragrahaṇe yatnaṃ saṃtatyāṃ ca manaḥ kuru
     putrakāsman niyogāt tvam etan naḥ paramaṃ hitam
 23 [j]
     na dārān vai kariṣyāmi sadā me bhāvitaṃ manaḥ
     bhavatāṃ tu hitārthāya kariṣye dārasaṃgraham
 24 samayena ca kartāham anena vidhipūrvakam
     tathā yady upalapsyāmi kariṣye nānyathā tv aham
 25 sanāmnī yā bhavitrī me ditsitā caiva bandhubhiḥ
     bhaikṣavat tām ahaṃ kanyām upayaṃsye vidhānataḥ
 26 daridrāya hi me bhāryāṃ ko dāsyati viśeṣataḥ
     pratigrahīṣye bhikṣāṃ tu yadi kaś cit pradāsyati
 27 evaṃ dārakriyā hetoḥ prayatiṣye pitāmahāḥ
     anena vidhinā śaśvan na kariṣye 'ham anyathā
 28 tatra cotpatsyate jantur bhavatāṃ tāraṇāya vai
     śāśvataṃ sthānam āsādya modantāṃ pitaro mama
 29 [s]
     tato niveśāya tadā sa vipraḥ saṃśitavrataḥ
     mahīṃ cacāra dārārthī na ca dārān avindata
 30 sa kadā cid vanaṃ gatvā vipraḥ pitṛvacaḥ smaran
     cukrośa kanyā bhikṣārthī tisro vācaḥ śanair iva
 31 taṃ vāsukiḥ pratyagṛhṇād udyamya bhaginīṃ tadā
     na sa tāṃ pratijagrāha na sanāmnīti cintayan
 32 sanāmnīm udyatāṃ bhāryāṃ gṛhṇīyām iti tasya hi
     mano niviṣṭam abhavaj jaratkāror mahātmanaḥ
 33 tam uvāca mahāprājño jaratkārur mahātapāḥ
     kiṃnāmnī bhaginīyaṃ te brūhi satyaṃ bhujaṃgama
 34 [vā]
     jaratkāro jaratkāruḥ svaseyam anujā mama
     tvadarthaṃ rakṣitā pūrvaṃ pratīcchemāṃ dvijottama
 35 [s]
     mātrā hi bhujagāḥ śaptāḥ pūrvaṃ brahma vidāṃ vara
     janamejayasya vo yajñe dhakṣyaty anilasārathiḥ
 36 tasya śāpasya śānty arthaṃ pradadau pannagottamaḥ
     svasāram ṛṣaye tasmai suvratāya tapasvine
 37 sa ca tāṃ pratijagrāha vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā
     āstīko nāma putraś ca tasyāṃ jajñe mahātmanaḥ
 38 tapasvī ca mahātmā ca vedavedāṅgapāragaḥ
     samaḥ sarvasya lokasya pitṛmātṛbhayāpahaḥ
 39 atha kālasya mahataḥ pāṇḍaveyo narādhipaḥ
     ājahāra mahāyajñaṃ sarpasatram iti śrutiḥ
 40 tasmin pravṛtte satre tu sarpāṇām antakāya vai
     mocayām āsa taṃ śāpam āstīkaḥ sumahāyaśāḥ
 41 nāgāṃś ca mātulāṃś caiva tathā cānyān sa bāndhavān
     pitṝṃś ca tārayām āsa saṃtatyā tapasā tathā
     vrataiś ca vividhair brahma svādhyāyaiś cānṛṇo 'bhavat
 42 devāṃś ca tarpayām āsa yajñair vividhadakṣiṇaiḥ
     ṛṣīṃś ca brahmacaryeṇa saṃtatyā ca pitāmahān
 43 apahṛtya guruṃ bhāraṃ pitṝṇāṃ saṃśitavrataḥ
     jaratkārur gataḥ svargaṃ sahitaḥ svaiḥ pitāmahaiḥ
 44 āstīkaṃ ca sutaṃ prāpya dharmaṃ cānuttamaṃ muniḥ
     jaratkāruḥ sumahatā kālena svargam īyivān
 45 etad ākhyānam āstīkaṃ yathāvat kīrtitaṃ mayā
     prabrūhi bhṛguśārdūla kiṃ bhūyaḥ kathyatām iti

SECTION XIII

 

(Astika Parva)

"Saunaka said, 'For what reason did that tiger among kings, the royal
 [paragraph continues] Janamejaya, determine to take the lives of the snakes by means of a sacrifice? O Sauti, tell us in full the true story. Tell us also why Astika, that best of regenerate ones, that foremost of ascetics, rescued the snakes from the blazing fire. Whose son was that monarch who celebrated the snake-sacrifice? And whose son also was that best of regenerate ones?'
"Sauti said, 'O best of speakers, this story of Astika is long. I will duly relate it in full, O listen!'
"Saunaka said, 'I am desirous of hearing at length the charming story of that Rishi, that illustrious Brahmana named Astika.'
"Sauti said, 'This history (first) recited by Krishna-Dwaipayana, is called a Purana by the Brahmanas. It was formerly narrated by my wise father, Lomaharshana, the disciple of Vyasa, before the dwellers of the Naimisha forest, at their request. I was present at the recital, and, O Saunaka, since thou askest me, I shall narrate the history of Astika exactly as I heard it. O listen, as I recite in full that sin-destroying story.
"The father of Astika was powerful like Prajapati. He was a Brahma-charin, always engaged in austere devotions. He ate sparingly, was a great ascetic, and had his lust under complete control. And he was known by the name of Jaratkaru. That foremost one among the Yayavaras, virtuous and of rigid vows, highly blessed and endued with great ascetic power, once undertook a journey over the world. He visited diverse places, bathed in diverse sacred waters, and rested where night overtook him. Endued with great energy, he practised religious austerities, hard to be practised by men of unrestrained souls. The sage lived upon air only, and renounced sleep for ever. Thus going about like a blazing fire, one day he happened to see his ancestors, hanging heads down in a great hole, their feet pointing upwards. On seeing them, Jaratkaru addressed them, saying:
'Who are you thus hanging heads down in this hole by a rope of virana fibres that is again secretly eaten into on all sides by a rat living here?'
"The ancestors said, 'We are Rishis of rigid vows, called Yayavaras. We are sinking low into the earth for want of offspring. We have a son named Jaratkaru. Woe to us! That wretch hath entered upon a life of austerities only! The fool doth not think of raising offspring by marriage! It is for that reason, viz., the fear of extinction of our race, that we are suspended in this hole. Possessed of means, we fare like unfortunates that have none! O excellent one, who art thou that thus sorrowest as a friend on our account? We desire to learn, O Brahmana, who thou art that standest by us, and why, O best of men, thou sorrowest for us that are so unfortunate.'
"Jaratkaru said, 'Ye are even my sires and grandsires I am that Jaratkaru! O, tell me, how I may serve you.'
"The fathers then answered, 'Try thy best, O child, to beget a son to extend our line. Thou wilt then, O excellent one, have done a meritorious art for both thyself and us. Not by the fruits of virtue, not by ascetic
penances well hoarded up, acquireth the merit which one doth by becoming a father. Therefore, O child, by our command, set thy heart upon marriage and offspring. Even this is our highest good.'
"Jaratkaru replied, 'I shall not marry for my sake, nor shall I earn wealth for enjoyment, but I shall do so for your welfare only. According to this understanding, I shall, agreeably to the Sastric ordinance, take a wife for attaining the end. I shall not act otherwise. If a bride may be had of the same name with me, whose friends would, besides, willingly give her to me as a gift in charity, I shall wed her duly. But who will give his daughter to a poor man like me for wife. I shall, however, accept any daughter given to me as alms. I shall endeavour, ye sires, even thus to wed a girl! Having given my word, I will not act otherwise. Upon her I will raise offspring for your redemption, so that, ye fathers, ye may attain to eternal regions (of bliss) and may rejoice as ye like.'"
So ends the thirteenth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva.

