Samudra Manthana - From the Mahabharata

Introduction 

सौतिरुवाच। एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु भगिन्यौ ते तपोधन। अपश्यतां समायान्तमुच्चैः श्रवसमन्तिकात्॥ यं तु देवगणाः सर्वे हृष्टरूपमपूजयन्। मथ्यमानेऽमृते जातमश्वरत्नमनुत्तमम्॥ अमोघबलमश्वानामुत्तमं जविनां वरम्। श्रीमन्तमजरं दिव्यं सर्वलक्षणपूजितम्॥ 1.17.1-3

Sauti said, ‘Muni, about this time the two sisters (Vināta and Kadru) saw the marvellous jewel among horses, the calm and magnificent Uccaiḥśravas, whom the Devas worship. 

He arose when the Kṣīra-sāgara was churned for the Amṛta, and he was divinely graceful, ever-young, Creation’s masterpiece, irresistibly vigorous and bearing every auspicious sign and mark upon his person.’

शौनक उवाच। कथं तदमृतं देवैर्मथितं क्व च शंस मे। `कारणं चात्र मथने संजातममृतात्परम्॥' यत्र जज्ञे महावीर्यः सोऽश्वराजो महाद्युतिः॥ 1.17.4

Śaunaka asked, ‘Why did the Devas churn the Ocean for the nectar? How and when did the mighty and resplendent Uccaiḥśravas come forth from its waves?’ 

सौतिरुवाच। ज्वलन्तमचलं मेरुं तेजोराशिमनुत्तमम्। आक्षिपन्तं प्रभां भानोः स्वशृङ्गैः काञ्चनोज्ज्वलैः॥  कनकाभरणं चित्रं देवगन्धर्वसेवितम्। अप्रमेयमनाधृष्यमधर्मबहुलैर्जनैः॥ व्यालैरावारितं घोरैर्दिव्यौषधिविदीपितम्। नाकमावृत्य तिष्ठन्तमुच्छ्रयेण महागिरिम्॥ अगम्यं मनसाप्यन्यैर्नदीवृक्षसमन्वितम्। नानापतगसङ्घैश्च नादितं सुमनोहरैः॥ 1.17.5-8

Sauti said, ‘There is a mountain called Meru, which appears like a great stack of blazing light, for its peaks reflect the golden rays of the Sun that fall upon them. Devas and Gandharvas come regularly to the Golden Mountain, past compare, immeasurable and unapproachable by men, to expiate their many sins. Terrible beasts of prey range over it, and numerous magically life-giving herbs illumine its sides. Meru is the first of mountains and stands towering, and kissing Devaloka, as it were.

तस्य शृङ्गमुपारुह्य बहुरत्नाचितं शुभम्। अनन्तकल्पमद्वन्द्वं सुराः सर्वे महौजसः॥ ते मन्त्रयितुमारब्धास्तत्रासीना दिवौकसः। अमृताय समागम्य तपोनियमसंयुताः॥ तत्र नारायणो देवो ब्रह्माणमिदमब्रवीत्। चिन्तयत्सु सुरेष्वेवं मन्त्रयत्सु च सर्वशः॥ देवैरसुरसङ्घैश्च मथ्यतां कलशोदधिः। भविष्यत्यमृतं तत्र मथ्यमाने महोदधौ॥ सर्वौषधीः समावाप्य सर्वरत्नानि चैव ह। मन्थध्वयुदधिं देवा वेत्स्यध्वममृतं ततः॥ ॥ 1.17.9-13

Ordinary person cannot even dream of climbing Meru. Mystic trees of wishes and enchanted streams abound upon Meru, and its slopes and valleys ring with the songs of choirs of fabulous birds. Once the Devas met upon its jewelled peak in conclave. 

They had performed severe penance to obtain the Amṛta, the nectar of immortality, and it seemed that the time had come for them to seek it. Seeing the celestial gathering’s anxiety, Nārāyaṇa said to Brahmā, 

“You must churn the Ocean with the Devas and the Asuras, and you will find divine medicament and jewels you cannot imagine, and many other wonders. O Devas, churn the Kshirasagara and you will discover the Amṛta.”’

इति श्रीमन्महाभारते आदिपर्वणि आस्तीकपर्वणि सप्तदशोऽध्यायः॥ 17 ॥ 

The Event

सौतिरुवाच। ततोऽभ्रशिखराकारैर्गिरिशृङ्गैरलंकृतम्। मन्दरं पर्वतवरं लताजालसमाकुलम्॥ नानाविहंगसंघुष्टं नानादंष्ट्रिसमाकुलम्। किंनरैरप्सरोभिश्च देवैरपि च सेवितम्॥ एकादश सहस्राणि योजनानां समुच्छ्रितम्। अधोभूमेः सहस्रेषु तावत्स्वेव प्रतिष्ठितम्॥  तमुद्धर्तुमशक्ता वै सर्वे देवगणास्तदा। विष्णुमासीनमभ्येत्य ब्रह्माणं चेदमब्रुवन्॥ भवन्तावत्र कुरुतां बुद्धिं नैःश्रेयसीं पराम्। मन्दरोद्धरणे यत्नः क्रियतां च हिताय नः॥ 1.18.1-5

Sauti said, ‘There is a mountain called Mandāra whose peaks seem like clouds. It is the best of mountains, and cloaked by herbs growing thickly all over it. Countless birds sing their sweet songs upon it, and dangerous predators range its slopes. The Devas, Apsaras and Kinnaras come to sport and make love upon Mandāra. 

It rises eleven thousand yojanas into the sky, and its roots plunge down as many yojanas into the earth. The Devas wanted to uproot it to use for their churning rod, but they could not. They came to Viṣṇu and Brahmā, who sat together, and said, “Lords, tell us how we can dislodge Mandāra to serve our purpose.” 

सौतिरुवाच। तथेति चाब्रवीद्विष्णुर्ब्रह्मणा सह भार्गव। अचोदयदमेयात्मा फणीन्द्रं पद्मलोचनः॥ ततोऽनन्तः समुत्थाय ब्रह्मणा परिचोदितः। नारायणेन चाप्युक्तस्तस्मिन्कर्मणि वीर्यवान्॥ अथ पर्वतराजानं तमनन्तो महाबलः। उज्जहार बलाद्ब्रह्मन्सवनं सवनौकसम्॥ ततस्तेन सुराः सार्धं समुद्रमुपतस्थिरे। तमूचुरमृतस्यार्थे निर्मथिष्यामहे जलम्॥ अपांपतिरथोवाच ममाप्यंशो भवेत्ततः। सोढाऽस्मि विपुलं मर्दं मन्दरभ्रमणादिति॥ 1.18.6-10

Sauti said, ‘O Son of Bhṛgu, Viṣṇu and Brahmā agreed. Lotus-eyed Viṣṇu gave the difficult task to the mighty Ananta, Prince of snakes. O Brāhmaṇa, Ananta tore up the mountain, with its forests and all the denizens of those forests. The Devas came to the shore of the Ocean with Ananta and said to the Sea of Milk, “Ocean, we have come to churn your waters to have the Amṛta.” The Ocean replied, “Tathāstu! So be it, since I will have my share. I can bear the prodigious churning with the mountain.”

ऊचुश्च कूर्मराजानमकूपारे सुरासुराः। अधिष्ठानं गिरेरस्य भवान्भवितुमर्हति॥  कूर्मेण तु तथेत्युक्त्वा पृष्ठमस्य समर्पितम्। तं शैलं तस्य पृष्ठस्थं वज्रेणेन्द्रोऽभ्यपीडयत्॥  मन्थानं मन्दरं कृत्वा तथा योक्त्रं च वासुकिम्। देवा मथितुमारब्धाः समुद्रं निधिमम्भसाम्। अमृतार्थे पुरा ब्रह्मस्तथैवासुरदानवाः॥  एकमन्तमुपाश्लिष्टा नागराज्ञो महासुराः॥विबुधाः सहिताः सर्वे यतः पुच्छं ततः स्थिताः। अनन्तो भगवान्देवो यतो नारायणः स्थितः॥ वासुकेरग्रमाश्लिष्टा नागराज्ञो महासुराः। शिर उत्क्षिप्य नागस्य पुनः पुनरवाक्षिपन्॥ वासुकेरथ नागस्य सहसा क्षिप्यतोऽसुरैः। सधूमाः सार्चिषो वाता निष्पेतुरसकृन्मुखात्॥ वासुकेर्मथ्यमानस्य निःसृतेन विषेण च। अभवन्मिश्रितं तोयं तदा भार्गवनन्दन॥ 1.18.11-18

The Devas went to the king of tortoises and said to him, “O Kūrmarāja, you must support the mountain on your back!” The Tortoise-king agreed, and Indra set the mountain on his shell. The Devas and the Asuras made a churning rod of Mandāra, Vāsuki their rope, and began churning deep for the nectar. The Asuras held Vāsuki’s hood and the Devas held his tail. 

Ananta Śeśa, who is always wherever Nārāyaṇa was, who was with the Devas, would at times suddenly lift the Naga’s hood and lower it as abruptly. The head of Vāsuki was suddenly thrown down by the Asuras, Winds with smoke and flames came out of his mouth at once and the poison that escaped from Vāsuki's churning. O delight of the Bhṛgus, the waters then became mixed.   

Hālahala

मथनान्मन्दरेणाथ देवदानवबाहुभिः। विषं तीक्ष्णं समुद्भूतं हालाहलमिति श्रुतम्॥  देवाश्च दानवाश्चैव दग्धाश्चैव विषेण ह। अपाक्रामंस्ततो भीता विषादमगमंस्तदा॥  ब्रह्माणमब्रुवन्देवाः समेत्य मुनिपुंगवैः। मथ्यमानेऽमृते जातं विषं कालानलप्रभम्॥  तेनैव तापिता लोकास्तस्य प्रतिकुरुष्वह। एवमुक्तस्तदा ब्रह्मा दध्यौ लोकेश्वरं हरम्॥ त्र्यक्षं त्रिशूलिनं रुद्रे देवदेवमुमापतिम्। तदाऽथ चिन्तितो देवस्तज्ज्ञात्वा द्रुतमाययौ॥  तस्याथ देवस्तत्सर्वमाचचक्षे प्रजापतिः। तच्छ्रुत्वा दवेदेवेशो लोकस्यास्य हितेप्सया॥ अपिबत्तद्विषं रुद्रः कालानलसमप्रभम्। कण्ठे स्थापितवान्देवो लोकानां हितकाम्यया॥ यस्मात्तु नीलता कण्ठे नीलकण्ठस्ततः स्मृतः। पीतमात्रे विषे तत्र रुद्रेणामिततेजसा॥ देवाः प्रीताः पुनर्जग्मुश्चक्रुर्वै कर्म तत्तथा। मथ्यमानेऽमृतस्यार्थे भूयो वै देवदानवैः॥ 1.18.19-27

Then, while the churning of Mount Mandāra was underway by the arms of the Devas and Asuras, a sharp poison known as Hālahala was produced. The Devas and Asuras were scorched by the poison. Frightened and distressed, they fled. The Devas then assembled with the foremost ascetics and approached Lord Brahmā. They said, “While the nectar was being churned, a poison was produced, staining the waves black. In a trice, it engulfed the Earth, blazing up like a fire. The worlds are tormented by it. Please help us.”

Thus addressed, Brahmā meditated upon Lord Śiva — the Guru of the three worlds, three-eyed, trident-wielding, Rudra, the best among the Devas, the consort of Uma. Then, as Brahmā contemplated, the Deva (Śiva) arrived quickly. Prajāpati explained to him all that had happened.

Having heard everything, the Śiva, desiring the welfare of the worlds, drank the poison that glowed like the fire of death. For the sake of all creation, Maheswara held the poison in his throat, which was burnt blue, and from that time Śiva is also called Nīlakaṇṭha, blue-throated. As soon as Rudra, of immense effulgence, drank the poison, The Devas were pleased and returned and performed the same act.

More Trouble

वासुकेरथ नागस्य सहसा क्षिप्यतोऽसुरैः। सधूमाः सार्चिषो वाता निष्पेतुरसकृन्मुखात्॥' ते धूमसङ्घाः संभूता मेघसङ्घाः सविद्युतः। अभ्यवर्षन्सुरगणाञ्श्रमसंतापकर्शितान्॥  तस्माच्च गिरिकूटाग्रात्प्रच्युताः पुष्पवृष्टयः। सुरासुरगणान्सर्वान्समन्तात्समवाकिरन्॥ बभूवात्र महान्नादो महामेघरवोपमः। उदधेर्मथ्यमानस्य मन्दरेण सुरासुरैः॥  तत्र नानाजलचरा विनिष्पिष्टा महाद्रिणा। विलयं समुपाजग्मुः शतशो लवणाम्भसि॥ वारुणानि च भूतानि विविधानि महीधरः। पातालतलवासीनि विलयं समुपानयत्॥ 1.18.28-33

The Jaw of Vāsuki was suddenly thrown down by the Asuras, Flames and black smoke spewed from Vāsuki’s jaws, again and again. These turned into clouds, charged with lightning, and poured down rain that refreshed the tired Devas. Flowers also rained from every side over the Devas, flying from the trees of whirling Mandāra, covering them in cool fragrances.

Then, O Brāhmaṇa, from the ocean deeps came a tremendous roar like the thunder of the clouds of the Pralaya, the Apocalypse. Countless fish and other creatures of the Sea were crushed by Mandāra and perished in the salt water. Numberless denizens of Pātala, and of the world of Varuṇa, died.

तस्मिंश्च भ्राम्यमाणेऽद्रौ संघृष्यन्तः परस्परम्। न्यपतन्पतगोपेताः पर्वताग्रान्महाद्रुमाः॥ तेषां संघर्षजश्चाग्निरर्चिर्भिः प्रज्वलन्मुहुः। विद्युद्भिरिव नीलाभ्रमावृणोन्मन्दरं गिरिम्॥  ददाह कुञ्जरांस्तत्र सिंहांश्चैव विनिर्गतान्। विगतासूनि सर्वाणि सत्त्वानि विविधानि च॥ तमग्निममरश्रेष्ठः प्रदहन्तमितस्ततः। वारिणा मेघजेनेन्द्रः शमयामास सर्वशः॥ ततो नानाविधास्तत्र सुस्रुवुः सागराम्भसि। महाद्रुमाणां निर्यासा बहवश्चौषधीरसाः॥  तेषाममृतवीर्याणां रसानां पयसैव च। अमरत्वं सुरा जग्मुः काञ्चनस्य च निःस्रवात्॥ 1.18.34-39

Great trees, with birds in their branches, upon spinning Mandāra were torn up by their roots and flung into the water. Rubbing roughly against one another, many of these caught fire; fires broke out all round the churning and upon the mountain itself, licking through its forests. The mountain looked like a mass of black clouds veined with lightning. 

O Brāhmaṇa, the fire spread to the mountain, and immolated lions, elephants and the other creatures that lived on Mandāra. Then Indra put out the fire with some lashing rain. After the churning had been underway for some time, O Brāhmaṇa, the extrusions of some herbs and treees, which were nectarine, mingled with sea-water, as did the liquid gold from the belly of the mountain.

ततस्तस्य समुद्रस्य तञ्जातमुदकं पयः। रसोत्तमैर्विमिश्रं च ततः क्षीरादभूद्धृतम्॥ ततो ब्रह्माणमासीनं देवा वरदमब्रुवन्। श्रान्ताः स्म सुभृशं ब्रह्मन्नोद्भवत्यमृतं च तत्॥ ऋते नारायणं देवं सर्वेऽन्ये देवदानवाः। चिरारब्धमिदं चापि सागरस्यापि मन्थनम्॥  ग्लानिरस्मान्समाविष्टा न चात्रामृतमत्थितम्। सौतिरुवाच। देवानां वचनं श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः॥ ततो नारायणं देवं वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्। विधत्स्वैषां बलं विष्णो भवानत्र परायणम्॥ विष्णुरुवाच। बलं ददामि सर्वेषां कर्मैतद्ये समास्थिताः। क्षोभ्यतां कलशः सर्वैमन्दरः परिवर्त्यताम्॥ 1.18.40-45 

And the Devas drank this water and felt immortal. Slowly, the milky water of the churned Kshirasagara turned into ghee, because of those rare extrusions. But the Amṛta itself still did not appear. 

The Devas came before Brahmā, Granter of boons, upon his Lotus throne, and said, “Sire, we are spent and have no strength left to continue churning. The Amṛta has not yet surfaced and we must resort to Nārāyaṇa to help us now.” Hearing them, Brahmā said to Nārāyaṇa, “Lord, bless the Devas with strength to churn on.” 

Nārāyaṇa said, “Devas, I will infuse you with my own strength. Go, put the mountain back in place and churn the sea again.”

नारायणवचः श्रुत्वा बलिनस्ते महोदधेः। तत्पयः सहिता भूयश्चक्रिरे भृशमाकुलम्॥ तत्र पूर्वं विषं जातं तद्ब्रह्मवचनाच्छिवः। प्राग्रसल्लोकरक्षार्थं ततो ज्येष्ठा समुत्थिता। ततः शतसहस्रांशुर्मथ्यमानात्तु सागरात्। प्रसन्नात्मा समुत्पन्नः सोमः शीतांशुरुज्ज्वलः॥  श्रीरनन्तरमुत्पन्ना घृतात्पाण्डुरवासिनी। सुरा देवी समुत्पन्ना तुरगः पाण्डुरस्तथा॥ कौस्तुभस्तु मणिर्दिव्य उत्पन्नो घृतसंभवः।  1.18.46-50 

After hearing what Nārāyaṇa said, Their strength renewed, the Devas began churning again, but they are still very agitated. Before all this, a deadly poison, which was saved by Mahādeva, from the request of Brahmā, for the reason of saving this world. In a while, the softly luminous Moon emerged, thousand-rayed, from the Ocean. 

Then the Devī Lakṣmī, incomparable, clad in white, rose out of the waves, followed by the dazzling white Uccaiḥśravas, and the celestial ruby Kaustubha that Nārāyaṇa wears upon his breast. 

श्रीः सुरा चैव सोमश्च तुरगश्च मनोजवः। `पारिजातश्च तत्रैव सुरभिश्च महामुने। जज्ञाते तौ तदा ब्रह्मन्सर्वकामफलप्रदौ॥ ततो जज्ञे महाकायश्चतुर्दन्तो महागजः। कपिला कामवृक्षश्च कौस्तुभश्चाप्सरोगणः।'  धन्वन्तरिस्ततो देवो वपुष्मानुदतिष्ठत। श्वेतं कमण्डलुं बिभ्रदमृतं यत्र तिष्ठति॥ एतदत्यद्भुतं दृष्ट्वा दानवानां समुत्थितः। अमृतार्थे महान्नादो ममेदमिति जल्पताम्॥ 1.18.51-54

Lakṣmī, Soma and the Horse swift as the mind all came before the Devas. Pārijāta and Surabhī also emerged. O Mahāmuni, both of them were known to be the bestowers of all desires and fruits.  

Kapila (a type of Cow), Kalpavṛkṣa, Kaustubha mani, Apsarās also came. Airavāta, of mammoth body and with four gleaming white tusks, came forth. Indra who wields the Vajra, the thunderbolt, took him. 

Bhagavān Dhanvantri and Mohini

Then Now, the divine and original physician Dhanvantari rose from the waters, bearing a pale chalice with the Amṛta. The Asuras saw him and roared, “It is ours!” 

ततो नारायणो मायां मोहिनीं समुपाश्रितः। स्त्रीरूपमद्भुतं कृत्वा दानवानभिसंश्रितः॥ ततस्तदमृतं तस्यै ददुस्ते मूढचेतसः। स्त्रियै दानवदैतेयाः सर्वे तद्गतमानसाः॥ सा तु नारायणी माया धारयन्ती कमण्डलुम्। आस्यमानेषु दैत्येषु पङ्क्त्या च प्रति दानवैः॥ देवानपाययद्देवी न दैत्यांस्ते च चुक्रुशुः॥ ॥ 1.18.55-58

Seeing all these wonders, the Asuras despaired, and prepared to fight the Devas for Lakṣmī and the Amṛta. Nārāyaṇa summoned his Maya, his feminine power of illusion. He assumed the form of Mohinī, a dark and irresistible seductress, and flirted with the Dānavas, arousing them past reason. Enchanted by her, the Asuras gave the chalice of Amṛta, which they had snatched from Dhanvantri, into her hands.’

इति श्रीमन्महाबारते आदिपर्वणि आस्तीकपर्वणि अष्टादशोऽध्यायः॥ 18 ॥

सौतिरुवाच। अथावरणमुख्यानि नानाप्रहरणानि च। प्रगृह्याभ्यद्रवन्देवान्सहिता दैत्यदानवाः॥  ततस्तदमृतं देवो विष्णुरादाय वीर्यवान्। जहार दानवेन्द्रेभ्यो नरेण सहितः प्रभुः॥ ततो देवगणाः सर्वे पपुस्तदमृतं तदा। विष्णोः सकाशात्संप्राप्य संभ्रमे तुमुले सति॥ पाययत्यमृतं देवान्हरौ बाहुबलान्नरः। निरोधयति चापेन दूरीकृत्य धनुर्धरान्। ये येऽमृतं पिबन्ति स्म ते ते युद्ध्यन्ति दानवैः;'॥ ततः पिबत्सु तत्कालं देवेष्वमृतमीप्सितम्। राहुर्विबुधरूपेण दानवः प्रापिबत्तदा॥ 1.19.1-5

Sauti said, ‘The Daityas and Dānavas, the Asura sons of Ditī and Danū, clad in superb armour and bearing unworldly weapons, were ready to attack the Devas for the ambrosia. 

But Mohinī, the Enchantress, deceived the Asuras and gave the Devas all the Amṛta, which they greedily drank, in their terror of the Asuras, and they became immortal. 

While the Devas were drinking the nectar of immortality, a Dānava called Rāhu assumed the guise of a Deva and, sitting among them, he also drank a portion of the Amṛta. 

तस्य कण्ठमनुप्राप्ते दानवस्यामृते तदा। आख्यातं चन्द्रसूर्याभ्यां सुराणां हितकाम्यया॥ ततो भगवता तस्य शिरश्छिन्नमलंकृतम्। चक्रायुधेन चक्रेण पिबतोऽमृतमोजसा॥ तच्छैलशृह्गप्रङ्गिमं दानवस्य शिरो महत्। `चक्रेणोत्कृत्तमपतच्चालयद्वसुधातलम्॥' चक्रच्छिन्नं खमुत्पत्य ननादातिभयंकरम्। तत्कबन्धं पपातास्य विस्फुरद्धरणीतले॥ `त्रयोदश सहस्राणि चतुरश्रं समन्ततः। सपर्वतवनद्वीपां दैत्यस्याकम्पयन्महीम्॥ ततो वैरविनिर्बन्धः कृतो राहुमुखेन वै। शाश्वतश्चन्द्रसूर्याभ्यां ग्रसत्यद्यापि चैव तौ॥ 1.19.6-11

But Sūrya and Soma discovered him and Viṣṇu lopped off Rāhu’s head with the Sudarśana Chakra when the Amṛta had only reached his throat. And the grisly head of the Asura Rāhu, big as a mountain, rose into the sky and began to cry out dreadfully. 

The Dānava’s headless body fell on the Earth, making her tremble, all her mountains, forests and islands. From that time, Rāhu has hated Sūrya and Soma, and to this day he swallows them during the eclipses of the Sun and the Moon.

