Agnipurana 3
English (machine translation) 3
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Contents
3.1
Agni said:
I shall narrate the Tortoise Incarnation, hearing which destroys sins.
Formerly, in the war between gods and demons, the gods were defeated by the Daityas.
3.2
And by the curse of Durvāsas they became destitute of fortune.
Praising Viṣṇu who resides in the Milk Ocean, they said, "Protect [us] from the asura!"
3.3
Hari said to Brahmā and the others, "Make peace with the asuras
for the churning of the Milk Ocean, indeed for the sake of the nectar, for fortune's sake, O asuras [and gods]!
3.4
Even enemies are to be allied with when the gravity of the purpose demands.
I shall cause you, not the Dānavas, to partake of the nectar."
3.4.p1
[Notes]
3.4.p2
"1 having tied the boat to its horn, thus the reading in the two manuscripts marked kha and gha"
3.4.p3
"2 Manu with praises, thus the reading in the manuscript marked ga"
3.4.p4
"3 heard, destroying sin, thus the reading in the three manuscripts marked kha, ga, and gha"
3.4.p5
"4 the gods to the one residing in the Milk Ocean, thus the reading in the two manuscripts marked ga and gha"
3.4.p6
"5 make peace with the asuras, thus the reading in the manuscript marked ga"
3.4.p7
"6 I shall make you partake, thus the reading in the manuscript marked kha / p. 5"
3.5
Making Mount Mandara the churning rod and Vāsuki the churning rope,
churn the Milk Ocean unflaggingly with my assistance.
3.6
Having made the agreement spoken by Viṣṇu, they came to the Milk Ocean with the Daityas.
Then they began to churn, the gods being at the tail.
3.7
Scorched by the breaths of the hooded serpent, the gods were refreshed by Hari.
As the ocean was being churned, that mountain, having no support, sank into the waters.
3.8
Assuming the form of a tortoise, Viṣṇu supported Mandara.
And as the Milk Ocean was being churned, the hālāhala poison arose.
3.9
It was held in the throat by Hara, who thereby became the blue-throated Nīlakaṇṭha.
Then arose the goddess Vāruṇī, the Pārijāta tree, and the Kaustubha gem.
3.10
And the wish-granting cows, the celestial apsarases, and the goddess Lakṣmī went to Hari.
All the gods, beholding her and praising [her], became endowed with fortune.
3.11
Then Dhanvantari arose, a manifestation of Viṣṇu who inaugurated the science of medicine,
bearing a water pot filled with nectar.
3.12
Taking the nectar from his hand, after giving half to the gods,
the Daityas, led by Janman, departed; then Viṣṇu assumed the form of a woman.
3.13
Seeing her endowed with beauty, the Daityas, infatuated, said:
"Be [our] wife! Take the nectar and make us drink it, O fair-faced woman!"
3.14
Saying "So be it," Hari took [it] from them and made the gods drink.
Rāhu, having assumed the form of the moon, was drinking when pointed out by the sun and moon.
3.14.p1
[Notes]
3.14.p2
"1 having made a rope, thus the reading in the manuscript marked kha"
3.14.p3
"2 exhausted by the breaths, thus the reading in the two manuscripts marked kha and gha"
3.14.p4
"3 then Hara, thus the reading in the two manuscripts marked ga and gha"
3.14.p5
"4 the exhibitor, thus the reading in the two manuscripts marked kha and ga"
3.14.p6
"5 pointed out by the sun and moon, thus the reading in the manuscript marked kha / p. 6"
3.15
Severed by Hari with his discus, that Rāhu's head became separated;
brought to immortality out of compassion, he spoke to boon-granting Hari:
3.16
"May the sun and moon suffer eclipse through me, the planet Rāhu!
And whatever gift people give at that time shall be imperishable."
3.17
Then Viṣṇu said to him, "So be it." Then, together with all the immortals,
having renounced the female form, he was addressed by Hara: "Show it [to me]!"
3.18
The blessed Lord Hari displayed the female form to Rudra.
Bewitched by the illusion, Śambhu abandoned Gaurī and pursued the woman.
3.19
Naked, he assumed a maddened appearance and seized the woman's hair.
Releasing her hair, the woman escaped, and he pursued her as she ran.
3.20
Wherever Hara's semen was spilled on the earth,
there arose a sacred site of liṅgas and of gold.
3.21
Realizing "This is an illusion," Hara returned to his true nature.
Hari spoke to Śiva: "O Rudra, my illusion has indeed been conquered by you.
3.22
No other man on earth, except you, is able to conquer this [illusion] of mine."
Then, failing to obtain the nectar, the Daityas were struck down by the gods in battle.
And the gods dwelt in heaven. Whoever recites [this] shall attain heaven.
3.22.p1
Thus ends the third chapter, named "The Tortoise Incarnation," in the first Mahāpurāṇa, the Āgneya.
3.22.p2
[Notes]
3.22.p3
"1 severed by Hari with a sword, thus the reading in the manuscript marked ga"
3.22.p4
"2 may I be; whatever gift they give at that time shall be imperishable, thus the reading in the manuscript marked kha"
3.22.p5
"3 deluded by illusion, Rudra swiftly went to her; having reached Mohinī, the wise one seized the woman's hair, thus the reading in the manuscript marked ga"
3.22.p6
"4 there arose a great sacred ford, highest of sacred sites, thus the reading in the manuscript marked ga / p. 7"
3.22.p8
Now the fourth chapter:
3.22.p9
Description of the Boar and other Incarnations.
Other recensions (1)
- Agnipurāṇa (Nag Publishers edition, Delhi) — Sanskrit
Linked texts (1)
- Agnipurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit