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Canto 8

Nrisimha Pranâma

 

 

Chapter 6: The Suras and Asuras Declare a Truce

(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'Oh King, the Supreme Lord Hari, the Controller, thus being glorified by the godly souls then appeared before them with an effulgence of a thousand rising suns. (2) For that reason the vision of the demigods was blocked that very moment. They could not see each other any longer, nor see anything in any direction, neither in the sky nor on the land, not to mention the Almighty One Himself. (3-7) The moment the Supreme Lord Viriñca [Brahmâ] and Lord S'iva discerned His immaculate appearance that was as beautiful as a dark gem, with [the white of] His eyes as pink as a lotus heart, His yellow silken dress that shone like molten gold, the great beauty and grace of all His limbs, the cheeks of His enchanting face, His smile, His beautiful eyebrows and the attractive arrangement of His jeweled helmet, the decoration of all His ornaments, the light from His earrings, His belt and bangles, His necklace and ankle bells, the Kaustubha gem on His chest that moved with S'rî Lakshmî, His flower garlands and His cakra discus and other weapons pleasing Him in their personal forms, all the immortals together with the Supreme Personality of Destruction [S'iva] prostrated before Him. The master of all the gods [Brahmâ], then worshiped Him [as follows].

(8) S'rî Brahmâ said: 'The One who never took His birth but always makes His appearance, the One free from the modes of nature, that ocean of bliss beyond all existence, He, smaller than an atom, whose form can never be conceived, You, the Supreme Authority, we time and again offer our obeisances [see also B.G. 4: 6]. (9) This form of You, oh Best of all Persons, is worshipable and auspicious to all who in their yoga practice are striving in accordance with the Vedic directions of the Tantras [specific Vedic treatises]. Oh Supreme Director, we can see both ourselves and the three worlds within You having the form of the universe. (10) This framework of the soul has its beginning in You, its middle in You and its end in You. You, as the beginning, the middle and the end of the universe, are like the earth that is the ruling element of an earthen pot. (11) This universe entirely depending on You, that You by means of Your deluding material energy have created, this universe that generated from You and of which You are the shelter, You have entered. Developed minds connected to You and who are versed in the scriptures, see from a spiritual perspective that, while [physically speaking] a transformation of the three modes takes place, You nevertheless are not determined by those modes. (12) People who by their practice of yoga are intelligent with the basic qualities of nature, will, so confirm the scholars, attain You the way one obtains fire from wood, the nectar of milk from cows, food grains and water from the earth and a livelihood from endeavoring. (13) Now that we today see You appear before us in the full of Your glory, as the Master with the lotus navel for whom we longed such a long time, we have attained our goal to see the supreme of happiness, like being elephants who, in distress because of a forest fire, reach the water of the Ganges. (14) About what could we inform You who are the witness of all and everything? Please, oh great Soul present within and without, can You for us, the rulers of the entire universe, do that for which we have sought Your lotus feet? (15) I, he from the mountain [S'iva], the enlightened souls and those led by founding fathers like Daksha, are like sparks in relation to the fire that You are. How can we independently from You arrive at understanding, oh my Lord? Kindly bestow upon us the good fortune of the mantras for the demigods and the brahmins.'

(16) S'rî S'uka said: 'Thus being worshiped by the godly souls led by Viriñca [Brahmâ], He, understanding their hearts, with a voice rumbling like the clouds replied those who with folded hands were holding their breath. (17) Even though the Lord independently could perform the duties of all the God-conscious souls together, He, as their Lord and Master, wanted to enjoy the pastime of churning the ocean and [therefore] spoke to them [as follows]. (18) The Supreme Lord said: 'Listen, oh Brahmâ and S'iva, oh gods, to what I am going to tell you. All of you listen attentively, for that will assure you Suras of the ultimate happiness. (19) Just settle temporarily, until you flourish again, for the blessing of a truce with the Daityas and Danavas who presently enjoy a good time. (20) Oh gods, if it is important to one's duties, one should even make terms with one's enemies, like a snake would do with a mouse, depending the position he is in [*]. (21) Forthwith endeavor for producing the nectar, drinking which any living entity in the grip of death can become immortal. (22-33) Cast all kinds of creepers, grasses, vegetables and herbs into the ocean of milk and attentively engage with My help, oh gods, in churning, using Vâsuki [the snake] for the rope and the mountain Mandara for the churning rod. It will engage your Daitya opponents, but you will reap the fruit of that activity [the nectar]. (24) Do not get angry about it, because to engage in peace is the best way to attain all one's goals. Accept therefore everything that the Asuras demand, oh Suras. (25) Do not fear 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 the result of the churning.'

(26) S'rî S'uka said: 'After the Almighty Lord thus had advised the demigods, the Supreme Personality, the Controller moving independently, disappeared from sight, oh King. (27) Upon having offered Him, the Supreme Lord, their obeisances, the Great Father and Lord Bhava [S'iva] returned to their abodes. The Suras then approached King Bali. (28) The honorable ruler of the Daityas [King Bali] saw that, even though his captains stood prepared, their [divine] enemies had no plans to fight them and thus he held back. He knew when it was time to fight and when it was time for negotiations. (29) They together approached the son of Virocana [Bali] who sat before them, he who, well protected by the Asura commanders, as the conqueror of all the worlds was blessed with great opulence. (30) The great Indra pleased him with friendly words to the best of his ability and submitted to him, with great intelligence, all that they had learned from the Supreme Personality. (31) That was [politically spoken] all very acceptable to both the Daitya ruler and the other Asura chiefs S'ambara, Arishthanemi and the rest of the inhabitants of Tripura. (32) After next having decided to be friendly with each other, Deva and Asura embarked on the supreme enterprise of churning for the nectar, oh chastiser of the enemies. (33) For that purpose they, with great force and loud cries, uprooted Mandara Mountain, embraced it firmly and brought it to the ocean. (34) Carrying the load over a great distance, Indra and the son of Virocana, being fatigued, could not support the load any longer and dropped it on the road. (35) The gigantic golden mountain, falling down right there, crushed with its great weight many of the enlightened and unenlightened souls. (36) The Supreme Lord, seated on the back of Garuda, then appeared before them who had broken their arms and legs as also had lost their courage. (37) Simply glancing over the immortals and mortals who were crushed by the falling mountain, He brought them back to life, unscathed and free from grief. (38) With the greatest ease He placed with one hand the mountain on Garuda, also sat on him and went to the ocean, surrounded by the Suras and Asuras. (39) Having arrived there Garuda, the greatest of all birds, unloaded the mountain from his shoulder, went to the waterside with it and put it down. Thereupon he was sent away by the Lord [so that he would not eat Vâsuki].'

 

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Third revised edition, loaded May 21, 2019.

 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

S'rî S'uka said: 'Oh King, the Supreme Lord Hari, the Controller, thus being glorified by the godly souls then appeared before them with an effulgence of a thousand rising suns.
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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 2

For that reason the vision of the demigods was blocked that very moment. They could not see each other any longer, nor see anything in any direction, neither in the sky nor on the land, not to mention the Almighty One Himself.

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? (Vedabase)

 

Text 3-7

The moment the Supreme Lord Viriñca [Brahmâ] and Lord S'iva discerned His immaculate appearance that was as beautiful as a dark gem, with [the white of] His eyes as pink as a lotus heart, His yellow silken dress that shone like molten gold, the great beauty and grace of all His limbs, the cheeks of His enchanting face, His smile, His beautiful eyebrows and the attractive arrangement of His jeweled helmet, the decoration of all His ornaments, the light from His earrings, His belt and bangles, His necklace and ankle bells, the Kaustubha gem on His chest that moved with S'rî Lakshmî, His flower garlands and His cakra discus and other weapons pleasing Him in their personal forms, all the immortals together with the Supreme Personality of Destruction [S'iva] prostrated before Him. The master of all the gods [Brahmâ], then worshiped Him [as follows].

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 8

S'rî Brahmâ said: 'The One who never took His birth but always makes His appearance, the One free from the modes of nature, that ocean of bliss beyond all existence, He, smaller than an atom, whose form can never be conceived, You, the Supreme Authority, we time and again offer our obeisances [see also B.G. 4: 6].

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]. (Vedabase)

  

Text 9

This form of You, oh Best of all Persons, is worshipable and auspicious to all who in their yoga practice are striving in accordance with the Vedic directions of the Tantras [specific Vedic treatises]. Oh Supreme Director, we can see both ourselves and the three worlds within You having the form of the universe.

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. (Vedabase)


Text 10

This framework of the soul has its beginning in You, its middle in You and its end in You. You, as the beginning, the middle and the end of the universe, are like the earth that is the ruling element of an earthen pot.

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 11

This universe entirely depending on You, that You by means of Your deluding material energy have created, this universe that generated from You and of which You are the shelter, You have entered. Developed minds connected to You and who are versed in the scriptures, see from a spiritual perspective that, while [physically speaking] a transformation of the three modes takes place, You nevertheless are not determined by those modes.

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. (Vedabase)
 

Text 12

People who by their practice of yoga are intelligent with the basic qualities of nature, will, so confirm the scholars, attain You the way one obtains fire from wood, the nectar of milk from cows, food grains and water from the earth and a livelihood from endeavoring.

