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CHAPTER EIGHT

The Churning of the Milk Ocean

This chapter describes how the goddess of fortune appeared during the churning of the Ocean of Milk and how she accepted Lord Viṣṇu as her husband. As described later in the chapter, when Dhanvantari appeared with a pot of nectar the demons immediately snatched it from him, but Lord Viṣṇu appeared as the incarnation Mohinī, the most beautiful woman in the world, just to captivate the demons and save the nectar for the demigods.

After Lord Śiva drank all the poison, both the demigods and demons took courage and resumed their activities of churning. Because of this churning, first a surabhi cow was produced. Great saintly persons accepted this cow to derive clarified butter from its milk and offer this clarified butter in oblations for great sacrifices. Thereafter, a horse named Uccaiḥśravā was generated. This horse was taken by Bali Mahārāja. Then there appeared Airāvata and other elephants that could go anywhere in any direction, and she-elephants also appeared. The gem known as Kaustubha was also generated, and Lord Viṣṇu took that gem and placed it on His chest. Thereafter, a pārijāta flower and the Apsarās, the most beautiful women in the universe, were generated. Then the goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī, appeared. The demigods, great sages, Gandharvas and others offered her their respectful worship. The goddess of fortune could not find anyone to accept as her husband. At last she selected Lord Viṣṇu to be her master. Lord Viṣṇu gave her a place to stay everlastingly at His chest. Because of this combination of Lakṣmī and Nārāyaṇa, all who were present, including the demigods and people in general, were very pleased. The demons, however, being neglected by the goddess of fortune, were very depressed. Then Vāruṇī, the goddess of drinking, was generated, and by the order of Lord Viṣṇu the demons accepted her. Then the demons and demigods, with renewed energy, began to churn again. This time a partial incarnation of Lord Viṣṇu called Dhanvantari appeared. He was very beautiful, and he carried a jug containing nectar. The demons immediately snatched the jug from Dhanvantari’s hand and began to run away, and the demigods, being very morose, took shelter of Viṣṇu. After the demons snatched the jug from Dhanvantari, they began to fight among themselves. Lord Viṣṇu solaced the demigods, who therefore did not fight, but remained silent. While the fighting was going on among the demons, the Lord Himself appeared as the incarnation Mohinī, the most beautiful woman in the universe.

Devanagari

श्रीशुक उवाच
पीते गरे वृषाङ्केण प्रीतास्तेऽमरदानवा: ।
ममन्थुस्तरसा सिन्धुं हविर्धानी ततोऽभवत् ॥ १ ॥

Text

śrī-śuka uvāca
pīte gare vṛṣāṅkeṇa
prītās te ’mara-dānavāḥ
mamanthus tarasā sindhuṁ
havirdhānī tato ’bhavat

Synonyms

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; pīte — was drunk; gare — when the poison; vṛṣa-aṅkeṇa — by Lord Śiva, who sits on a bull; prītāḥ — being pleased; te — all of them; amara — the demigods; dānavāḥ — and the demons; mamanthuḥ — again began to churn; tarasā — with great force; sindhum — the Ocean of Milk; havirdhānī — the surabhi cow, who is the source of clarified butter; tataḥ — from that churning; abhavat — was generated.

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Upon Lord Śiva’s drinking the poison, both the demigods and the demons, being very pleased, began to churn the ocean with renewed vigor. As a result of this, there appeared a cow known as surabhi.

Purport

The surabhi cow is described as havirdhānī, the source of butter. Butter, when clarified by melting, produces ghee, or clarified butter, which is inevitably necessary for performing great ritualistic sacrifices. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (18.5), yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-karma na tyājyaṁ kāryam eva tat: sacrifice, charity and austerity are essential to keep human society perfect in peace and prosperity. Yajña, the performance of sacrifice, is essential; to perform yajña, clarified butter is absolutely necessary; and to get clarified butter, milk is necessary. Milk is produced when there are sufficient cows. Therefore in Bhagavad-gītā (18.44), cow protection is recommended (kṛṣi-go-rakṣya-vāṇijyaṁ vaiśya-karma svabhāva jam).

Devanagari

तामग्निहोत्रीमृषयो जगृहुर्ब्रह्मवादिन: ।
यज्ञस्य देवयानस्य मेध्याय हविषे नृप ॥ २ ॥

Text

tām agni-hotrīm ṛṣayo
jagṛhur brahma-vādinaḥ
yajñasya deva-yānasya
medhyāya haviṣe nṛpa

Synonyms

tām — that cow; agni-hotrīm — absolutely necessary for the production of yogurt, milk and ghee to offer as oblations in the fire; ṛṣayaḥ — sages who perform such sacrifices; jagṛhuḥ — took in charge; brahma-vādinaḥ — because such sages know the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies; yajñasya — of sacrifice; deva-yānasya — which fulfills the desire to be elevated to the higher planetary systems and to Brahmaloka; medhyāya — fit for offering oblations; haviṣe — for the sake of pure clarified butter; nṛpa — O King.

Translation

O King Parīkṣit, great sages who were completely aware of the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies took charge of that surabhi cow, which produced all the yogurt, milk and ghee absolutely necessary for offering oblations into the fire. They did this just for the sake of pure ghee, which they wanted for the performance of sacrifices to elevate themselves to the higher planetary systems, up to Brahmaloka.

Purport

Surabhi cows are generally found on the Vaikuṇṭha planets. As described in Brahma-saṁhitā, Lord Kṛṣṇa, on His planet, Goloka Vṛndāvana, engages in tending the surabhi cows (surabhīr abhipālayantam). These cows are the Lord’s pet animals. From the surabhi cows one can take as much milk as one needs, and one may milk these cows as many times as he desires. In other words, the surabhi cow can yield milk unlimitedly. Milk is necessary for the performance of yajña. Sages know how to use milk to elevate human society to the perfection of life. Since cow protection is recommended everywhere in the śāstras, the brahmāvādīs took charge of the surabhi cow, in which the demons were not very interested.

Devanagari

तत उच्चै:श्रवा नाम हयोऽभूच्चन्द्रपाण्डुर: ।
तस्मिन्बलि: स्पृहां चक्रे नेन्द्र ईश्वरशिक्षया ॥ ३ ॥

Text

tata uccaiḥśravā nāma
hayo ’bhūc candra-pāṇḍuraḥ
tasmin baliḥ spṛhāṁ cakre
nendra īśvara-śikṣayā

Synonyms

tataḥ — thereafter; uccaiḥśravāḥ nāma — by the name Uccaiḥśravā; hayaḥ — a horse; abhūt — was generated; candra-pāṇḍuraḥ — being as white as the moon; tasmin — unto it; baliḥ — Mahārāja Bali; spṛhām cakre — desired to possess; na — not; indraḥ — the King of the demigods; īśvara-śikṣayā — by the previous advice of the Lord.

Translation

Thereafter, a horse named Uccaiḥśravā, which was as white as the moon, was generated. Bali Mahārāja desired to possess this horse, and Indra, the King of heaven, did not protest, for he had previously been so advised by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Devanagari

तत ऐरावतो नाम वारणेन्द्रो विनिर्गत: ।
दन्तैश्चतुर्भि: श्वेताद्रेर्हरन्भगवतो महिम् ॥ ४ ॥

Text

tata airāvato nāma
vāraṇendro vinirgataḥ
dantaiś caturbhiḥ śvetādrer
haran bhagavato mahim

Synonyms

tataḥ — thereafter; airāvataḥ nāma — of the name Airāvata; vāraṇa-indraḥ — the king of elephants; vinirgataḥ — was generated; dantaiḥ — with its tusks; caturbhiḥ — four; śveta — white; adreḥ — of the mountain; haran — defying; bhagavataḥ — of Lord Śiva; mahim — the glories.

Translation

As the next result of the churning, the king of elephants, named Airāvata, was generated. This elephant was white, and with its four tusks it defied the glories of Kailāsa Mountain, the glorious abode of Lord Śiva.

