SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM: CANTO 8

(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'The Supreme Lord Hari, the Supreme Controller, thus being prayed to by the godly then appeared before them, o King, with an effulgence of thousands of suns rising. (2) Because of this was that instant the vision of the godly blocked; they could see in no direction, nor the sky, nor the land, nor themselves, and where could the Almighty One be seen? (3-7) The moment they discerned His appearance, so pure with the luster of a blue gem, His pinkish eyes like a lotus heart, His shine like molten gold, His yellow silken dress, the great beauty and grace of all His limbs, His smile, His beautiful eyebrows, the jeweled helmet, the decoration of all His ornaments, the light from His earrings, the cheeks of His beautiful face, His belt and bangles, His necklace and anklebells all beautifully set, the Kaustubha gem on His chest, S'rî Lakshmî moving with Him, His flowergarlands and His cakra and His other weapons, prostrated all the immortals together with Lord S'iva, who was the one divinity for them all, body and limb to the ground and glorified they the so mighty Lord Brahmâ, the chief of the gods, the Supreme Personality.

(8) S'rî Brahmâ said: 'Unto the One never born but always appearing, the One free from the modes, that ocean of bliss beyond all existence, that smallest of atoms so inscrutable in all His features, unto You, the Inconceivable One, our reverence again and again [see also B.G. 4: 6]. (9) This form of You, o Best of all Persons, is so worshipable and auspicious to all who desire to the vedic directions as realized from the Tantras [special vedic treatises] in practicing yoga; o director who with us controls the three worlds, oh, in You we directly see the complete universe. (10) Unto You in the beginning there was, unto You in the middle there was, unto You in the end there will be all of this; the beginning, the end and the middle of this cosmic creation do You fully control: like the earth to its pot, You're the chief of transcendence. (11) You, by Your energy eternal, with Your soul as the refuge, do, out of Your own for the sake of creation enter this universe so vast and the ones connected, those full of the S'âstra, see, as high spirited people with a consciousness advanced, You, in the transformation of the modes even though You are untouched by those qualities of nature. (12) As with fire from wood, like with the nectar from cows, like with the foodgrains and water that are found on this earth as also like with the livelihood one has from enterprising, achieves the living being by the practice of yoga, intelligent to the modes, indeed You so the greatest souls say. (13) O Lordship to us all, o Master in Your fullness here before us, with the lotus from Your navel, for so long we've waited desiring the goal and now today we all may cherish the vision of bliss, like elephants, who distressed by a forest fire, would cherish the water of the Ganges. (14) O Soul, who art to each the beyond, about the purpose for which we've arrived at Your feet we do not have to inform You being the witness of all; may You kindly fulfill the needs of these souls to all places we rule. (15) I and He from the Mountain [S'iva], the enlightened and all so led by fathers as Daksha, are like sparks to the fire of You o my Lord - how can we as separate particles arrive at understanding o my Lord? Kindly bestow the good fortune, the mantras, of the twice-born and brahmin. .'

(16) S'rî S'uka said: 'Thus being worshiped by Viriñca [Brahmâ] and all, understanding what they in their hearts were expecting, replied He with words rumbling as clouds those who in prayer restrained all their senses. (17) Although the Controller could handle by Himself what the godly had to do, wanted He as their Lordship to enjoy the pastime of churning the ocean and spoke He to them. (18) The Supreme Lord said: 'Listen o Brahmâ and S'iva, o gods, to what I have to say; all of you hear attentively as that will bring good fortune to all of you Suras. (19) Just settle, awaiting your own good fortune, for a truce with the Daityas and Danavas their benedictions of a favorable time. (20) If it is important to one's own duties should one even with one's enemies make a truce, like a snake would with a mouse o gods, to the interest of his position [*]. (21) Do not hesitate to do your best to endeavor for the nectar of which any living entity in danger of death drinking it can become immortal. (22-33) With in the ocean of milk thrown all sorts of creepers, grasses, vegetables and herbs and making with My help Vâsuki [the snake] the churning rope for the rod of Mandara, proceed to churn carefully; it will engage the conspirators of the hindrance, but you will all reap the fruit. (24) You should altogether accept whatever the Asuras demand o Suras, do not aggress to it as proceeding in peace all ends desired will be met with the greatest success. (25) Do not be afraid of the kâlakûtha ['false time'] poison that will appear from the ocean of milk, and take care not to be led by greed, lust or anger with what is churned.'