Book 1
Chapter 14

[ṣaunaka]
      saute kathaya tām etāṃ vistareṇa kathāṃ punaḥ
      āstīkasya kaveḥ sādhoḥ śuśrūṣā paramā hi naḥ
  2 madhuraṃ kathyate saumya ślakṣṇākṣara padaṃ tvayā
      prīyāmahe bhṛśaṃ tāta pitevedaṃ prabhāṣase
  3 asmac chuśrūṣaṇe nityaṃ pitā hi niratas tava
      ācaṣṭaitad yathākhyānaṃ pitā te tvaṃ tathā vada
  4 [s]
      āyusyam idam ākhyānam āstīkaṃ kathayāmi te
      yathā śrutaṃ kathayataḥ sakāśād vai pitur mayā
  5 purā devayuge brahman prajāpatisute śubhe
      āstāṃ bhaginyau rūpeṇa samupete 'dbhute 'naghe
  6 te bhārye kaśyapasyāstāṃ kadrūś ca vinatā ca ha
      prādāt tābhyāṃ varaṃ prītaḥ prajāpatisamaḥ patiḥ
      kaśyapo dharmapatnībhyāṃ mudā paramayā yutaḥ
  7 varātisarvaṃ śrutvaiva kaśyapād uttamaṃ ca te
      harṣād apratimāṃ prītiṃ prāpatuḥ sma varastriyau
  8 vavre kadrūḥ sutān nāgān sahasraṃ tulyatejasaḥ
      dvau putrau vinatā vavre kadrū putrādhikau bale
      ojasā tejasā caiva vikrameṇādhikau sutau
  9 tasyai bhartā varaṃ prādād adhyarthaṃ putram īpsitam
      evam astv iti taṃ cāha kaśyapaṃ vinatā tadā
  10 kṛtakṛtyā tu vinatā labdhvā vīryādhikau sutau
     kadrūś ca labdhvā putrāṇāṃ sahasraṃ tulyatejasām
 11 dhāryau prayatnato garbhāv ity uktvā sa mahātapāḥ
     te bhārye varasaṃhṛṣṭe kaśyapo vanam āviśat
 12 kālena mahatā kadrūr aṇḍānāṃ daśatīr daśa
     janayām āsa viprendra dve aṇḍe vinatā tadā
 13 tayor aṇḍāni nidadhuḥ prahṛṣṭāḥ paricārikāḥ
     sopasvedeṣu bhāṇḍeṣu pañcavarṣaśatāni ca
 14 tataḥ pañcaśate kāle kadrū putrā niviḥsṛtāḥ
     aṇḍābhyāṃ vinatāyās tu mithunaṃ na vyadṛśyata
 15 tataḥ putrārthiṇī devī vrīḍitā sā tapasvinī
     aṇḍaṃ bibheda vinatā tatra putram adṛkṣata
 16 pūrvārdha kāyasaṃpannam itareṇāprakāśatā
     saputro roṣasaṃpannaḥ śaśāpainām iti śrutiḥ
 17 yo 'ham evaṃ kṛto mātas tvayā lobhaparītayā
     śarīreṇāsamagro 'dya tasmād dāsī bhaviṣyasi
 18 pañcavarṣaśatāny asyā yayā vispardhase saha
     eṣa ca tvāṃ suto mātar dāsyatvān mokṣayiṣyati
 19 yady enam api mātas tvaṃ mām ivāṇḍa vibhedanāt
     na kariṣyasy adehaṃ vā vyaṅgaṃ vāpi tapasvinam
 20 pratipālayitavyas te janma kālo 'sya dhīrayā
     viśiṣṭa balam īpsantyā pañcavarṣaśatāt paraḥ
 21 evaṃ śaptvā tataḥ putro vinatām antarikṣagaḥ
     aruṇo dṛṣyate brahman prabhātasamaye sadā
 22 garuḍo 'pi yathākālaṃ jajñe pannagasūdanaḥ
     sa jātamātro vinatāṃ parityajya kham āviśat
 23 ādāsyann ātmano bhojyam annaṃ vihitam asya yat
     vidhātrā bhṛguśārdūla kṣudhitasya bubhukṣataḥ

SECTION XIV

(Astika Parva continued)

"Sauti said, 'That Brahmana of rigid vows then wandered over the earth for a wife but a wife found he not. One day he went into the forest, and recollecting the words of his ancestors, he thrice prayed in a faint voice for a bride. Thereupon Vasuki rose and offered his sister for the Rishi's acceptance. But the Brahmana hesitated to accept her, thinking her not to be of the same name with himself. The high-souled Jaratkaru thought within himself, 'I will take none for wife who is not of the same name with myself.' Then that Rishi of great wisdom and austere penances asked him, saying, 'Tell me truly what is the name of this thy sister, O snake.'
"Vasuki replied, 'O Jaratkaru, this my younger sister is called Jaratkaru. Given away by me, accept this slender-waisted damsel for thy spouse. O best of Brahmanas, for thee I reserved her. Therefore, take her.' Saying this, he offered his beautiful sister to Jaratkaru who then espoused her with ordained rites.'"
So ends the thirteenth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva.

Book 1
Chapter 15

 1 [s]
      etasminn eva kāle tu bhaginyau te tapodhana
      apaśyatāṃ samāyāntam uccaiḥśravasam antikāt
  2 yaṃ taṃ devagaṇāḥ sarve hṛṣṭarūpā apūjayan
      mathyamāne 'mṛte jātam aśvaratnam anuttamam
  3 mahaughabalam aśvānām uttamaṃ javatāṃ varam
      śrīmantam ajaraṃ divyaṃ sarvalakṣaṇalakṣitam
  4 [ṣ]
      kathaṃ tad amṛtaṃ devair mathitaṃ kva ca śaṃsa me
      yatra jajñe mahāvīryaḥ so 'śvarājo mahādyutiḥ
  5 [s]
      jvalantam acalaṃ meruṃ tejorāśim anuttamam
      ākṣipantaṃ prabhāṃ bhānoḥ svaśṛṅgaiḥ kāñcanojjvalaiḥ
  6 kāñcanābharaṇaṃ citraṃ devagandharvasevitam
      aprameyam anādhṛṣyam adharmabahulair janaiḥ
  7 vyālair ācaritaṃ ghorair divyauṣadhividīpitam
      nākam āvṛtya tiṣṭhantam ucchrayeṇa mahāgirim
  8 agamyaṃ manasāpy anyair nadī vṛkṣasamanvitam
      nānā patagasaṃghaiś ca nāditaṃ sumanoharaiḥ
  9 tasya pṛṣṭham upāruhya bahuratnācitaṃ śubham
      ananta kalpam udviddhaṃ surāḥ sarve mahaujasaḥ
  10 te mantrayitum ārabdhās tatrāsīnā divaukasaḥ
     amṛtārthe samāgamya tapo niyamasaṃsthitāḥ
 11 tatra nārāyaṇo devo brāhmaṇam idam abravīt
     cintayatsu sureṣv evaṃ mantrayatsu ca sarvaśaḥ
 12 devair asurasaṃghaiś ca mathyatāṃ kalaśodadhiḥ
     bhaviṣyaty amṛtaṃ tatra mathyamāne mahodadhau
 13 sarvauṣadhīḥ samāvāpya sarvaratnāni caiva hi
     manthadhvam udadhiṃ devā vetsyadhvam amṛtaṃ tataḥ

SECTION XV

 

(Astika Parva continued)

"Sauti said, 'O foremost of persons acquainted with Brahma, the mother of the snakes had cursed them of old, saying, 'He that hath the Wind for his charioteer (viz., Agni) shall burn you all in Janamejaya's sacrifice!'
 [paragraph continues] It was to neutralise that curse that the chief of the snakes married his sister to that high-souled Rishi of excellent vows. The Rishi wedded her according to the rites ordained (in the scriptures), and from them was born a high-souled son called Astika. An illustrious ascetic; versed in the Vedas and their branches, he regarded all with an even eye, and removed the fears of both his parents.
"Then, after a long space of time, a king descending from the Pandava line celebrated a great sacrifice known as the Snake-sacrifice, After that sacrifice had commenced for the destruction of the snakes, Astika delivered the Nagas, viz., his brothers and maternal uncles and other snakes (from a fiery death). And he delivered his fathers also by begetting offspring. And by his austerities, O Brahmana, and various vows and study of the Vedas, he freed himself from all his debts. By sacrifices, at which various kinds of offerings were made, he propitiated the gods. By practising the Brahmacharya mode of life he conciliated the Rishis; and by begetting offspring he gratified his ancestors.
"Thus Jaratkaru of rigid vows discharged the heavy debt he owed to his sires who being thus relieved from bondage ascended to heaven. Thus having acquired great religious merit, Jaratkaru, after a long course of years, went to heaven, leaving Astika behind. There is the story of Astika that I have related duly Now, tell me, O tiger of Bhrigu's race, what else I shall narrate."
So ends the fifteenth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva.

Book 1
Chapter 16

1 [s]
      tato 'bhraśikharākārair giriśṛṅgair alaṃkṛtam
      mandaraṃ parvata varaṃ latā jālasamāvṛtam
  2 nānāvihagasaṃghuṣṭaṃ nānā daṃṣṭri samākulam
      kiṃnarair apsarobhiś ca devair api ca sevitam
  3 ekādaśa sahasrāṇi yojanānāṃ samucchritam
      adho bhūmeḥ sahasreṣu tāvatsv eva pratiṣṭhitam
  4 tam uddhartuṃ na śaktā vai sarve devagaṇās tadā
      viṣṇum āsīnam abhyetya brahmāṇaṃ cedam abruvan
  5 bhavantāv atra kurutāṃ buddhiṃ naiḥśreyasīṃ parām
      mandaroddharaṇe yatnaḥ kriyatāṃ ca hitāya naḥ
  6 tatheti cābravīd viṣṇur brahmaṇā saha bhārgava
      tato 'nantaḥ samutthāya brahmaṇā paricoditaḥ
      nārāyaṇena cāpy uktas tasmin karmaṇi vīryavān
  7 atha parvatarājānaṃ tam ananto mahābalaḥ
      ujjahāra balād brahman savanaṃ savanaukasam
  8 tatas tena surāḥ sārdhaṃ samudram upatasthire
      tam ūcur amṛtārthāya nirmathiṣyāmahe jalam
  9 apāṃ patir athovāca mamāpy aṃśo bhavet tataḥ
      soḍhāsmi vipulaṃ mardaṃ mandarabhramaṇād iti
  10 ūcuś ca kūrmarājānam akūpāraṃ surāsurāḥ
     girer adhiṣṭhānam asya bhavān bhavitum arhati
 11 kūrmeṇa tu tathety uktvā pṛṣṭham asya samarpitam
     tasya śailasya cāgraṃ vai yantreṇendro 'bhyapīḍayat
 12 manthānaṃ mandaraṃ kṛtvā tathā netraṃ ca vāsukim
     devā mathitum ārabdhāḥ samudraṃ nidhim ambhasām
     amṛtārthinas tato brahman sahitā daityadānavāḥ
 13 ekam antam upāśliṣṭā nāgarājño mahāsurāḥ
     vibudhāḥ sahitāḥ sarve yataḥ pucchaṃ tataḥ sthitāḥ
 14 ananto bhagavān devo yato nārāyaṇas tataḥ
     śira udyamya nāgasya punaḥ punar avākṣipat
 15 vāsuker atha nāgasya sahasākṣipyataḥ suraiḥ
     sadhūmāḥ sārciṣo vātā niṣpetur asakṛn mukhāt
 16 te dhūmasaṃghāḥ saṃbhūtā meghasaṃghāḥ savidyutaḥ
     abhyavarṣan suragaṇāñ śramasaṃtāpa karśitān
 17 tasmāc ca girikūṭāgrāt pracyutāḥ puṣpavṛṣṭayaḥ
     surāsuragaṇān mālyaiḥ sarvataḥ samavākiran
 18 babhūvātra mahāghoṣo mahāmegharavopamaḥ
     udadher mathyamānasya mandareṇa surāsuraiḥ
 19 tatra nānā jalacarā viniṣpiṣṭā mahādriṇā
     vilayaṃ samupājagmuḥ śataśo lavaṇāmbhasi
 20 vāruṇāni ca bhūtāni vividhāni mahīdharaḥ
     pātālatalavāsīni vilayaṃ samupānayat
 21 tasmiṃś ca bhrāmyamāṇe 'drau saṃghṛṣyantaḥ parasparam
     nyapatan patagopetāḥ parvatāgrān mahādrumāḥ
 22 teṣāṃ saṃgharṣajaś cāgnir arcirbhiḥ prajvalan muhuḥ
     vidyudbhir iva nīlābhram āvṛṇon mandaraṃ girim
 23 dadāha kuñjarāṃś caiva siṃhāṃś caiva viniḥsṛtān
     vigatāsūni sarvāṇi sattvāni vividhāni ca
 24 tam agnim amara śreṣṭhaḥ pradahantaṃ tatas tataḥ
     vāriṇā meghajenendraḥ śamayām āsa sarvataḥ
 25 tato nānāvidhās tatra susruvuḥ sāgarāmbhasi
     mahādrumāṇāṃ niryāsā bahavaś cauṣadhī rasāḥ
 26 teṣām amṛtavīryāṇāṃ rasānāṃ payasaiva ca
     amaratvaṃ surā jagmuḥ kāñcanasya ca niḥsravāt
 27 atha tasya samudrasya taj jātam udakaṃ payaḥ
     rasottamair vimiśraṃ ca tataḥ kṣīrād abhūd ghṛtam
 28 tato brahmāṇam āsīnaṃ devā varadam abruvan
     śrāntāḥ sma subhṛśaṃ brahman nodbhavaty amṛtaṃ ca tat
 29 ṛte nārāyaṇaṃ devaṃ daityā nāgottamās tathā
     cirārabdham idaṃ cāpi sāgarasyāpi manthanam
 30 tato nārāyaṇaṃ devaṃ brahmā vacanam abravīt
     vidhatsvaiṣāṃ balaṃ viṣṇo bhavān atra parāyaṇam
 31 [visṇu]
     balaṃ dadāmi sarveṣāṃ karmaitad ye samāsthitāḥ
     kṣobhyatāṃ kalaśaḥ sarvair mandaraḥ parivartyatām
 32 [sūta]
     nārāyaṇa vacaḥ śrutvā balinas te mahodadheḥ
     tat payaḥ sahitā bhūyaś cakrire bhṛśam ākulam
 33 tataḥ śatasahasrāṃśuḥ samāna iva sāgarāt
     prasannabhāḥ samutpannaḥ somaḥ śītāṃśur ujjvalaḥ
 34 śrīr anantaram utpannā ghṛtāt pāṇḍuravāsinī
     surā devī samutpannā turagaḥ pāṇḍuras tathā
 35 kaustubhaś ca maṇir divya utpanno 'mṛtasaṃbhavaḥ
     marīcivikacaḥ śrīmān nārāyaṇa urogataḥ
 36 śrīḥ surā caiva somaś ca turagaś ca manojavaḥ
     yato devās tato jagmur ādityapatham āśritāḥ
 37 dhanvantaris tato devo vapuṣmān udatiṣṭhata
     śvetaṃ kamaṇḍaluṃ bibhrad amṛtaṃ yatra tiṣṭhati
 38 etad atyadbhutaṃ dṛṣṭvā dānavānāṃ samutthitaḥ
     amṛtārthe mahān nādo mamedam iti jalpatām
 39 tato nārāyaṇo māyām āsthito mohinīṃ prabhuḥ
     strī rūpam adbhutaṃ kṛtvā dānavān abhisaṃśritaḥ
 40 tatas tad amṛtaṃ tasyai dadus te mūḍhacetasaḥ
     striyai dānava daiteyāḥ sarve tadgatamānasāḥ

SECTION XVI

(Astika Parva continued)

"Saunaka said, 'O Sauti, relate once more in detail this history of the learned and virtuous Astika. Our curiosity for hearing it is great. O amiable one, thou speakest sweetly, with proper accent and emphasis; and we are well-pleased with thy speech. Thou speakest even as thy father. Thy sire was ever ready to please us. Tell us now the story as thy father had related it.'
"Sauti said, 'O thou that art blest with longevity, I shall narrate the history of Astika as I heard it from my father. O Brahmana, in the golden age, Prajapati had two daughters. O sinless one, the sisters were endowed with wonderful beauty. Named Kadru and Vinata, they became the wives of Kasyapa. Kasyapa derived great pleasure from his two wedded wives and being gratified he, resembling Prajapati himself, offered to give each of them a boon. Hearing that their lord was willing to confer on them their choice blessings, those excellent ladies felt transports of joy. Kadru wished to have for sons a thousand snakes all of equal splendour. And Vinata wished to bring forth two sons surpassing the thousand offsprings
p. 57
of Kadru in strength, energy, size of body, and prowess. Unto Kadru her lord gave that boon about a multitude of offspring. And unto Vinata also, Kasyapa said, 'Be it so!' Then Vinata, having; obtained her prayer, rejoiced greatly. Obtaining two sons of superior prowess, she regarded her boon fulfilled. Kadru also obtained her thousand sons of equal splendour. 'Bear the embryos carefully,' said Kasyapa, and then he went into the forest, leaving his two wives pleased with his blessings.'
"Sauti continued, 'O best of regenerate ones, after a long time, Kadru brought forth a thousand eggs, and Vinata two. Their maid-servants deposited the eggs separately in warm vessels. Five hundred years passed away, and the thousand eggs produced by Kadru burst and out came the progeny. But the twins of Vinata did not appear. Vinata was jealous, and therefore she broke one of the eggs and found in it an embryo with the upper part developed but the lower one undeveloped. At this, the child in the egg became angry and cursed his mother, saying. 'Since thou hast prematurely broken this egg, thou shall serve as a slave. Shouldst thou wait five hundred years and not destroy, or render the other egg half-developed, by breaking it through impatience, then the illustrious child within it will deliver thee from slavery! And if thou wouldst have the child strong, thou must take tender care of the egg for all this time!' Thus cursing his mother, the child rose to the sky. O Brahmana, even he is the charioteer of Surya, always seen in the hour of morning!
"Then at the expiration of the five hundred years, bursting open the other egg, out came Garuda, the serpent-eater. O tiger of Bhrigu's race, immediately on seeing the light, that son of Vinata left his mother. And the lord of birds, feeling hungry, took wing in quest of the food assigned to him by the Great Ordainer of all.".
So ends the sixteenth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva.