Devanagari

ऐरावणादयस्त्वष्टौ दिग् गजा अभवंस्तत: ।
अभ्रमुप्रभृतयोऽष्टौ च करिण्यस्त्वभवन्नृप ॥ ५ ॥

Text

airāvaṇādayas tv aṣṭau
dig-gajā abhavaṁs tataḥ
abhramu-prabhṛtayo ’ṣṭau ca
kariṇyas tv abhavan nṛpa

Synonyms

airāvaṇa-ādayaḥ — headed by Airāvaṇa; tu — but; aṣṭau — eight; dik-gajāḥ — elephants that could go in any direction; abhavan — were generated; tataḥ — thereafter; abhramu-prabhṛtayaḥ — headed by the she-elephant named Abhramu; aṣṭau — eight; ca — also; kariṇyaḥ — female elephants; tu — indeed; abhavan — also generated; nṛpa — O King.

Translation

Thereafter, O King, eight great elephants, which could go in any direction, were generated. They were headed by Airāvaṇa. Eight she-elephants, headed by Abhramu, were also generated.

Purport

The names of the eight elephants were Airāvaṇa, Puṇḍarīka, Vāmana, Kumuda, Añjana, Puṣpadanta, Sārvabhauma and Supratīka.

Devanagari

कौस्तुभाख्यमभूद् रत्नं पद्मरागो महोदधे: ।
तस्मिन् मणौ स्पृहां चक्रे वक्षोऽलङ्करणे हरि: ।
ततोऽभवत् पारिजात: सुरलोकविभूषणम् ।
पूरयत्यर्थिनो योऽर्थै: शश्वद् भुवि यथा भवान् ॥ ६ ॥

Text

kaustubhākhyam abhūd ratnaṁ
padmarāgo mahodadheḥ
tasmin maṇau spṛhāṁ cakre
vakṣo-’laṅkaraṇe hariḥ
tato ’bhavat pārijātaḥ
sura-loka-vibhūṣaṇam
pūrayaty arthino yo ’rthaiḥ
śaśvad bhuvi yathā bhavān

Synonyms

kaustubha-ākhyam — known as Kaustubha; abhūt — was generated; ratnam — a valuable gem; padmarāgaḥ — another gem, named Padmarāga; mahā-udadheḥ — from that great Ocean of Milk; tasmin — that; maṇau — jewel; spṛhām cakre — desired to possess; vakṣaḥ-alaṅkaraṇe — to decorate His chest; hariḥ — the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tataḥ — thereafter; abhavat — was generated; pārijātaḥ — the celestial flower named pārijāta; sura-loka-vibhūṣaṇam — which decorates the heavenly planets; pūrayati — fulfills; arthinaḥ — giving persons desiring material wealth; yaḥ — that which; arthaiḥ — by what is desired; śaśvat — always; bhuvi — on this planet; yathā — as; bhavān — Your Lordship (Mahārāja Parīkṣit).

Translation

Generated thereafter from the great ocean were the celebrated gems Kaustubha-maṇi and Padmarāga-maṇi. Lord Viṣṇu, to decorate His chest, desired to possess them. Generated next was the pārijāta flower, which decorates the celestial planets. O King, as you fulfill the desires of everyone on this planet by fulfilling all ambitions, the pārijāta fulfills the desires of everyone.

Devanagari

ततश्चाप्सरसो जाता निष्ककण्ठ्य: सुवासस: ।
रमण्य: स्वर्गिणां वल्गुगतिलीलावलोकनै: ॥ ७ ॥

Text

tataś cāpsaraso jātā
niṣka-kaṇṭhyaḥ suvāsasaḥ
ramaṇyaḥ svargiṇāṁ valgu-
gati-līlāvalokanaiḥ

Synonyms

tataḥ — thereafter; ca — also; apsarasaḥ — the residents of Apsaroloka; jātāḥ — were generated; niṣka-kaṇṭhyaḥ — decorated with golden necklaces; su-vāsasaḥ — dressed with fine clothing; ramaṇyaḥ — extremely beautiful and attractive; svargiṇām — of the inhabitants of the heavenly planets; valgu-gati-līlā-avalokanaiḥ — moving very softly, they attract everyone’s heart.

Translation

Next there appeared the Apsarās [who are used as prostitutes on the heavenly planets]. They were fully decorated with golden ornaments and lockets and were dressed in fine and attractive clothing. The Apsarās move very slowly in an attractive style that bewilders the inhabitants of the heavenly planets.

Devanagari

ततश्चाविरभूत् साक्षाच्छ्री रमा भगवत्परा ।
रञ्जयन्ती दिश: कान्त्या विद्युत् सौदामनी यथा ॥ ८ ॥

Text

tataś cāvirabhūt sākṣāc
chrī ramā bhagavat-parā
rañjayantī diśaḥ kāntyā
vidyut saudāmanī yathā

Synonyms

tataḥ — thereafter; ca — and; āvirabhūt — manifested; sākṣāt — directly; śrī — the goddess of fortune; ramā — known as Ramā; bhagavat-parā — absolutely inclined to be possessed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; rañjayantī — illuminating; diśaḥ — all directions; kāntyā — by luster; vidyut — lightning; saudāmanī — Saudāmanī; yathā — as.

Translation

Then there appeared the goddess of fortune, Ramā, who is absolutely dedicated to being enjoyed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. She appeared like electricity, surpassing the lightning that might illuminate a marble mountain.

Purport

Śrī means opulence. Kṛṣṇa is the owner of all opulences.

bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ
sarva-loka-maheśvaram
suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ
jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati

This peace formula for the world is given in Bhagavad-gītā (5.29). When people know that the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa, is the supreme enjoyer, the supreme proprietor and the most intimate well-wishing friend of all living entities, peace and prosperity will ensue all over the world. Unfortunately, the conditioned souls, being placed into illusion by the external energy of the Lord, want to fight with one another, and therefore peace is disturbed. The first prerequisite for peace is that all the wealth presented by Śrī, the goddess of fortune, be offered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Everyone should give up his false proprietorship over worldly possessions and offer everything to Kṛṣṇa. This is the teaching of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.

Devanagari

तस्यां चक्रु: स्पृहां सर्वे ससुरासुरमानवा: ।
रूपौदार्यवयोवर्णमहिमाक्षिप्तचेतस: ॥ ९ ॥

Text

tasyāṁ cakruḥ spṛhāṁ sarve
sasurāsura-mānavāḥ
rūpaudārya-vayo-varṇa-
mahimākṣipta-cetasaḥ

Synonyms

tasyām — unto her; cakruḥ — did; spṛhām — desire; sarve — everyone; sa-sura-asura-mānavāḥ — the demigods, the demons and the human beings; rūpa-audārya — by the exquisite beauty and bodily features; vayaḥ — youth; varṇa — complexion; mahimā — glories; ākṣipta — agitated; cetasaḥ — their minds.

Translation

Because of her exquisite beauty, her bodily features, her youth, her complexion and her glories, everyone, including the demigods, the demons and the human beings, desired her. They were attracted because she is the source of all opulences.

Purport

Who in this world does not want to possess wealth, beauty and the social respectability that come from these opulences? People generally desire material enjoyment, material opulence and the association of aristocratic family members (bhogaiśvarya-prasaktānām). Material enjoyment entails money, beauty and the reputation they bring, which can all be achieved by the mercy of the goddess of fortune. The goddess of fortune, however, never remains alone. As indicated in the previous verse by the word bhagavat-parā, she is the property of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and is enjoyable only by Him. If one wants the favor of the goddess of fortune, mother Lakṣmī, because she is by nature bhagavat-parā one must keep her with Nārāyaṇa. The devotees who always engage in the service of Nārāyaṇa (nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇa) can easily achieve the favor of the goddess of fortune without a doubt, but materialists who try to get the favor of the goddess of fortune only to possess her for personal enjoyment are frustrated. Theirs is not a good policy. The celebrated demon Rāvaṇa, for example, wanted to deprive Rāmacandra of Lakṣmī, Sītā, and thus be victorious, but the result was just the opposite. Sītā, of course, was taken by force by Lord Rāmacandra, and Rāvaṇa and his entire material empire were vanquished. The goddess of fortune is desirable for everyone, including human beings, but one should understand that the goddess of fortune is the exclusive property of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One cannot achieve the mercy of the goddess of fortune unless one prays both to her and to the supreme enjoyer, the Personality of Godhead.