(26) S'rî S'uka said: 'After the Supreme Lord thus had advised the godly, disappeared the Highest Example from there, o King, for He is the Controller free to move. (27) When they had offered Him, their Supreme Lord their obeisances, returned the Great Father with the Lord of Becoming [Bhava, S'iva] back to their abodes and was King Bali approached by the Suras. (28) The honorable ruler of the Daityas [Bali] saw that, even though his captains stood prepared, the enemies had no plans to fight them and so he kept them back, well aware of what the time for fighting and what the time for negotiations was. (29) They all approached and sat down with the son of Virocana [Bali], who, well protected by the asura commanders, as the conqueror of all the worlds was blessed with great opulence. (30) The great Indra with mild words pleasing him to his best, as the greatest intelligence submitted to him all that they had learned from the Supreme Personality. (31) It was all very acceptable to the daitya ruler as well as to the other asura chiefs S'ambara, Arishthanemi and the rest of the inhabitants of Tripura. (32) Following concluding to an armistice between them, embarked they, deva and Asura, upon the supreme enterprise of churning for the nectar, o chastiser of the enemies. (33) To that did they all with full force, with great strength and loud cries uproot Mandara Mountain and took they it to the ocean with their strong and stout arms. (34) Over a great distance carrying the load could Indra and the son of Virocana being fatigued not bear the load any longer and left they it behind on the road. (35) The gigantic golden mountain falling down right there crushed with its great weight many of the enlightened and the unenlightened. (36) Carried by Garuda the Supreme Lord thereafter appeared to them all who as well had broken their arms and legs as their hearts. (37) Simply glancing over the immortals and mortals who were crushed by the falling mountain brought them back to life unscathed and free from grief. (38) With the greatest ease placed He with one hand the mountain on Garuda, mounted He and went He to the ocean, surrounded by the Suras and Asuras. (39) Unloading the mountain from his shoulder went Garuda, the greatest of all birds, to the waterside and placed he it there, whereupon he was sent away by the Lord [so that he would not eat Vâsuki].'

S'rî S'uka said: 'The Supreme Lord Hari, the Supreme Controller, thus being prayed to by the godly then appeared before them, o King, with an effulgence of thousands of suns rising.

S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: O King Parîkshit, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, being thus worshiped with prayers by the demigods and Lord Brahmâ, appeared before them. His bodily effulgence resembled the simultaneous rising of thousands of suns. (Vedabase)

Text 2

Because of this was that instant the vision of the godly blocked; they could see in no direction, nor the sky, nor the land, nor themselves, not to mention the Almighty One.

The vision of all the demigods was blocked by the Lord's effulgence. Thus they could see neither the sky, the directions, the land, nor even themselves, what to speak of seeing the Lord, who was present before them. (Vedabase)

Text 3-7:

The moment they discerned His appearance, so pure with the luster of a blue gem, His pinkish eyes like a lotus heart, His shine like molten gold, His yellow silken dress, the great beauty and grace of all His limbs, His smile, His beautiful eyebrows, the jeweled helmet, the decoration of all His ornaments, the light from His earrings, the cheeks of His beautiful face, His belt and bangles, His necklace and anklebells all beautifully set, the Kaustubha gem on His chest, S'rî Lakshmî moving with Him, His flowergarlands and His cakra and His other weapons, prostrated all the immortals together with Lord S'iva, who was the one divinity for them all, body and limb to the ground and glorified they the so mighty Lord Brahmâ, the chief of the gods, the Supreme Personality.

Lord Brahmâ, along with Lord S'iva, saw the crystal-clear personal beauty of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose blackish body resembles a marakata gem, whose eyes are reddish like the depths of a lotus, who is dressed with garments that are yellow like molten gold, and whose entire body is attractively decorated. They saw His beautiful, smiling, lotuslike face, crowned by a helmet bedecked with valuable jewels. The Lord has attractive eyebrows, and His cheeks are adorned with earrings. Lord Brahmâ and Lord S'iva saw the belt on the Lord's waist, the bangles on Mis arms, the necklace on His chest, and the ankle bells on His legs. The Lord is bedecked with flower garlands, His neck is decorated with the Kaustubha gem, and He carries with Him the goddess of fortune and His personal weapons, like His disc and club. When Lord Brahmâ, along with Lord S'iva and the other demigods, thus saw the form of the Lord, they all immediately fell to the ground, offering their obeisances. (Vedabase)

Text 8

S'rî Brahmâ said: 'Unto the One never born but always appearing, the One free from the modes, that ocean of bliss beyond all existence, that smallest of atoms so inscrutable in all His features, unto You, the Inconceivable One, our reverence again and again [see also B.G. 4: 6].