Deva Asura Yuddha

विहाय भगवांश्चापि स्त्रीरूपमतुलं हरिः। नानाप्रहरणैर्भीमैर्दानवान्तमकम्पयत्॥ ततः प्रवृत्तः संग्रामः समीपे लवणाम्भसः। सुराणामसुराणां च सर्वघोरतरो महान्॥ प्रासाश्च विपुलास्तीक्ष्णा न्यपतन्त सहस्रशः। तोमराश्च सुतीक्ष्णाग्राः शस्त्राणि विविधानि च॥ ततोऽसुराश्चक्रभिन्ना वमन्तो रुधिरं बहु। असिशक्तिगदारुग्णा निपेतुर्धरणीतले॥ छिन्नानि पट्टिशैश्चैव शिरांसि युधि दारुणैः। तप्तकाञ्चनमालीनि निपेतुरनिशं तदा॥ 1.19.12-16

Then Nārāyaṇa was no more the Mohinī of untold temptation, but Himself again, and cast inexorable astras at the Dānavas, weapons that made them tremble, weapons that killed thousands of them in a wink. Thus, on the shore of the salt-water Sea, the dreadful battle between the Devas and Asuras, the Devāsura Yuddha broke out. Sharp javelins and spears, and thousands of every kind of weapon filled the air on every side, darkening the sky. 

Dismembered by the Sudarśana Chakra, mangled by swords, crushed by maces, pierced through by arrows, burned by astras, Asuras beyond count lay dead upon the Earth in pools of blood from their wounds and blood they had vomitted. A rain of heads glinting golden crowns and ornaments, hewn from their necks with razor sharp blades, fell onto the ground.

रुधिरेणानुलिप्ताङ्गा निहताश्च महासुराः। अद्रीणामिव कूटानि धातुरक्तानि शेरते॥ आहाकारः समभवत्तत्र तत्र सहस्रशः। अन्योन्यंछिन्दतां शस्त्रैरादित्ये लोहितायति॥ परिघैरायसैस्तीक्ष्णैः सन्निकर्षे च मुष्टिभिः। निघ्नतां समरेऽन्योन्यं शब्दो दिवमिवास्पृशत्॥ छिन्धिभिन्धि प्रधाव त्वं पातयाभिसरेति च। व्यश्रूयन्त महाघोराः शब्दास्तत्र समन्ततः॥ 1.19.17-20

Drenched in gore, great Asuras lay dead everywhere like ruddy peaks of mountains, so huge were they. And when the Sun rose in glory, thousands of warriors hacked at one another with diverse weapons. Screams rang out on all sides, and roars. 

Warriors that fought from a distance struck each other with arrows and iron javelins; those that fought hand to hand slew one another with blows of their fists. The air was thick with shrieks of pain. Everywhere deep voices roared, “Cut him down!”, “Run him through!”, “Off with his head!”, “At them!”, “Burn him!”, “Kill!”, and “Forward!”

(We will skip some verses and put them in the Post named “Līlas of Bhagavān Nara Nārāyaṇa” in the future)

ततः सुरैर्विजयमवाप्य मन्दरः स्वमेव देशं गमितः सुपूजितः। विनाद्य खं दिवमपि चैव सर्वश- स्ततो गताः सलिलधरा यथागतम्॥ ततोऽमृतं सुनिहितमेव चक्रिरे सुराः पुरां मुदमभिगम्य पुष्कलाम्। ददो च तं निधिममृतस्य रक्षितुं किरीटिने बलभिदथामरैः सह॥ ॥ 1.19.32-33

The victorious Devas worshipped Mount Mandāra and set him back in his place, so he was rooted again. Having the Amṛta for themselves, the Devas shouted for joy, making Swarga echo with their shouts, and returned on high to their own realms. Great were their celebrations when they returned to Devaloka, and Indra and the other Devas gave the chalice of Amṛta to Nārāyaṇa for safekeeping.’

इति श्रीमन्महाभारते आदिपर्वणि आस्तीकपर्वणि एकोनविंशोऽध्यायः॥ 19 ॥ 

Conclusion

The event was a collaborative effort between Devas and the Asuras to churn the Ocean of Milk to obtain Amṛta, the nectar of immortality. The Devas did Śaranāgati to Paramātma in every Critical Moment to attain Victory. Let us all Surrender to him.