Book 1
Chapter 17

1 [s]
      athāvaraṇa mukhyāni nānāpraharaṇāni ca
      pragṛhyābhyadravan devān sahitā daityadānavāḥ
  2 tatas tad amṛtaṃ devo viṣṇur ādāya vīryavān
      jahāra dānavendrebhyo nareṇa sahitaḥ prabhuḥ
  3 tato devagaṇāḥ sarve papus tad amṛtaṃ tadā
      viṣṇoḥ sakāśāt saṃprāpya saṃbhrame tumule sati
  4 tataḥ pibatsu tat kālaṃ deveṣv amṛtam īpsitam
      rāhur vibudharūpeṇa dānavaḥ prāpibat tadā
  5 tasya kaṇṭham anuprāpte dānavasyāmṛte tadā
      ākhyātaṃ candrasūryābhyāṃ surāṇāṃ hitakāmyayā
  6 tato bhagavatā tasya śiraś chinnam alaṃkṛtam
      cakrāyudhena cakreṇa pibato 'mṛtam ojasā
  7 tac chailaśṛṅgapratimaṃ dānavasya śiromahat
      cakreṇotkṛttam apatac cālayad vasudhātalam
  8 tato vairavinirbandhaḥ kṛto rāhumukhena vai
      śāśvataś candrasūryābhyāṃ grasaty adyāpi caiva tau
  9 vihāya bhagavāṃś cāpi strī rūpam atulaṃ hariḥ
      nānāpraharaṇair bhīmair dānavān samakampayat
  10 tataḥ pravṛttaḥ saṃgrāmaḥ samīpe lavaṇāmbhasaḥ
     surāṇām asurāṇāṃ ca sarvaghorataro mahān
 11 prāsāḥ suvipulās tīkṣṇā nyapatanta sahasraśaḥ
     tomarāś ca sutīkṣṇāgrāḥ śastrāṇi vividhāni ca
 12 tato 'surāś cakrabhinnā vamanto rudhiraṃ bahu
     asi śaktigadā rugṇā nipetur dharaṇītale
 13 chinnāni paṭṭiśaiś cāpi śirāṃsi yudhi dāruṇe
     taptakāñcanajālāni nipetur aniśaṃ tadā
 14 rudhireṇāvaliptāṅgā nihatāś ca mahāsurāḥ
     adrīṇām iva kūṭāni dhāturaktāni śerate
 15 hāhākāraḥ samabhavat tatra tatra sahasraśaḥ
     anyonyaṃ chindatāṃ śastrair āditye lohitāyati
 16 parighaiś cāyasaiḥ pītaiḥ saṃnikarṣe ca muṣṭibhiḥ
     nighnatāṃ samare 'nyonyaṃ śabdo divam ivāspṛśat
 17 chindhi bhindhi pradhāvadhvaṃ pātayābhisareti ca
     vyaśrūyanta mahāghorāḥ śabdās tatra samantataḥ
 18 evaṃ sutumule yuddhe vartamāne bhayāvahe
     naranārāyaṇau devau samājagmatur āhavam
 19 tatra divyaṃ dhanur dṛṣṭvā narasya bhagavān api
     cintayām āsa vai cakraṃ viṣṇur dānava sūdanam
 20 tato 'mbarāc cintita mātram āgataṃ; mahāprabhaṃ cakram amitratāpanam
     vibhāvasos tulyam akuṇṭhamaṇḍalaṃ; sudarśanaṃ bhīmam ajayyam uttamam
 21 tad āgataṃ jvalitahutāśanaprabhaṃ; bhayaṃkaraṃ karikarabāhur acyutaḥ
     mumoca vai capalam udagravegavan; mahāprabhaṃ paranagarāvadāraṇam
 22 tad antakajvalanasamānavarcasaṃ; punaḥ punar nyapatata vegavat tadā
     vidārayad ditidanujān sahasraśaḥ; kareritaṃ puruṣavareṇa saṃyuge
 23 dahat kva cij jvalana ivāvalelihat; prasahya tān asuragaṇān nyakṛntata
     praveritaṃ viyati muhuḥ kṣitau tadā; papau raṇe rudhiram atho piśācavat
 24 athāsurā giribhir adīnacetaso; muhur muhuḥ suragaṇam ardayaṃs tadā
     mahābalā vigalitameghavarcasaḥ; sahasraśo gaganam abhiprapadya ha
 25 athāmbarād bhayajananāḥ prapedire; sapādapā bahuvidha megharūpiṇaḥ
     mahādrayaḥ pravigalitāgra sānavaḥ; parasparaṃ drutam abhihatya sasvanāḥ
 26 tato mahī pravicalitā sakānanā; mahādripātābhihatā samantataḥ
     parasparaṃ bhṛśam abhigarjatāṃ muhū; raṇājire bhṛśam abhisaṃpravartite
 27 naras tato varakanakāgra bhūṣaṇair; maheṣubhir gaganapathaṃ samāvṛṇot
     vidārayan giriśikharāṇi patribhir; mahābhaye 'sura gaṇavigrahe tadā
 28 tato mahīṃ lavaṇajalaṃ ca sāgaraṃ; mahāsurāḥ praviviśur arditāḥ suraiḥ
     viyad gataṃ jvalitahutāśanaprabhaṃ; sudarśanaṃ parikupitaṃ niśāmya ca
 29 tataḥ surair vijayam avāpya mandaraḥ; svam eva deśaṃ gamitaḥ supūjitaḥ
     vinādya khaṃ divam api caiva sarvaśas; tato gatāḥ saliladharā yathāgatam
 30 tato 'mṛtaṃ sunihitam eva cakrire; surāḥ parāṃ mudam abhigamya puṣkalām
     dadau ca taṃ nidhim amṛtasya rakṣituṃ; kirīṭine balabhid athāmaraiḥ saha

SECTION XVII

(Astika Parva continued)

"Sauti said, 'O ascetic, about this time the two sisters saw approaching near, that steed of complacent appearance named Uchchaihsravas who was worshipped by the gods, that gem of steeds, who arose at the churning of the Ocean for nectar. Divine, graceful, perpetually young, creation's master-piece, and of irresistible vigour, it was blest with every auspicious mark.'
"Saunaka asked, 'Why did the gods churn the Ocean for nectar, and under what circumstances and when as you say, did that best of steeds so powerful and resplendent spring?'
"Sauti said, 'There is a mountain named Meru, of blazing appearance, and looking like a heap of effulgence. The rays of the Sun falling on its
p. 58
peaks of golden lustre are dispersed by them. Decked with gold and exceedingly beautiful, that mountain is the haunt of the gods and the Gandharvas. It is immeasurable and unapproachable by men of manifold sins. Dreadful beasts of prey wander over its breasts, and it is illuminated by many divine life-giving herbs. It stands kissing the heavens by its height and is the first of mountains. Ordinary people cannot even think of ascending it. It is graced with trees and streams, and resounds with the charming melody of winged choirs. Once the celestials sat on its begemmed peak--in conclave. They who had practised penances and observed excellent vows for amrita now seemed to be eager seekers alter amrita (celestial ambrosia). Seeing the celestial assembly in anxious mood Nara-yana said to Brahman, 'Do thou churn the Ocean with the gods and the Asuras. By doing so, amrita will be obtained as also all drugs and gems. O ye gods, chum the Ocean, ye will discover amrita.'"
So ends the seventeenth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva.