Lord Brahmâ said: Although You are never born, Your appearance and disappearance as an incarnation never cease. You are always free from the material qualities, and You are the shelter of transcendental bliss resembling an ocean. Eternally existing in Your transcendental form, You are the supreme subtle of the most extremely subtle. We therefore offer our respectful obeisances unto You, the Supreme, whose existence is inconceivable. (Vedabase)

Text 9

This form of You, o Best of all Persons, is so worshipable and auspicious to all who desire to the vedic directions as realized from the Tantras [special vedic treatises] in practicing yoga; o director who with us controls the three worlds, oh, in You we directly see the complete universe.

O best of persons, O supreme director, those who actually aspire for supreme good fortune worship this form of Your Lordship according to the Vedic Tantras. My Lord, we can see all the three worlds in You. (Vedabase)

Text 10

Unto You in the beginning there was, unto You in the middle there was, unto You in the end there will be all of this; the beginning, the end and the middle of this cosmic creation do You fully control: like the earth to its pot, You're the chief of transcendence.

My dear Lord, who are always fully independent, this entire cosmic manifestation arises from You, rests upon You and ends in You. Your Lordship is the beginning, sustenance and end of everything, like the earth, which is the cause of an earthen pot, which supports the pot, and to which the pot, when broken, finally returns. (Vedabase)

Text 11

You, by Your energy eternal, with Your soul as the refuge, do, out of Your own for the sake of creation enter this universe so vast and the ones connected, those full of the S'âstra, see, as high spirited people with a consciousness advanced, You, in the transformation of the modes even though You are untouched by those qualities of nature.

O Supreme, You are independent in Your self and do not take help from others. Through Your own potency, You create this cosmic manifestation and enter into it. Those who are advanced in Krishna consciousness, who are fully in knowledge of the authoritative s'âstra, and who, through the practice of bhakti-yoga, are cleansed of all material contamination, can see with clear minds that although You exist within the transformations of the material qualities, Your presence is untouched by these qualities. (Vedabase)

Text 12

As with fire from wood, like with the nectar from cows, like with the foodgrains and water that are found on this earth as also like with the livelihood one has from enterprising, achieves the living being by the practice of yoga, intelligent to the modes, indeed You so the greatest souls say.

As one can derive fire from wood, milk from the milk bag of the cow, food grains and water from the land, and prosperity in one's livelihood from industrial enterprises, so, by the practice of bhakti-yoga, even within this material world, one can achieve Your favor or intelligently approach You. Those who are pious all affirm this. (Vedabase)

Text 13

O Lordship to us all, o Master in Your fullness here before us, with the lotus from Your navel, for so long we've waited desiring the goal and now today we all may cherish the vision of bliss, like elephants, who distressed by a forest fire, would cherish the water of the Ganges.

Elephants afflicted by a forest fire become very happy when they get water from the Ganges. Similarly, O my Lord, from whose navel grows a lotus flower, since You have now appeared before us, we have become transcendentally happy. By seeing Your Lordship, whom we have desired to see for a very long time, we have achieved our ultimate goal in life. (Vedabase)

Text 14

O Soul, who art to each the beyond, about the purpose for which we've arrived at Your feet we do not have to inform You being the witness of all; may You kindly fulfill the needs of these souls to all places we rule.

My Lord, we, the various demigods, the directors of this universe, have come to Your lotus feet. Please fulfill the purpose for which we have come. You are the witness of everything, from within and without. Nothing is unknown to You, and therefore it is unnecessary to inform You again of anything. (Vedabase)

Text 15

I and He from the Mountain [S'iva], the enlightened and all so led by fathers as Daksha, are like sparks to the fire of You o my Lord - how can we as separate particles arrive at understanding o my Lord? Kindly bestow the good fortune, the mantras, of the twice-born and brahmin. .'

I [Lord Brahmâ], Lord S'iva and all the demigods, accompanied by the prajâpatis like Daksha, are nothing but sparks illuminated by You, who are the original fire. Since we are particles of You, what can we understand about our welfare? O Supreme Lord, please give us the means of deliverance that is suitable for the brâhmanas and demigods. (Vedabase)

Text 16

S'rî S'uka said: 'Thus being worshiped by Viriñca [Brahmâ] and all, understanding what they in their hearts were expecting, replied He with words rumbling as clouds those who in prayer restrained all their senses.

S'ukadeva Gosvâmî continued: When the Lord was thus offered prayers by the demigods, headed by Lord Brahmâ, He understood the purpose for which they had approached Him. Therefore, in a deep voice that resembled the rumbling of clouds, the Lord replied to the demigods, who all stood there attentively with folded hands. (Vedabase)

Text 17

Although the Controller could handle by Himself what the godly had to do, wanted He as their Lordship to enjoy the pastime of churning the ocean and spoke He to them.

Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of the demigods, was capable of performing the activities of the demigods by Himself, He wanted to enjoy pastimes in churning the ocean. Therefore He spoke as follows. (Vedabase)

Text 18:

The Supreme Lord said: 'Listen o Brahmâ and S'iva, o gods, to what I have to say; all of you hear attentively as that will bring good fortune to all of you Suras.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O Lord Brahmâ, Lord S'iva and other demigods, please hear Me with great attention, for what I say will bring good fortune for all of you. (Vedabase)

Text 19:

Just settle, awaiting your own good fortune, for a truce with the Daityas and Danavas their benedictions of a favorable time.

As long as you are not flourishing, you should make a truce with the demons and asuras, who are now being favored by time. (Vedabase)

Text 20:

If it is important to one's own duties should one even with one's enemies make a truce, like a snake would with a mouse o gods, to the interest of his position [*].

O demigods, fulfilling one's own interests is so important that one may even have to make a truce with one's enemies. For the sake of one's self-interest, one has to act according to the logic of the snake and the mouse. (Vedabase)

Text 21:

Do not hesitate to do your best to endeavor for the nectar of which any living entity in danger of death drinking it can become immortal.

Immediately endeavor to produce nectar, which a person who is about to die may drink to become immortal. (Vedabase)

Text 22-23:

With in the ocean of milk thrown all sorts of creepers, grasses, vegetables and herbs and making with My help Vâsuki [the snake] the churning rope for the rod of Mandara, proceed to churn carefully; it will engage the conspirators of the hindrance, but you will all reap the fruit.

O demigods, cast into the ocean of milk all kinds of vegetables, grass, creepers and drugs. Then, with My help, making Mandara Mountain the churning rod and Vâsuki the rope for churning, churn the ocean of milk with undiverted attention. Thus the demons will be engaged in labor, but you, the demigods, will gain the actual result, the nectar produced from the ocean. (Vedabase)

Text 24:

You should altogether accept whatever the Asuras demand o Suras, do not aggress to it as proceeding in peace all ends desired will be met with the greatest success.

My dear demigods, with patience and peace everything can be done, but if one is agitated by anger, the goal is not achieved. Therefore, whatever the demons ask, agree to their proposal. (Vedabase)

Text 25:

Do not be afraid of the kâlakûtha ['false time'] poison that will appear from the ocean of milk, and take care not to be led by greed, lust or anger with what is churned.'

A poison known as kâlakûtha will be generated from the ocean of milk, but you should not fear it. And when various products are churned from the ocean, you should not be greedy for them or anxious to obtain them, nor should you be angry. (Vedabase)

Text 26:

S'rî S'uka said: 'After the Supreme Lord thus had advised the godly, disappeared the Highest Example from there, o King, for He is the Controller free to move.

S'ukadeva Gosvâmî continued: O King Parîkshit, after advising the demigods in this way, the independent Supreme Personality of Godhead, the best of all living entities, disappeared from their presence. (Vedabase)

Text 27:

When they had offered Him, their Supreme Lord their obeisances, returned the Great Father with the Lord of Becoming [Bhava, S'iva] back to their abodes and was King Bali approached by the Suras.