Devanagari

तस्या आसनमानिन्ये महेन्द्रो महदद्भ‍ुतम् ।
मूर्तिमत्य: सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा हेमकुम्भैर्जलं शुचि ॥ १० ॥

Text

tasyā āsanam āninye
mahendro mahad-adbhutam
mūrtimatyaḥ saric-chreṣṭhā
hema-kumbhair jalaṁ śuci

Synonyms

tasyāḥ — for her; āsanam — a sitting place; āninye — brought; mahā-indraḥ — the King of heaven, Indra; mahat — glorious; adbhutam — wonderful; mūrti-matyaḥ — accepting forms; sarit-śreṣṭhāḥ — the best of various sacred waters; hema — golden; kumbhaiḥ — with waterpots; jalam — water; śuci — pure.

Translation

The King of heaven, Indra, brought a suitable sitting place for the goddess of fortune. All the rivers of sacred water, such as the Ganges and Yamunā, personified themselves, and each of them brought pure water in golden waterpots for mother Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune.

Devanagari

आभिषेचनिका भूमिराहरत् सकलौषधी: ।
गाव: पञ्च पवित्राणि वसन्तो मधुमाधवौ ॥ ११ ॥

Text

ābhiṣecanikā bhūmir
āharat sakalauṣadhīḥ
gāvaḥ pañca pavitrāṇi
vasanto madhu-mādhavau

Synonyms

ābhiṣecanikāḥ — paraphernalia required for installing the Deity; bhūmiḥ — the land; āharat — collected; sakala — all kinds of; auṣadhīḥ — drugs and herbs; gāvaḥ — the cows; pañca — five different varieties of products from the cow, namely milk, yogurt, clarified butter, cow dung and cow urine; pavitrāṇi — uncontaminated; vasantaḥ — personified springtime; madhu-mādhavau — flowers and fruits produced during spring, or in the months of Caitra and Vaiśākha.

Translation

The land became a person and collected all the drugs and herbs needed for installing the Deity. The cows delivered five products, namely milk, yogurt, ghee, urine and cow dung, and spring personified collected everything produced in spring, during the months of Caitra and Vaiśākha [April and May].

Purport

Pañca-gavya, the five products received from the cow, namely milk, yogurt, ghee, cow dung and cow urine, are required in all ritualistic ceremonies performed according to the Vedic directions. Cow urine and cow dung are uncontaminated, and since even the urine and dung of a cow are important, we can just imagine how important this animal is for human civilization. Therefore the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, directly advocates go-rakṣya, the protection of cows. Civilized men who follow the system of varṇāśrama, especially those of the vaiśya class, who engage in agriculture and trade, must give protection to the cows. Unfortunately, because people in Kali-yuga are mandāḥ, all bad, and sumanda-matayaḥ, misled by false conceptions of life, they are killing cows in the thousands. Therefore they are unfortunate in spiritual consciousness, and nature disturbs them in so many ways, especially through incurable diseases like cancer and through frequent wars among nations. As long as human society continues to allow cows to be regularly killed in slaughterhouses, there cannot be any question of peace and prosperity.

Devanagari

ऋषय: कल्पयांचक्रुराभिषेकं यथाविधि ।
जगुर्भद्राणि गन्धर्वा नट्यश्च ननृतुर्जगु: ॥ १२ ॥

Text

ṛṣayaḥ kalpayāṁ cakrur
ābhiṣekaṁ yathā-vidhi
jagur bhadrāṇi gandharvā
naṭyaś ca nanṛtur jaguḥ

Synonyms

ṛṣayaḥ — the great sages; kalpayām cakruḥ — executed; ābhiṣekam — the abhiṣeka ceremony, which is required during the installation of the Deity; yathā-vidhi — as directed in the authorized scriptures; jaguḥ — chanted Vedic mantras; bhadrāṇi — all good fortune; gandharvāḥ — and the inhabitants of Gandharvaloka; naṭyaḥ — the women who were professional dancers; ca — also; nanṛtuḥ — very nicely danced on the occasion; jaguḥ — and sang authorized songs prescribed in the Vedas.

Translation

The great sages performed the bathing ceremony of the goddess of fortune as directed in the authorized scriptures, the Gandharvas chanted all-auspicious Vedic mantras, and the professional women dancers very nicely danced and sang authorized songs prescribed in the Vedas.

Devanagari

मेघा मृदङ्गपणवमुरजानकगोमुखान् ।
व्यनादयन् शङ्खवेणुवीणास्तुमुलनि:स्वनान् ॥ १३ ॥

Text

meghā mṛdaṅga-paṇava-
murajānaka-gomukhān
vyanādayan śaṅkha-veṇu-
vīṇās tumula-niḥsvanān

Synonyms

meghāḥ — personified clouds; mṛdaṅga — drums; paṇava — kettledrums; muraja — another kind of drum; ānaka — another type of drum; gomukhān — a type of bugle; vyanādayan — vibrated; śaṅkha — conchshells; veṇu — flutes; vīṇāḥ — stringed instruments; tumula — tumultuous; niḥsvanān — vibration.

Translation

The clouds in personified form beat various types of drums, known as mṛdaṅgas, paṇavas, murajas and ānakas. They also blew conchshells and bugles known as gomukhas and played flutes and stringed instruments. The combined sound of these instruments was tumultuous.

Devanagari

ततोऽभिषिषिचुर्देवीं श्रियं पद्मकरां सतीम् ।
दिगिभा: पूर्णकलशै: सूक्तवाक्यैर्द्विजेरितै: ॥ १४ ॥

Text

tato ’bhiṣiṣicur devīṁ
śriyaṁ padma-karāṁ satīm
digibhāḥ pūrṇa-kalaśaiḥ
sūkta-vākyair dvijeritaiḥ

Synonyms

tataḥ — thereafter; abhiṣiṣicuḥ — poured all-auspicious water on the body; devīm — the goddess of fortune; śriyam — very beautiful; padma-karām — with a lotus in her hand; satīm — she who is most chaste, not knowing anyone but the Supreme Personality of Godhead; digibhāḥ — the great elephants; pūrṇa-kalaśaiḥ — by completely full water jugs; sūkta-vākyaiḥ — with Vedic mantras; dvi-ja — by brāhmaṇas; īritaiḥ — chanted.

Translation

Thereafter, the great elephants from all the directions carried big water jugs full of Ganges water and bathed the goddess of fortune, to the accompaniment of Vedic mantras chanted by learned brāhmaṇas. While thus being bathed, the goddess of fortune maintained her original style, with a lotus flower in her hand, and she appeared very beautiful. The goddess of fortune is the most chaste, for she does not know anyone but the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Purport

The goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī, is described in this verse as śriyam, which means that she has six opulences — wealth, strength, influence, beauty, knowledge and renunciation. These opulences are received from the goddess of fortune. Lakṣmī is addressed here as devī, the goddess, because in Vaikuṇṭha she supplies all opulences to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His devotees, who in this way enjoy natural life in the Vaikuṇṭha planets. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is pleased with His consort, the goddess of fortune, who carries a lotus flower in her hand. Mother Lakṣmī is described in this verse as satī, the supremely chaste, because she never diverts her attention from the Supreme Personality of Godhead to anyone else.

Devanagari

समुद्र: पीतकौशेयवाससी समुपाहरत् ।
वरुण: स्रजं वैजयन्तीं मधुना मत्तषट्पदाम् ॥ १५ ॥

Text

samudraḥ pīta-kauśeya-
vāsasī samupāharat
varuṇaḥ srajaṁ vaijayantīṁ
madhunā matta-ṣaṭpadām

Synonyms

samudraḥ — the ocean; pīta-kauśeya — yellow silk; vāsasī — both the upper and lower portions of a garment; samupāharat — presented; varuṇaḥ — the predominating deity of the water; srajam — garland; vaijayantīm — the most decorated and the biggest; madhunā — with honey; matta — drunken; ṣaṭ-padām — bumblebees, which have six legs.