Book 1
Chapter 18

1 [sū]
      etat te sarvam ākhyātam amṛtaṃ mathitaṃ yathā
      yatra so 'śvaḥ samutpannaḥ śrīmān atulavikramaḥ
  2 yaṃ niśāmya tadā kadrūr vinatām idam abravīt
      uccaiḥśravā nu kiṃ varṇo bhadre jānīhi māciram
  3 [vi]
      śveta evāśvarājo 'yaṃ kiṃ vā tvaṃ manyase śubhe
      brūhi varṇaṃ tvam apy asya tato 'tra vipaṇāvahe
  4 [ka]
      kṛṣṇa vālam ahaṃ manye hayam enaṃ śucismite
      ehi sārdhaṃ mayā dīvya dāsī bhāvāya bhāmini
  5 [sū]
      evaṃ te samayaṃ kṛtvā dāsī bhāvāya vai mithaḥ
      jagmatuḥ svagṛhān eva śvo drakṣyāva iti sma ha
  6 tataḥ putrasahasraṃ tu kadrūr jihmaṃ cikīrṣatī
      ājñāpayām āsa tadā vālā bhūtvāñjana prabhāḥ
  7 āviśadhvaṃ hayaṃ kṣipraṃ dāsī na syām ahaṃ yathā
      tad vākyaṃ nānvapadyanta tāñ śaśāpa bhujaṃgamān
  8 sarpasatre vartamāne pāvako vaḥ pradhakṣyati
      janamejayasya rājarṣeḥ pāṇḍaveyasya dhīmataḥ
  9 śāpam enaṃ tu śuśrāva svayam eva pitāmahaḥ
      atikrūraṃ samuddiṣṭaṃ kadrvā daivād atīva hi
  10 sārdhaṃ devagaṇaiḥ sarvair vācaṃ tām anvamodata
     bahutvaṃ prekṣya sarpāṇāṃ prajānāṃ hitakāmyayā
 11 tigmavīryaviṣā hy ete danda śūkā mahābalāḥ
     teṣāṃ tīkṣṇaviṣatvād dhi prajānāṃ ca hitāya vai
     prādād viṣahaṇīṃ vidyāṃ kāśyapāya mahātmane

SECTION XVIII

(Astika Parva continued)

"Sauti said, 'There is a mountain called Mandara adorned with cloud-like peaks. It is the best of mountains, and is covered all over with intertwining herbs. There countless birds pour forth their melodies, and beasts of prey roam about. The gods, the Apsaras and the Kinnaras visit the place. Upwards it rises eleven thousand yojanas, and descends downwards as much. The gods wanted to tear it up and use it as a churning rod but failing to do so same to Vishnu and Brahman who were sitting together, and said unto them, 'Devise some efficient scheme, consider, ye gods, how Mandara may be dislodged for our good.'
"Sauti continued, 'O son of Bhrigu! Vishnu with Brahman assented to it. And the lotus-eyed one (Vishnu) laid the hard task on the mighty Ananta, the prince of snakes. The powerful Ananta, directed thereto both by Brahman and Narayana, O Brahmana, tore up the mountain with the woods thereon and with the denizens of those woods. And the gods came to the shore of the Ocean with Ananta and addressed the Ocean, saying, 'O Ocean; we have come to churn thy waters for obtaining nectar.' And the Ocean replied, 'Be it so, as I shall not go without a share of it. I am able to bear the prodigious agitation of my waters set up by the mountain.' The gods then went to the king of tortoises and said to him, 'O Tortoise-king, thou wilt have to hold the mountain on thy back!' The Tortoise-king agreed, and Indra contrived to place the mountain on the former's back.
"And the gods and the Asuras made of Mandara a churning staff and Vasuki the cord, and set about churning the deep for amrita. The Asuras
p. 59
held Vasuki by the hood and the gods held him by the tail. And Ananta, who was on the side of the gods, at intervals raised the snake's hood and suddenly lowered it. And in consequence of the stretch Vasuki received at the hands of the gods and the Asuras, black vapours with flames issued from his mouth. These, turned into clouds charged with lightning, poured showers that refreshed the tired gods. And flowers that also fell on all sides of the celestials from the trees on the whirling Mandara, refreshed them.
"Then, O Brahmana, out of the deep came a tremendous roar like unto the roar of the clouds at the Universal Dissolution. Diverse aquatic animals being crushed by the great mountain gave up the ghost in the salt waters. And many denizens of the lower regions and the world of Varuna were killed. Large trees with birds on the whirling Mandara were torn up by the roots and fell into the water. The mutual friction of those trees also produced fires that blazed up frequently. The mountain thus looked like a mass of dark clouds charged with lightning. O Brahmana, the fire spread, and consumed the lions, elephants and other creatures that were on the mountain. Then Indra extinguished that fire by pouring down heavy showers.
"After the churning, O Brahmana, had gone on for some time, gummy exudations of various trees and herbs vested with the properties of amrita mingled with the waters of the Ocean. And the celestials attained to immortality by drinking of the water mixed with those gums and with the liquid extract of gold. By degrees, the milky water of the agitated deep turned into clarified butter by virtue of those gums and juices. But nectar did not appear even then. The gods came before the boon-granting Brahman seated on his seat and said, 'Sire, we are spent up, we have no strength left to churn further. Nectar hath not yet arisen so that now we have no resource save Narayana.'
"On hearing them, Brahman said to Narayana, 'O Lord, condescend to grant the gods strength to churn the deep afresh.'
"Then Narayana agreeing to grant their various prayers, said, 'Ye wise ones, I grant you sufficient strength. Go, put the mountain in position again and churn the water.'
'Re-established thus in strength, the gods recommenced churning. After a while, the mild Moon of a thousand rays emerged from the Ocean. Thereafter sprung forth Lakshmi dressed in white, then Soma, then the White Steed, and then the celestial gem Kaustubha which graces the breast of Narayana. Then Lakshmi, Soma and the Steed, fleet as the mind, all came before the gods on high. Then arose the divine Dhanwantari himself with the white vessel of nectar in his hand. And seeing him, the Asuras set up a loud cry, saying, 'It be ours.'
"And at length rose the great elephant, Airavata, of huge body and with two pair of white tusks. And him took Indra the wielder of the thunderbolt.
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[paragraph continues] But with the churning still going on, the poison Kalakuta appeared at last. Engulfing the Earth it suddenly blazed up like a fire attended with fumes. And by the scent of the fearful Kalakuta, the three worlds were stupefied. And then Siva, being solicited by Brahman, swallowed that poison for the safety of the creation. The divine Maheswara held it in his throat, and it is said that from that time he is called Nilakantha (blue-throated). Seeing all these wondrous things, the Asuras were filled with despair, and got themselves prepared for entering into hostilities with the gods for the possession of Lakshmi and Amrita. Thereupon Narayana called his bewitching Maya (illusive power) to his aid, and assuming the form of an enticing female, coquetted with the Danavas. The Danavas and the Daityas charmed with her exquisite beauty and grace lost their reason and unanimously placed the Amrita in the hands of that fair damsel.'"
So ends the eighteenth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva.