Then Lord Brahmâ and Lord S'iva, after offering their respectful obeisances to the Lord, returned to their abodes. All the demigods then approached Mahârâja Bali. (Vedabase)

Text 28:

The honorable ruler of the Daityas [Bali] saw that, even though his captains stood prepared, the enemies had no plans to fight them and so he kept them back, well aware of what the time for fighting and what the time for negotiations was.

Mahârâja Bali, a most celebrated king of the demons, knew very well when to make peace and when to fight. Thus although his commanders and captains were agitated and were about to kill the demigods, Mahârâja Bali, seeing that the demigods were coming to him without a militant attitude, forbade his commanders to kill them. (Vedabase)

Text 29:

They all approached and sat down with the son of Virocana [Bali], who, well protected by the asura commanders, as the conqueror of all the worlds was blessed with great opulence.

The demigods approached Bali Mahârâja, the son of Virocana, and sat down near him. Bali Mahârâja was protected by the commanders of the demons and was most opulent, having conquered all the universes. (Vedabase)

Text 30:

The great Indra with mild words pleasing him to his best, as the greatest intelligence submitted to him all that they had learned from the Supreme Personality.

After pleasing Bali Mahârâja with mild words, Lord Indra, the King of the demigods, who was most intelligent, very politely submitted all the proposals he had learned from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Vishnu. (Vedabase)

Text 31:

It was all very acceptable to the daitya ruler as well as to the other asura chiefs S'ambara, Arishthanemi and the rest of the inhabitants of Tripura.

The proposals submitted by King Indra were immediately accepted by Bali Mahârâja and his assistants, headed by S'ambara and Arishthanemi, and by all the other residents of Tripura. (Vedabase)

Text 32:

Following concluding to an armistice between them, embarked they, deva and Asura, upon the supreme enterprise of churning for the nectar, o chastiser of the enemies.

O Mahârâja Parîkshit, chastiser of enemies, the demigods and the demons thereafter made an armistice between them. Then, with great enterprise, they arranged to produce nectar, as proposed by Lord Indra. (Vedabase)

Text 33:

To that did they all with full force, with great strength and loud cries uproot Mandara Mountain and took they it to the ocean with their strong and stout arms.

Thereafter, with great strength, the demons and demigods, who were all very powerful and who had long, stout arms, uprooted Mandara Mountain. Crying very loudly, they brought it toward the ocean of milk. (Vedabase)

Text 34:

Over a great distance carrying the load could Indra and the son of Virocana being fatigued not bear the load any longer and left they it behind on the road.

Because of conveying the great mountain for a long distance, King Indra, Mahârâja Bali and the other demigods and demons became fatigued. Being unable to carry the mountain, they left it on the way. (Vedabase)

Text 35:

The gigantic golden mountain falling down right there crushed with its great weight many of the enlightened and the unenlightened.

The mountain known as Mandara, which was extremely heavy, being made of gold, fell and smashed many demigods and demons. (Vedabase)

Text 36:

Carried by Garuda the Supreme Lord thereafter appeared to them all who as well had broken their arms and legs as their hearts.

The demigods and demons were frustrated and disheartened, and their arms, thighs and shoulders were broken. Therefore the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who knows everything, appeared there on the back of His carrier, Garuda. (Vedabase)

Text 37:

Simply glancing over the immortals and mortals who were crushed by the falling mountain brought them back to life unscathed and free from grief.

Observing that most of the demons and the demigods had been crushed by the falling of the mountain, the Lord glanced over them and brought them back to life. Thus they became free from grief, and they even had no bruises on their bodies. (Vedabase)

Text 38:

With the greatest ease placed He with one hand the mountain on Garuda, mounted He and went He to the ocean, surrounded by the Suras and Asuras.

The Lord very easily lifted the mountain with one hand and placed it on the back of Garuda. Then, He too got on the back of Garuda and went to the ocean of milk, surrounded by the demigods and demons. (Vedabase)

Text 39:

Unloading the mountain from his shoulder went Garuda, the greatest of all birds, to the waterside and placed he it there, whereupon he was sent away by the Lord [so that he would not eat Vâsuki].

Thereafter, Garuda, the chief of birds, unloaded Mandara Mountain from his shoulder and brought it near the water. Then he was asked by the Lord to leave that place, and he left. (Vedabase)