Translation

The ocean, which is the source of all valuable jewels, supplied the upper and lower portions of a yellow silken garment. The predominating deity of the water, Varuṇa, presented flower garlands surrounded by six-legged bumblebees, drunken with honey.

Purport

When bathing the Deity in the abhiṣeka ceremony with various liquids, such as milk, honey, yogurt, ghee, cow dung and cow urine, it is customary to supply yellow garments. In this way the abhiṣeka ceremony for the goddess of fortune was performed according to the regular Vedic principles.

Devanagari

भूषणानि विचित्राणि विश्वकर्मा प्रजापति: ।
हारं सरस्वती पद्ममजो नागाश्च कुण्डले ॥ १६ ॥

Text

bhūṣaṇāni vicitrāṇi
viśvakarmā prajāpatiḥ
hāraṁ sarasvatī padmam
ajo nāgāś ca kuṇḍale

Synonyms

bhūṣaṇāni — varieties of ornaments; vicitrāṇi — all very nicely decorated; viśvakarmā prajāpatiḥ — Viśvakarmā, one of the prajāpatis, the sons of Lord Brahmā who generate progeny; hāram — garland or necklace; sarasvatī — the goddess of education; padmam — a lotus flower; ajaḥ — Lord Brahmā; nāgāḥ ca — the inhabitants of Nāgaloka; kuṇḍale — two earrings.

Translation

Viśvakarmā, one of the prajāpatis, supplied varieties of decorated ornaments. The goddess of learning, Sarasvatī, supplied a necklace, Lord Brahmā supplied a lotus flower, and the inhabitants of Nāgaloka supplied earrings.

Devanagari

तत: कृतस्वस्त्ययनोत्पलस्रजं
नदद्‌द्विरेफां परिगृह्य पाणिना ।
चचाल वक्त्रं सुकपोलकुण्डलं
सव्रीडहासं दधती सुशोभनम् ॥ १७ ॥

Text

tataḥ kṛta-svastyayanotpala-srajaṁ
nadad-dvirephāṁ parigṛhya pāṇinā
cacāla vaktraṁ sukapola-kuṇḍalaṁ
savrīḍa-hāsaṁ dadhatī suśobhanam

Synonyms

tataḥ — thereafter; kṛta-svastyayanā — being worshiped regularly by all-auspicious ritualistic ceremonies; utpala-srajam — a garland of lotuses; nadat — humming; dvirephām — surrounded by bumblebees; parigṛhya — capturing; pāṇinā — by the hand; cacāla — went on; vaktram — face; su-kapola-kuṇḍalam — her cheeks decorated with earrings; sa-vrīḍa-hāsam — smiling with shyness; dadhatī — expanding; su-śobhanam — her natural beauty.

Translation

Thereafter, mother Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, having been properly celebrated with an auspicious ritualistic ceremony, began moving about, holding in her hand a garland of lotus flowers, which were surrounded by humming bumblebees. Smiling with shyness, her cheeks decorated by her earrings, she looked extremely beautiful.

Purport

The goddess of fortune, mother Lakṣmījī, accepted the Ocean of Milk as her father, but she perpetually rests on the bosom of Nārāyaṇa. She offers benedictions even to Lord Brahmā and other living entities in this material world, yet she is transcendental to all material qualities. Although she appeared to have been born of the Ocean of Milk, she immediately resorted to her eternal place on the bosom of Nārāyaṇa.

Devanagari

स्तनद्वयं चातिकृशोदरी समं
निरन्तरं चन्दनकुङ्कुमोक्षितम् ।
ततस्ततो नूपुरवल्गुशिञ्जितै-
र्विसर्पती हेमलतेव सा बभौ ॥ १८ ॥

Text

stana-dvayaṁ cātikṛśodarī samaṁ
nirantaraṁ candana-kuṅkumokṣitam
tatas tato nūpura-valgu śiñjitair
visarpatī hema-lateva sā babhau

Synonyms

stana-dvayam — her two breasts; ca — also; ati-kṛśa-udarī — the middle portion of her body being very thin; samam — equally; nirantaram — constantly; candana-kuṅkuma — with sandalwood pulp and kuṅkuma, a reddish powder; ukṣitam — smeared; tataḥ tataḥ — here and there; nūpura — of ankle bells; valgu — very beautiful; śiñjitaiḥ — with the light resounding; visarpatī — walking; hema-latā — a golden creeper; iva — exactly like; — the goddess of fortune; babhau — appeared.

Translation

Her two breasts, which were symmetrical and nicely situated, were covered with sandalwood pulp and kuṅkuma powder, and her waist was very thin. As she walked here and there, her ankle bells jingling softly, she appeared like a creeper of gold.

Devanagari

विलोकयन्ती निरवद्यमात्मन:
पदं ध्रुवं चाव्यभिचारिसद्गुणम् ।
गन्धर्वसिद्धासुरयक्षचारण-
त्रैपिष्टपेयादिषु नान्वविन्दत ॥ १९ ॥

Text

vilokayantī niravadyam ātmanaḥ
padaṁ dhruvaṁ cāvyabhicāri-sad-guṇam
gandharva-siddhāsura-yakṣa-cāraṇa-
traipiṣṭapeyādiṣu nānvavindata

Synonyms

vilokayantī — observing, examining; niravadyam — without any fault; ātmanaḥ — for herself; padam — position; dhruvam — eternal; ca — also; avyabhicāri-sat-guṇam — without any change of qualities; gandharva — among the inhabitants of Gandharvaloka; siddha — the inhabitants of Siddhaloka; asura — the demons; yakṣa — the Yakṣas; cāraṇa — the inhabitants of Cāraṇaloka; traipiṣṭapeya-ādiṣu — and among the demigods; na — not; anvavindata — could accept any one of them.

Translation

While walking among the Gandharvas, Yakṣas, asuras, Siddhas, Cāraṇas and denizens of heaven, Lakṣmīdevī, the goddess of fortune, was scrutinizingly examining them, but she could not find anyone naturally endowed with all good qualities. None of them was devoid of faults, and therefore she could not take shelter of any of them.

Purport

The goddess of fortune, Lakṣmīdevī, having been generated from the Ocean of Milk, was the daughter of the ocean. Thus she was allowed to select her own husband in a svayaṁvara ceremony. She examined every one of the candidates, but she could not find anyone suitably qualified to be her shelter. In other words, Nārāyaṇa, the natural husband of Lakṣmī, cannot be superseded by anyone in this material world.

Devanagari

नूनं तपो यस्य न मन्युनिर्जयो
ज्ञानं क्‍वचित् तच्च न सङ्गवर्जितम् ।
कश्चिन्महांस्तस्य न कामनिर्जय:
स ईश्वर: किं परतोव्यपाश्रय: ॥ २० ॥

Text

nūnaṁ tapo yasya na manyu-nirjayo
jñānaṁ kvacit tac ca na saṅga-varjitam
kaścin mahāṁs tasya na kāma-nirjayaḥ
sa īśvaraḥ kiṁ parato vyapāśrayaḥ

Synonyms

nūnam — certainly; tapaḥ — austerity; yasya — of someone; na — not; manyu — anger; nirjayaḥ — conquered; jñānam — knowledge; kvacit — in some saintly person; tat — that; ca — also; na — not; saṅga-varjitam — without the contamination of association; kaścit — someone; mahān — a very great exalted person; tasya — his; na — not; kāma — material desires; nirjayaḥ — conquered; saḥ — such a person; īśvaraḥ — controller; kim — how can he be; parataḥ — of others; vyapāśrayaḥ — under the control.

Translation

The goddess of fortune, examining the assembly, thought in this way: Someone who has undergone great austerity has not yet conquered anger. Someone possesses knowledge, but he has not conquered material desires. Someone is a very great personality, but he cannot conquer lusty desires. Even a great personality depends on something else. How, then, can he be the supreme controller?

Purport

Here is an attempt to find the supreme controller, or īśvara. Everyone may be accepted as an īśvara, or controller, but still such controllers are controlled by others. For example, one may have undergone severe austerities but still be under the control of anger. By a scrutinizing analysis, we find that everyone is controlled by something else. No one, therefore, can be the true controller but the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. This is supported by the śāstras. Īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ: the supreme controller is Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is never controlled by anyone, for He is the controller of everyone (sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam).

Devanagari

धर्म: क्‍वचित् तत्र न भूतसौहृदं
त्याग: क्‍वचित् तत्र न मुक्तिकारणम् ।
वीर्यं न पुंसोऽस्त्यजवेगनिष्कृतं
न हि द्वितीयो गुणसङ्गवर्जित: ॥ २१ ॥

Text

dharmaḥ kvacit tatra na bhūta-sauhṛdaṁ
tyāgaḥ kvacit tatra na mukti-kāraṇam
vīryaṁ na puṁso ’sty aja-vega-niṣkṛtaṁ
na hi dvitīyo guṇa-saṅga-varjitaḥ

Synonyms

dharmaḥ — religion; kvacit — one may have full knowledge of; tatra — therein; na — not; bhūta-sauhṛdam — friendship with other living entities; tyāgaḥ — renunciation; kvacit — one may possess; tatra — therein; na — not; mukti-kāraṇam — the cause of liberation; vīryam — power; na — not; puṁsaḥ — of any person; asti — there may be; aja-vega-niṣkṛtam — no release from the power of time; na — nor; hi — indeed; dvitīyaḥ — the second one; guṇa-saṅga-varjitaḥ — completely freed from the contamination of the modes of nature.

Translation

Someone may possess full knowledge of religion but still not be kind to all living entities. In someone, whether human or demigod, there may be renunciation, but that is not the cause of liberation. Someone may possess great power and yet be unable to check the power of eternal time. Someone else may have renounced attachment to the material world, yet he cannot compare to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, no one is completely freed from the influence of the material modes of nature.

Purport

The statement dharmaḥ kvacit tatra na bhūta-sauhṛdam is very important in this verse. We actually see that there are many Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and religionists of other cults who adhere to their religious principles very nicely but are not equal to all living entities. Indeed, although they profess to be very religious, they kill poor animals. Such religion has no meaning. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.8) says:

dharmaḥ svanuṣṭhitaḥ puṁsāṁ
viṣvaksena-kathāsu yaḥ
notpādayed yadi ratiṁ
śrama eva hi kevalam

One may be very expert in following the religious principles of his own sect, but if he has no tendency to love the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his observance of religious principles is simply a waste of time. One must develop a sense of loving Vāsudeva (vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ). The sign of a devotee is that he is a friend to everyone (suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānām). A devotee will never allow a poor animal to be killed in the name of religion. This is the difference between a superficially religious person and a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

We find that there have been many great heroes in history, but they could not escape from the cruel hands of death. Even the greatest hero cannot escape from the ruling power of the Supreme Personality of Godhead when Kṛṣṇa comes as death. That is described by Kṛṣṇa Himself: mṛtyuḥ sarva-haraś cāham. The Lord, appearing as death, takes away a hero’s so-called power. Even Hiraṇyakaśipu could not be saved when Nṛsiṁhadeva appeared before him as death. One’s material strength is nothing before the strength of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Devanagari

क्‍वचिच्चिरायुर्न हि शीलमङ्गलं
क्‍वचित् तदप्यस्ति न वेद्यमायुष: ।
यत्रोभयं कुत्र च सोऽप्यमङ्गल:
सुमङ्गल: कश्च न काङ्‌क्षते हि माम् ॥ २२ ॥

Text

kvacic cirāyur na hi śīla-maṅgalaṁ
kvacit tad apy asti na vedyam āyuṣaḥ
yatrobhayaṁ kutra ca so ’py amaṅgalaḥ
sumaṅgalaḥ kaśca na kāṅkṣate hi mām

Synonyms

kvacit — someone; cira-āyuḥ — has a long duration of life; na — not; hi — indeed; śīla-maṅgalam — good behavior or auspiciousness; kvacit — someone; tat api — although possessing good behavior; asti — is; na — not; vedyam āyuṣaḥ — aware of the duration of life; yatra ubhayam — if there are both (behavior and auspiciousness); kutra — somewhere; ca — also; saḥ — that person; api — although; amaṅgalaḥ — a little inauspicious in some other detail; su-maṅgalaḥ — auspicious in every respect; kaśca — someone; na — not; kāṅkṣate — desires; hi — indeed; mām — me.

Translation

Someone may have longevity but not have auspiciousness or good behavior. Someone may have both auspiciousness and good behavior, but the duration of his life is not fixed. Although such demigods as Lord Śiva have eternal life, they have inauspicious habits like living in crematoriums. And even if others are well qualified in all respects, they are not devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Devanagari

एवं विमृश्याव्यभिचारिसद्गुणै-
र्वरं निजैकाश्रयतयागुणाश्रयम् ।
वव्रे वरं सर्वगुणैरपेक्षितं
रमा मुकुन्दं निरपेक्षमीप्सितम् ॥ २३ ॥

Text

evaṁ vimṛśyāvyabhicāri-sad-guṇair
varaṁ nijaikāśrayatayāguṇāśrayam
vavre varaṁ sarva-guṇair apekṣitaṁ
ramā mukundaṁ nirapekṣam īpsitam

Synonyms

evam — in this way; vimṛśya — after full deliberation; avyabhicāri-sat-guṇaiḥ — with extraordinary transcendental qualities; varam — superior; nija-eka-āśrayatayā — because of possessing all good qualities without depending on others; aguṇa-āśrayam — the reservoir of all transcendental qualities; vavre — accepted; varam — as a bridegroom; sarva-guṇaiḥ — with all transcendental qualities; apekṣitam — qualified; ramā — the goddess of fortune; mukundam — unto Mukunda; nirapekṣam — although He did not wait for her; īpsitam — the most desirable.

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: In this way, after full deliberation, the goddess of fortune accepted Mukunda as her husband because although He is independent and not in want of her, He possesses all transcendental qualities and mystic powers and is therefore the most desirable.

Purport

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Mukunda, is self-sufficient. Since He is fully independent, He was not in want of the support or association of Lakṣmīdevī. Nonetheless, Lakṣmīdevī, the goddess of fortune, accepted Him as her husband.

Devanagari

तस्यांसदेश उशतीं नवकञ्जमालां
माद्यन्मधुव्रतवरूथगिरोपघुष्टाम् ।
तस्थौ निधाय निकटे तदुर: स्वधाम
सव्रीडहासविकसन्नयनेन याता ॥ २४ ॥

Text

tasyāṁsa-deśa uśatīṁ nava-kañja-mālāṁ
mādyan-madhuvrata-varūtha-giropaghuṣṭām
tasthau nidhāya nikaṭe tad-uraḥ sva-dhāma
savrīḍa-hāsa-vikasan-nayanena yātā

Synonyms

tasya — of Him (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); aṁsa-deśe — on the shoulders; uśatīm — very beautiful; nava — new; kañja-mālām — garland of lotus flowers; mādyat — maddened; madhuvrata-varūtha — of bumblebees; girā — with the vibrating; upaghuṣṭām — surrounded by their humming; tasthau — remained; nidhāya — after placing the garland; nikaṭe — nearby; tat-uraḥ — the bosom of the Lord; sva-dhāma — her real resort; sa-vrīḍa-hāsa — smiling with shyness; vikasat — glittering; nayanena — with the eyes; yātā — so situated.

Translation

Approaching the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the goddess of fortune placed upon His shoulders the garland of newly grown lotus flowers, which was surrounded by humming bumblebees searching for honey. Then, expecting to get a place on the bosom of the Lord, she remained standing by His side, her face smiling in shyness.