Book 1
Chapter 19

 1 [sū]
      tato rajanyāṃ vyuṣṭāyāṃ prabhāta udite ravau
      kadrūś ca vinatā caiva bhaginyau te tapodhana
  2 amarṣite susaṃrabdhe dāsye kṛtapaṇe tadā
      jagmatus turagaṃ draṣṭum ucchaiḥ śravasam antikāt
  3 dadṛśāte tadā tatra samudraṃ nidhim ambhasām
      timiṃgilajhaṣākīrṇaṃ makarair āvṛtaṃ tathā
  4 sattvaiś ca bahusāhasrair nānārūpaiḥ samāvṛtam
      ugrair nityam anādhṛṣyaṃ kūrmagrāhasamākulam
  5 ākaraṃ sarvaratnānām ālayaṃ varuṇasya ca
      nāgānām ālayaṃ ramyam uttamaṃ saritāṃ patim
  6 pātālajvalanāvāsam asurāṇāṃ ca bandhanam
      bhayaṃkaraṃ ca sattvānāṃ payasāṃ nidhim arṇavam
  7 śubhaṃ divyam amartyānām amṛtasyākaraṃ param
      aprameyam acintyaṃ ca supuṇya jalam adbhutam
  8 ghoraṃ jalacarārāva raudraṃ bhairavanisvanam
      gambhīrāvarta kalilaṃ sarvabhūtabhayaṃkaram
  9 velādolānila calaṃ kṣobhodvega samutthitam
      vīcīhastaiḥ pracalitair nṛtyantam iva sarvaśaḥ
  10 candra vṛddhikṣayavaśād udvṛttormi durāsadam
     pāñcajanyasya jananaṃ ratnākaram anuttamam
 11 gāṃ vindatā bhagavatā govindenāmitaujasā
     varāharūpiṇā cāntar vikṣobhita jalāvilam
 12 brahmarṣiṇā ca tapatā varṣāṇāṃ śatam atriṇā
     anāsādita gādhaṃ ca pātālatalam avyayam
 13 adhyātmayoganidrāṃ ca padmanābhasya sevataḥ
     yugādi kālaśayanaṃ viṣṇor amitatejasaḥ
 14 vaḍavāmukhadīptāgnes toyahavyapradaṃ śubham
     agādha pāraṃ vistīrṇam aprameyaṃ saritpatim
 15 mahānadībhir bahvībhiḥ spardhayeva sahasraśaḥ
     abhisāryamāṇam aniśaṃ dadṛśāte mahārṇavam
 16 gambhīraṃ timimakarogra saṃkulaṃ taṃ; garjantaṃ jalacara rāva raudranādaiḥ
     vistīrṇaṃ dadṛśatur ambaraprakāśaṃ; te 'gādhaṃ nidhim urum ambhasām anantam
 17 ity evaṃ jhaṣamakarormi saṃkulaṃ taṃ; gambhīraṃ vikasitam ambaraprakāśam
     pātālajvalanaśikhā vidīpitaṃ taṃ; paśyantyau drutam abhipetatus tadānīm

SECTION XIX

(Astika Parva continued)

"Sauti said, 'Then the Daityas and the Danauas equipped with first-class armours and various weapons attacked the gods. In the meantime the valiant Lord Vishnu in the form of an enchantress accompanied by Nara deceived the mighty Danavas and took away the Amrita from their hands.
"And all the gods at that time of great fright drank the Amrita with delight, receiving it from Vishnu. And while the gods were partaking of it, after which they had so much hankered, a Danava named Rahu was also drinking it among them in the guise of a god. And when the Amrita had reached Rahu's throat only, Surya and Soma (recognised him and) intimated the fact to the gods. And Narayana instantly cut off with his discus the well-adorned head of the Danava who was drinking the Amrita without permission. And the huge head of the Danava, cut off by the discus and resembling a mountain peak, then rose up to the sky and began to utter dreadful cries. And the Danava's headless trunk, falling upon the ground and rolling thereon, made the Earth tremble with her mountains, forests and islands. And from that time there is a long-standing quarrel between Rahu's head and Surya and Soma. And to this day it swalloweth Surya and Soma (during solar and lunar eclipses).
"Then Narayana quitting his enchanting female form and hurling many terrible weapons at the Danavas, made them tremble. And thus on the shores of the salt-water sea, commenced the dreadful battle of the gods and the Asuras. And sharp-pointed javelins and lances and various weapons by thousands began to be discharged on all sides. And mangled with the discus and wounded with swords, darts
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and maces, the Asuras in large numbers vomited blood and lay prostrate on the earth. Cut off from the trunks with sharp double-edged swords, heads adorned with bright gold, fell continually on the field of battle. Their bodies drenched in gore, the great Asuras lay dead everywhere. It seemed as if red-dyed mountain peaks lay scattered all around. And when the Sun rose in his splendour, thousands of warriors struck one another with weapons. And cries of distress were heard everywhere. The warriors fighting at a distance from one another brought one another down by sharp iron missiles, and those fighting at close quarters slew one another with blows of their fists. And the air was filled with shrieks of distress. Everywhere were heard the alarming sounds,--'cut', 'pierce', 'at them', 'hurl down', 'advance'.
'And when the battle was raging fiercely, Nara and Narayana entered the field. And Narayana seeing the celestial bow in the hand of Nara, called to mind his own weapon, the Danava-destroying discus. And lo! the discus, Sudarsana, destroyer of enemies, like to Agni in effulgence and dreadful in battle, came from the sky as soon as thought of. And when it came, Narayana of fierce energy, possessing arms like the trunk of an elephant, hurled with great force that weapon of extraordinary lustre, effulgent as blazing fire, dreadful and capable of destroying hostile towns. And that discus blazing like the fire that consumeth all things at the end of Yuga, hurled with force from the hands of Narayana, and falling constantly everywhere, destroyed the Daityas and the Danavas by thousands. Sometimes it blazed like fire and consumed them all; sometimes it struck them down as it coursed through the sky; and sometimes, falling on the earth, it drank their life-blood like a goblin.
"On the other hand, the Danavas, white as the clouds from which the rain hath dropped, possessing great strength and bold hearts, ascended the sky, and by hurling down thousands of mountains, continually harassed the gods. And those dreadful mountains, like masses of clouds, with their trees and flat tops, falling from the sky, collided with one another and produced a tremendous roar. And when thousands of warriors shouted without intermission in the field of battle and mountains with the woods thereon began to fall around, the earth with her forests trembled. Then the divine Nara appeared at the scene of the dreadful conflict between the Asuras and the Ganas (the followers of Rudra), and reducing to dust those rocks by means of his gold-headed arrows, he covered the heavens with dust. Thus discomfited by the gods, and seeing the furious discus scouring the fields of heaven like a blazing flame, the mighty Danavas entered the bowels of the earth, while others plunged into the sea of salt-waters.
"And having gained the victory, the gods offered due respect to Mandara and placed him again on his own base. And the nectar-bearing gods made the heavens resound with their shouts, and went to their own abodes. And the gods, on returning to the heavens, rejoiced greatly, and Indra
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and the other deities made over to Narayana the vessel of Amrita for careful keeping.'"
And so ends the nineteenth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva.