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 13

Now that we today see You appear before us in the full of Your glory, as the Master with the lotus navel for whom we longed such a long time, we have attained our goal to see the supreme of happiness, like being elephants who, in distress because of a forest fire, reach the water of the Ganges.

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. (Vedabase)


Text 14

About what could we inform You who are the witness of all and everything? Please, oh great Soul present within and without, can You for us, the rulers of the entire universe, do that for which we have sought Your lotus feet?

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. (Vedabase)


Text 15

I, he from the mountain [S'iva], the enlightened souls and those led by founding fathers like Daksha, are like sparks in relation to the fire that You are. How can we independently from You arrive at understanding, oh my Lord? Kindly bestow upon us the good fortune of the mantras for the demigods and the brahmins.'

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.' (Vedabase)

  

Text 16

S'rî S'uka said: 'Thus being worshiped by the godly souls led by Viriñca [Brahmâ], He, understanding their hearts, with a voice rumbling like the clouds replied those who with folded hands were holding their breath.

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 17

Even though the Lord independently could perform the duties of all the God-conscious souls together, He, as their Lord and Master, wanted to enjoy the pastime of churning the ocean and [therefore] spoke to them [as follows].

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 18

The Supreme Lord said: 'Listen oh Brahmâ and S'iva, oh gods, to what I am going to tell you. All of you listen attentively, for that will assure you Suras of the ultimate happiness.

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 19

Just settle temporarily, until you flourish again, for the blessing of a truce with the Daityas and Danavas who presently enjoy a good time.

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

 

Text 20

Oh gods, if it is important to one's duties, one should even make terms with one's enemies, like a snake would do with a mouse, depending the position he is in [*].

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 [*]. (Vedabase)


Text 21

Forthwith endeavor for producing the nectar, drinking which any living entity in the grip of death can become immortal.

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 22-23

Cast all kinds of creepers, grasses, vegetables and herbs into the ocean of milk and attentively engage with My help, oh gods, in churning, using Vâsuki [the snake] for the rope and the mountain Mandara for the churning rod. It will engage your Daitya opponents, but you will reap the fruit of that activity [the nectar].

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 24

Do not get angry about it, because to engage in peace is the best way to attain all one's goals. Accept therefore everything that the Asuras demand, oh Suras.

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 25

Do not fear 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 the result of the churning.'

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.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 26

S'rî S'uka said: 'After the Almighty Lord thus had advised the demigods, the Supreme Personality, the Controller moving independently, disappeared from sight, oh King.

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 27

Upon having offered Him, the Supreme Lord their obeisances, the Great Father and Lord Bhava [S'iva] returned to their abodes. The Suras then approached King Bali.

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 28

The honorable ruler of the Daityas [King Bali] saw that, even though his captains stood prepared, their [divine] enemies had no plans to fight them and thus he held back. He knew when it was time to fight and when it was time for negotiations.

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 29

They together approached the son of Virocana [Bali] who sat before them, he who, well protected by the Asura commanders, as the conqueror of all the worlds was blessed with great opulence.

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 30

The great Indra pleased him with friendly words to the best of his ability and submitted to him, with great intelligence, all that they had learned from the Supreme Personality.

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 31

That was [politically spoken] all very acceptable to both the Daitya ruler and the other Asura chiefs S'ambara, Arishthanemi and the rest of the inhabitants of Tripura.

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 32

After next having decided to be friendly with each other, Deva and Asura embarked on the supreme enterprise of churning for the nectar, oh chastiser of the enemies.

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 33

For that purpose they, with great force and loud cries, uprooted Mandara Mountain, embraced it firmly and brought it to the ocean.

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 34

Carrying the load over a great distance, Indra and the son of Virocana, being fatigued, could not support the load any longer and dropped it on the road.

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 35

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

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

 

Text 36

The Supreme Lord, seated on the back of Garuda, then appeared before them who had broken their arms and legs as also had lost their courage.

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

 

Text 37

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

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

 

Text 38

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

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. (Vedabase)

 

Text 39

Having arrived there Garuda, the greatest of all birds, unloaded the mountain from his shoulder, went to the waterside with it and put it down. Thereupon he was sent away by the Lord [so that he would not eat Vâsuki].'

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].' (Vedabase)

 

*: The idea here is that of a mouse with a snake caught in a basket, wherein the mouse makes a hole for both to escape after which the snake eats the mouse.

 

 

 

 

Creative Commons License
The text and audio are offered under the conditions of the
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
The first image is a mandala of Vishnu. Jayateja, Pata/Paubha, dated 1420
Courtesy
LACMA.
The second image is a drawing titled: 'The Hindu God Vishnu Riding on His Mount Garuda',
India, Rajasthan, Bundi, South Asia, circa 1750-1775. Courtesy
LACMA.
Production:
Filognostic Association of The Order of Time


  

 

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