Devanagari

तस्या: श्रियस्त्रिजगतो जनको जनन्या
वक्षोनिवासमकरोत् परमं विभूते: ।
श्री: स्वा: प्रजा: सकरुणेन निरीक्षणेन
यत्र स्थितैधयत साधिपतींस्त्रिलोकान् ॥ २५ ॥

Text

tasyāḥ śriyas tri-jagato janako jananyā
vakṣo nivāsam akarot paramaṁ vibhūteḥ
śrīḥ svāḥ prajāḥ sakaruṇena nirīkṣaṇena
yatra sthitaidhayata sādhipatīṁs tri-lokān

Synonyms

tasyāḥ — of her; śriyaḥ — the goddess of fortune; tri-jagataḥ — of the three worlds; janakaḥ — the father; jananyāḥ — of the mother; vakṣaḥ — bosom; nivāsam — residence; akarot — made; paramam — supreme; vibhūteḥ — of the opulent; śrīḥ — the goddess of fortune; svāḥ — own; prajāḥ — descendants; sa-karuṇena — with favorable mercy; nirīkṣaṇena — by glancing over; yatra — wherein; sthitā — staying; aidhayata — increased; sa-adhipatīn — with the great directors and leaders; tri-lokān — the three worlds.

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the father of the three worlds, and His bosom is the residence of mother Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, the proprietor of all opulences. The goddess of fortune, by her favorable and merciful glance, can increase the opulence of the three worlds, along with their inhabitants and their directors, the demigods.

Purport

According to the desire of Lakṣmīdevī, the goddess of fortune, the Supreme Personality of Godhead made His bosom her residence so that by her glance she could favor everyone, including the demigods and ordinary human beings. In other words, since the goddess of fortune stays on the bosom of Nārāyaṇa, she naturally sees any devotee who worships Nārāyaṇa. When the goddess of fortune understands that a devotee is in favor of devotional service to Nārāyaṇa, she is naturally inclined to bless the devotee with all opulences. The karmīs try to receive the favor and mercy of Lakṣmī, but because they are not devotees of Nārāyaṇa, their opulence is flickering. The opulence of devotees who are attached to the service of Nārāyaṇa is not like the opulence of karmīs. The opulence of devotees is as permanent as the opulence of Nārāyaṇa Himself.

Devanagari

शङ्खतूर्यमृदङ्गानां वादित्राणां पृथु: स्वन: ।
देवानुगानां सस्त्रीणां नृत्यतां गायतामभूत् ॥ २६ ॥

Text

śaṅkha-tūrya-mṛdaṅgānāṁ
vāditrāṇāṁ pṛthuḥ svanaḥ
devānugānāṁ sastrīṇāṁ
nṛtyatāṁ gāyatām abhūt

Synonyms

śaṅkha — conchshells; tūrya — bugles; mṛdaṅgānām — and of different types of drums; vāditrāṇām — of the musical instruments; pṛthuḥ — very great; svanaḥ — sound; deva-anugānām — the inhabitants of the upper planets like the Gandharvas and Cāraṇas, who follow the demigods; sa-strīṇām — as along with their own wives; nṛtyatām — engaged in dancing; gāyatām — singing; abhūt — became.

Translation

The inhabitants of Gandharvaloka and Cāraṇaloka then took the opportunity to play their musical instruments, such as conchshells, bugles and drums. They began dancing and singing along with their wives.

Devanagari

ब्रह्मरुद्राङ्गिरोमुख्या: सर्वे विश्वसृजो विभुम् ।
ईडिरेऽवितथैर्मन्त्रैस्तल्ल‍िङ्गै: पुष्पवर्षिण: ॥ २७ ॥

Text

brahma-rudrāṅgiro-mukhyāḥ
sarve viśva-sṛjo vibhum
īḍire ’vitathair mantrais
tal-liṅgaiḥ puṣpa-varṣiṇaḥ

Synonyms

brahma — Lord Brahmā; rudra — Lord Śiva; aṅgiraḥ — the great sage Aṅgirā Muni; mukhyāḥ — headed by; sarve — all of them; viśva-sṛjaḥ — the directors of universal management; vibhum — the very great personality; īḍire — worshiped; avitathaiḥ — real; mantraiḥ — by chanting; tat-liṅgaiḥ — worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead; puṣpa-varṣiṇaḥ — throwing flowers like showers.

Translation

Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva, the great sage Aṅgirā, and similar directors of universal management showered flowers and chanted mantras indicating the transcendental glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Devanagari

श्रियावलोकिता देवा: सप्रजापतय: प्रजा: ।
शीलादिगुणसम्पन्ना लेभिरे निर्वृतिं पराम् ॥ २८ ॥

Text

śriyāvalokitā devāḥ
saprajāpatayaḥ prajāḥ
śīlādi-guṇa-sampannā
lebhire nirvṛtiṁ parām

Synonyms

śriyā — by the goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī; avalokitāḥ — being seen favorably with mercy; devāḥ — all the demigods; sa-prajāpatayaḥ — with all the prajāpatis; prajāḥ — and their generations; śīla-ādi-guṇa-sampannāḥ — all blessed with good behavior and good characteristics; lebhire — achieved; nirvṛtim — satisfaction; parām — the ultimate.

Translation

All the demigods, along with the prajāpatis and their descendants, being blessed by Lakṣmījī’s glance upon them, were immediately enriched with good behavior and transcendental qualities. Thus they were very much satisfied.

Devanagari

नि:सत्त्वा लोलुपा राजन् निरुद्योगा गतत्रपा: ।
यदा चोपेक्षिता लक्ष्म्या बभूवुर्दैत्यदानवा: ॥ २९ ॥

Text

niḥsattvā lolupā rājan
nirudyogā gata-trapāḥ
yadā copekṣitā lakṣmyā
babhūvur daitya-dānavāḥ

Synonyms

niḥsattvāḥ — without strength; lolupāḥ — very greedy; rājan — O King; nirudyogāḥ — frustrated; gata-trapāḥ — shameless; yadā — when; ca — also; upekṣitāḥ — neglected; lakṣmyā — by the goddess of fortune; babhūvuḥ — they became; daitya-dānavāḥ — the demons and Rākṣasas.

Translation

O King, because of being neglected by the goddess of fortune, the demons and Rākṣasas were depressed, bewildered and frustrated, and thus they became shameless.

Devanagari

अथासीद् वारुणी देवी कन्या कमललोचना ।
असुरा जगृहुस्तां वै हरेरनुमतेन ते ॥ ३० ॥

Text

athāsīd vāruṇī devī
kanyā kamala-locanā
asurā jagṛhus tāṁ vai
harer anumatena te

Synonyms

atha — thereafter (after the appearance of the goddess of fortune); āsīt — there was; vāruṇī — Vāruṇī; devī — the demigoddess who controls drunkards; kanyā — a young girl; kamala-locanā — lotus-eyed; asurāḥ — the demons; jagṛhuḥ — accepted; tām — her; vai — indeed; hareḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; anumatena — by the order; te — they (the demons).

Translation

Next appeared Vāruṇī, the lotus-eyed goddess who controls drunkards. With the permission of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, the demons, headed by Bali Mahārāja, took possession of this young girl.

Devanagari

अथोदधेर्मथ्यमानात् काश्यपैरमृतार्थिभि: ।
उदतिष्ठन्महाराज पुरुष: परमाद्भ‍ुत: ॥ ३१ ॥

Text

athodadher mathyamānāt
kāśyapair amṛtārthibhiḥ
udatiṣṭhan mahārāja
puruṣaḥ paramādbhutaḥ

Synonyms

atha — thereafter; udadheḥ — from the Ocean of Milk; mathyamānāt — while being churned; kāśyapaiḥ — by the sons of Kaśyapa, namely the demigods and the demons; amṛta-arthibhiḥ — anxious to get nectar from the churning; udatiṣṭhat — there appeared; mahārāja — O King; puruṣaḥ — a male person; parama — highly; adbhutaḥ — wonderful.

Translation

O King, thereafter, while the sons of Kaśyapa, both demons and demigods, were engaged in churning the Ocean of Milk, a very wonderful male person appeared.