Book 1
Chapter 20

1 [sū]
      taṃ samudram atikramya kadrūr vinatayā saha
      nyapatat turagābhyāśe nacirād iva śīghragā
  2 niśāmya ca bahūn vālān kṛṣṇān pucchaṃ samāśritān
      vinatāṃ viṣaṇṇavadanāṃ kadrūr dāsye nyayojayat
  3 tataḥ sā vinatā tasmin paṇitena parājitā
      abhavad duḥkhasaṃtaptā dāsī bhāvaṃ samāsthitā
  4 etasminn antare caiva garuḍaḥ kāla āgate
      vinā mātrā mahātejā vidāryāṇḍam ajāyata
  5 agnirāśir ivodbhāsan samiddho 'ti bhayaṃkaraḥ
      pravṛddhaḥ sahasā pakṣī mahākāyo nabhogataḥ
  6 taṃ dṛṣṭvā śaraṇaṃ jagmuḥ prajāḥ sarvā vibhāvasum
      praṇipatyābruvaṃś cainam āsīnaṃ viśvarūpiṇam
  7 agne mā tvaṃ pravardhiṣṭhāḥ kac cin no na didhakṣasi
      asau hi rāśiḥ sumahān samiddhas tava sarpati
  8 [ā]
      naitad evaṃ yathā yūyaṃ manyadhvam asurārdanāḥ
      garuḍo balavān eṣa mama tulyaḥ svatejasā
  9 [sū]
      evam uktās tago gatvā garuḍaṃ vāgbhir astuvan
      adūrād abhyupetyainaṃ devāḥ sarṣigaṇās tadā
  10 tvam ṛṣis tvaṃ mahābhāgas tvaṃ devaḥ patageśvaraḥ
     tvaṃ prabhus tapana prakhyas tvaṃ nas trāṇam anuttamam
 11 balormimān sādhur adīnasattvaḥ; samṛddhimān duṣprasahas tvam eva
     tapaḥ śrutaṃ sarvam ahīna kīrte; anāgataṃ copagataṃ ca sarvam
 12 tvam uttamaḥ sarvam idaṃ carācaraṃ; gabhastibhir bhānur ivāvabhāsase
     samākṣipan bhānumataḥ prabhāṃ muhus; tvam antakaḥ sarvam idaṃ dhruvādhruvam
 13 divākaraḥ parikupito yathā dahet; prajās tathā dahasi hutāśanaprabha
     bhayaṃkaraḥ pralaya ivāgnir utthito; vināśayan yugaparivartanānta kṛt
 14 svageśvaraṃ śaraṇam upasthitā vayaṃ; mahaujasaṃ vitimiram abhragocaram
     mahābalaṃ garuḍam upetya khecaraṃ; parāvaraṃ varadam ajayya vikramam
 15 evaṃ stutaḥ suparṇas tu devaiḥ sarṣigaṇais tadā
     tejasaḥ pratisaṃhāram ātmanaḥ sa cakāra ha

SECTION XX

(Astika Parva continued)

"Sauti said, 'Thus have I recited to you the whole story of how Amrita was churned out of the Ocean, and the occasion on which the horse Uchchaihsravas of great beauty and incomparable prowess was obtained. It was this horse about which Kadru asked Vinata, saying, 'Tell me, amiable sister, without taking much time, of what colour Uchchaishravas is.' And Vinata answered, 'That prince of steeds is certainly white. What dost thou think, sister? Say thou what is its colour. Let us lay a wager upon it.' Kadru replied, then, 'O thou of sweet smiles. I think that horse is black in its tail. Beauteous one, bet with me that she who loseth will become the other's slave.'
'Sauti continued, 'Thus wagering with each other about menial service as a slave, the sisters went home, and resolved to satisfy themselves by examining the horse next day. And Kadru, bent upon practising a deception, ordered her thousand sons to transform themselves into black hair and speedily cover the horse's tail in order that she might not become a slave. But her sons, the snakes, refusing to do her bidding, she cursed them, saying, 'During the snake-sacrifice of the wise king Janamejaya of the Pandava race, Agni shall consume you all.' And the Grandsire (Brahman) himself heard this exceedingly cruel curse pronounced by Kadru, impelled by the fates. And seeing that the snakes had multiplied exceedingly, the Grandsire, moved by kind consideration for his creatures, sanctioned with all the gods this curse of Kadru. Indeed, as the snakes were of virulent poison, great prowess and excess of strength, and ever bent on biting other creatures, their mother's conduct towards them--those persecutors of all creatures,--was very proper for the good of all creatures. Fate always inflicts punishment of death on those who seek the death of other creatures. The gods, having exchanged such sentiments with one another, supported Kadru's action (and went away). And Brahman, calling Kasyapa to him, spake unto him these words, 'O thou pure one who overcomest all enemies, these snakes begotten by you, who are of virulent poison and huge bodies, and ever intent on biting other creatures, have been cursed by their mother. O son, do not grieve for it in the least. The destruction of the snakes in the sacrifice hath, indeed, been ordained long ago' Saying this, the divine Creator of the Universe comforted Kasyapa and imparted to that illustrious one the knowledge of neutralising poison."
And so ends the twentieth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva.

(My humble salutations to the lotus feet of Sreeman Brahmasree K M Ganguli ji for the collection)