Devanagari

दीर्घपीवरदोर्दण्ड: कम्बुग्रीवोऽरुणेक्षण: ।
श्यामलस्तरुण: स्रग्वी सर्वाभरणभूषित: ॥ ३२ ॥

Text

dīrgha-pīvara-dor-daṇḍaḥ
kambu-grīvo ’ruṇekṣaṇaḥ
śyāmalas taruṇaḥ sragvī
sarvābharaṇa-bhūṣitaḥ

Synonyms

dīrgha — long; pīvara — stout and strong; doḥ-daṇḍaḥ — the arms; kambu — like a conchshell; grīvaḥ — the neck; aruṇa-īkṣaṇaḥ — reddish eyes; śyāmalaḥ — blackish complexion; taruṇaḥ — very young; sragvī — wearing a flower garland; sarva — all; ābharaṇa — with ornaments; bhūṣitaḥ — decorated.

Translation

He was strongly built; his arms were long, stout and strong; his neck, which was marked with three lines, resembled a conchshell; his eyes were reddish; and his complexion was blackish. He was very young, he was garlanded with flowers, and his entire body was fully decorated with various ornaments.

Devanagari

पीतवासा महोरस्क: सुमृष्टमणिकुण्डल: ।
स्‍निग्धकुञ्चितकेशान्तसुभग: सिंहविक्रम: ।
अमृतापूर्णकलसं बिभ्रद् वलयभूषित: ॥ ३३ ॥

Text

pīta-vāsā mahoraskaḥ
sumṛṣṭa-maṇi-kuṇḍalaḥ
snigdha-kuñcita-keśānta-
subhagaḥ siṁha-vikramaḥ
amṛtāpūrṇa-kalasaṁ
bibhrad valaya-bhūṣitaḥ

Synonyms

pīta-vāsāḥ — wearing yellow garments; mahā-uraskaḥ — his chest very broad; su-mṛṣṭa-maṇi-kuṇḍalaḥ — whose earrings were well polished and made of pearls; snigdha — polished; kuñcita-keśa — curling hair; anta — at the end; su-bhagaḥ — separated and beautiful; siṁha-vikramaḥ — strong like a lion; amṛta — with nectar; āpūrṇa — filled to the top; kalasam — a jar; bibhrat — moving; valaya — with bangles; bhūṣitaḥ — decorated.

Translation

He was dressed in yellow garments and wore brightly polished earrings made of pearls. The tips of his hair were anointed with oil, and his chest was very broad. His body had all good features, he was stout and strong like a lion, and he was decorated with bangles. In his hand he carried a jug filled to the top with nectar.

Devanagari

स वै भगवत: साक्षाद्विष्णोरंशांशसम्भव: ।
धन्वन्तरिरिति ख्यात आयुर्वेदद‍ृगिज्यभाक् ॥ ३४ ॥

Text

sa vai bhagavataḥ sākṣād
viṣṇor aṁśāṁśa-sambhavaḥ
dhanvantarir iti khyāta
āyur-veda-dṛg ijya-bhāk

Synonyms

saḥ — he; vai — indeed; bhagavataḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sākṣāt — directly; viṣṇoḥ — of Lord Viṣṇu; aṁśa-aṁśa-sambhavaḥ — incarnation of the plenary portion of a plenary portion; dhanvantariḥ — Dhanvantari; iti — thus; khyātaḥ — celebrated; āyuḥ-veda-dṛk — fully conversant in the medical science; ijya-bhāk — one of the demigods eligible to share the benefits of sacrifices.

Translation

This person was Dhanvantari, a plenary portion of a plenary portion of Lord Viṣṇu. He was very conversant with the science of medicine, and as one of the demigods he was permitted to take a share in sacrifices.

Purport

Śrīla Madhvācārya remarks:

teṣāṁ satyāc cālanārthaṁ
harir dhanvantarir vibhuḥ
samartho ’py asurāṇāṁ tu
sva-hastād amucat sudhām

Dhanvantari, who was carrying the jug containing nectar, was a plenary incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but although he was very strong, the asuras were able to take the jug of nectar from his hands.

Devanagari

तमालोक्यासुरा: सर्वे कलसं चामृताभृतम् ।
लिप्सन्त: सर्ववस्तूनि कलसं तरसाहरन् ॥ ३५ ॥

Text

tam ālokyāsurāḥ sarve
kalasaṁ cāmṛtābhṛtam
lipsantaḥ sarva-vastūni
kalasaṁ tarasāharan

Synonyms

tam — him; ālokya — seeing; asurāḥ — the demons; sarve — all of them; kalasam — the container of nectar; ca — also; amṛta-ābhṛtam — filled with nectar; lipsantaḥ — desiring strongly; sarva-vastūni — all objects; kalasam — the jug; tarasā — immediately; aharan — snatched away.

Translation

Upon seeing Dhanvantari carrying the jug of nectar, the demons, desiring the jug and its contents, immediately snatched it away by force.

Devanagari

नीयमानेऽसुरैस्तस्मिन्कलसेऽमृतभाजने ।
विषण्णमनसो देवा हरिं शरणमाययु: ॥ ३६ ॥

Text

nīyamāne ’surais tasmin
kalase ’mṛta-bhājane
viṣaṇṇa-manaso devā
hariṁ śaraṇam āyayuḥ

Synonyms

nīyamāne — being carried; asuraiḥ — by the demons; tasmin — that; kalase — jug; amṛta-bhājane — containing nectar; viṣaṇṇa-manasaḥ — aggrieved in mind; devāḥ — all the demigods; harim — unto the Supreme Lord; śaraṇam — to take shelter; āyayuḥ — went.

Translation

When the jug of nectar was carried off by the demons, the demigods were morose. Thus they sought shelter at the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari.

Devanagari

इति तद्दैन्यमालोक्य भगवान्भृत्यकामकृत् ।
मा खिद्यत मिथोऽर्थं व: साधयिष्ये स्वमायया ॥ ३७ ॥

Text

iti tad-dainyam ālokya
bhagavān bhṛtya-kāma-kṛt
mā khidyata mitho ’rthaṁ vaḥ
sādhayiṣye sva-māyayā

Synonyms

iti — in this way; tat — of the demigods; dainyam — moroseness; ālokya — seeing; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhṛtya-kāma-kṛt — who is always ready to fulfill the desires of His servants; khidyata — do not be aggrieved; mithaḥ — by a quarrel; artham — to get nectar; vaḥ — for all of you; sādhayiṣye — I shall execute; sva-māyayā — by My own energy.

Translation

When the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who always desires to fulfill the ambitions of His devotees, saw that the demigods were morose, He said to them, “Do not be aggrieved. By My own energy I shall bewilder the demons by creating a quarrel among them. In this way I shall fulfill your desire to have the nectar.”

Devanagari

मिथ: कलिरभूत्तेषां तदर्थे तर्षचेतसाम् ।
अहं पूर्वमहं पूर्वं न त्वं न त्वमिति प्रभो ॥ ३८ ॥

Text

mithaḥ kalir abhūt teṣāṁ
tad-arthe tarṣa-cetasām
ahaṁ pūrvam ahaṁ pūrvaṁ
na tvaṁ na tvam iti prabho

Synonyms

mithaḥ — among themselves; kaliḥ — disagreement and quarrel; abhūt — there was; teṣām — of all of them; tat-arthe — for the sake of nectar; tarṣa-cetasām — bewildered in heart and soul by the illusory energy of Viṣṇu; aham — I; pūrvam — first; aham — I; pūrvam — first; na — not; tvam — you; na — not; tvam — you; iti — thus; prabho — O King.

Translation

O King, a quarrel then arose among the demons over who would get the nectar first. Each of them said, “You cannot drink it first. I must drink it first. Me first, not you!”

Purport

This is the symptom of demons. The first concern of a nondevotee is how to enjoy his personal sense gratification at once, whereas the devotee’s first concern is to satisfy the Lord. This is the distinction between the nondevotee and the devotee. In this material world, since most people are nondevotees, they regularly compete, fight, disagree and war among themselves, for everyone wants to enjoy and satisfy his own senses. Therefore, unless such demons become Kṛṣṇa conscious and are trained to satisfy the senses of the Lord, there can be no question of peace in human society or any society, even that of the demigods. The demigods and devotees, however, always surrender to the lotus feet of the Lord, and thus the Lord is always anxious to satisfy their ambitions. While the demons fight to satisfy their own senses, devotees engage in devotional service to satisfy the senses of the Lord. The members of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement must be alert in regard to this point, and then their preaching of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement will be successful.

Devanagari

देवा: स्वं भागमर्हन्ति ये तुल्यायासहेतव: ।
सत्रयाग इवैतस्मिन्नेष धर्म: सनातन: ॥ ३९ ॥
इति स्वान्प्रत्यषेधन्वै दैतेया जातमत्सरा: ।
दुर्बला: प्रबलान् राजन्गृहीतकलसान् मुहु: ॥ ४० ॥

Text

devāḥ svaṁ bhāgam arhanti
ye tulyāyāsa-hetavaḥ
satra-yāga ivaitasminn
eṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ
iti svān pratyaṣedhan vai
daiteyā jāta-matsarāḥ
durbalāḥ prabalān rājan
gṛhīta-kalasān muhuḥ

Synonyms

devāḥ — the demigods; svam bhāgam — their own share; arhanti — deserve to take; ye — all of them who; tulya-āyāsa-hetavaḥ — who made an equal endeavor; satra-yāge — in the performance of sacrifices; iva — similarly; etasmin — in this matter; eṣaḥ — this; dharmaḥ — religion; sanātanaḥ — eternal; iti — thus; svān — among themselves; pratyaṣedhan — forbade one another; vai — indeed; daiteyāḥ — the sons of Diti; jāta-matsarāḥ — envious; durbalāḥ — weak; prabalān — by force; rājan — O King; gṛhīta — possessing; kalasān — the jug containing nectar; muhuḥ — constantly.

Translation

Some of the demons said, “All the demigods have taken part in churning the Ocean of Milk. Now, as everyone has an equal right to partake in any public sacrifice, according to the eternal religious system it is befitting that the demigods now have a share of the nectar.” O King, in this way the weaker demons forbade the stronger demons to take the nectar.

Purport

Desiring to take the nectar, those among the demons who were less strong spoke in favor of the demigods. The weaker Daityas naturally pleaded on behalf of the demigods to stop the stronger Daityas from drinking the nectar without sharing it. In this way, disagreement and trouble arose as they forbade one another to drink the nectar.

Devanagari

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे विष्णु: सर्वोपायविदीश्वर: ।
योषिद्रूपमनिर्देश्यं दधार परमाद्भ‍ुतम् ॥ ४१ ॥
प्रेक्षणीयोत्पलश्यामं सर्वावयवसुन्दरम् ।
समानकर्णाभरणं सुकपोलोन्नसाननम् ॥ ४२ ॥
नवयौवननिर्वृत्तस्तनभारकृशोदरम् ।
मुखामोदानुरक्तालिझङ्कारोद्विग्नलोचनम् ॥ ४३ ॥
बिभ्रत् सुकेशभारेण मालामुत्फुल्ल‍मल्ल‍िकाम् ।
सुग्रीवकण्ठाभरणं सुभुजाङ्गदभूषितम् ॥ ४४ ॥
विरजाम्बरसंवीतनितम्बद्वीपशोभया ।
काञ्‍च्या प्रविलसद्वल्गुचलच्चरणनूपुरम् ॥ ४५ ॥
सव्रीडस्मितविक्षिप्तभ्रूविलासावलोकनै: ।
दैत्ययूथपचेत:सु काममुद्दीपयन् मुहु: ॥ ४६ ॥

Text

etasminn antare viṣṇuḥ
sarvopāya-vid īśvaraḥ
yoṣid-rūpam anirdeśyaṁ
dadhāra-paramādbhutam
prekṣaṇīyotpala-śyāmaṁ
sarvāvayava-sundaram
samāna-karṇābharaṇaṁ
sukapolonnasānanam
nava-yauvana-nirvṛtta-
stana-bhāra-kṛśodaram
mukhāmodānuraktāli-
jhaṅkārodvigna-locanam
bibhrat sukeśa-bhāreṇa
mālām utphulla-mallikām
sugrīva-kaṇṭhābharaṇaṁ
su-bhujāṅgada-bhūṣitam
virajāmbara-saṁvīta-
nitamba-dvīpa-śobhayā
kāñcyā pravilasad-valgu-
calac-caraṇa-nūpuram
savrīḍa-smita-vikṣipta-
bhrū-vilāsāvalokanaiḥ
daitya-yūtha-pa-cetaḥsu
kāmam uddīpayan muhuḥ

Synonyms

etasmin antare — after this incident; viṣṇuḥ — Lord Viṣṇu; sarva-upāya-vit — one who knows how to deal with different situations; īśvaraḥ — the supreme controller; yoṣit-rūpam — the form of a beautiful woman; anirdeśyam — no one could ascertain who She was; dadhāra — assumed; parama — supremely; adbhutam — wonderful; prekṣaṇīya — pleasing to look at; utpala-śyāmam — blackish like a newly grown lotus; sarva — all; avayava — parts of the body; sundaram — very beautiful; samāna — equally adjusted; karṇa-ābharaṇam — ornaments on the ears; su-kapola — very beautiful cheeks; unnasa-ānanam — a raised nose on Her face; nava-yauvana — newly youthful; nirvṛtta-stana — breasts not agitated; bhāra — weight; kṛśa — very lean and thin; udaram — waist; mukha — face; āmoda — creating pleasure; anurakta — attracted; ali — bumblebees; jhaṅkāra — making a humming sound; udvigna — from anxiety; locanam — Her eyes; bibhrat — moving; su-keśa-bhāreṇa — by the weight of beautiful hair; mālām — with a flower garland; utphulla-mallikām — made of fully grown mallikā flowers; su-grīva — a nice neck; kaṇṭha-ābharaṇam — ornamented with beautiful jewelry; su-bhuja — very beautiful arms; aṅgada-bhūṣitam — decorated with bangles; viraja-ambara — very clean cloth; saṁvīta — spread; nitamba — breast; dvīpa — appearing like an island; śobhayā — by such beauty; kāñcyā — the belt on the waist; pravilasat — spreading over; valgu — very beautiful; calat-caraṇa-nūpuram — moving ankle bells; sa-vrīḍa-smita — smiling with shyness; vikṣipta — glancing; bhrū-vilāsa — activities of the eyebrows; avalokanaiḥ — glancing over; daitya-yūtha-pa — the leaders of the demons; cetaḥsu — in the core of the heart; kāmam — lusty desire; uddīpayat — awakening; muhuḥ — constantly.

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, who can counteract any unfavorable situation, then assumed the form of an extremely beautiful woman. This incarnation as a woman, Mohinī-mūrti, was most pleasing to the mind. Her complexion resembled in color a newly grown blackish lotus, and every part of Her body was beautifully situated. Her ears were equally decorated with earrings, Her cheeks were very beautiful, Her nose was raised and Her face full of youthful luster. Her large breasts made Her waist seem very thin. Attracted by the aroma of Her face and body, bumblebees hummed around Her, and thus Her eyes were restless. Her hair, which was extremely beautiful, was garlanded with mallikā flowers. Her attractively constructed neck was decorated with a necklace and other ornaments, Her arms were decorated with bangles, Her body was covered with a clean sari, and Her breasts seemed like islands in an ocean of beauty. Her legs were decorated with ankle bells. Because of the movements of Her eyebrows as She smiled with shyness and glanced over the demons, all the demons were saturated with lusty desires, and every one of them desired to possess Her.

Purport

Because of the Supreme Lord’s assuming the form of a beautiful woman to arouse the lusty desires of the demons, a description of Her complete beauty is given here.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Eighth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Churning of the Milk Ocean.”