Matsya Purana 250: adhyāyaḥ 250

250.1

kṣīrodamathanavarṇanam.
sūta uvāca.
nārāyaṇa vacaḥ śrutvā balinaste mahodadhim.
tatpayaḥ sahitā bhūtvā cakrire bhṛśamākulam .. 250.1 ..

Sûta said:—Hearing such words of Nârâyana, the Devas and the demons began to churn the ocean with great force.—1

250.2

tataḥ śatasahasrāṃśu samāna iva sāgarāt.
prasannābhaḥ samutpannaḥ somaḥ śītāṃśurujjvalaḥ .. 250.2 ..

Then the beautiful Moon with its refreshing rays came out of the ocean.—2

250.3

śrīranantaramutpannā ghṛtāt pāṇḍuravāsinī.
surādevī samutpannā turagaḥ pāṇḍurastathā .. 250.3 ..

Next came out the Goddess Lakṣmî, wearing white raiments followed by Surâ Devı, after whom was obtained the horse Uchaiśrava, later on came the precious dıvıne Kaustubha gem, necktarlike, cheering which Viṣnu took it and placed on His chest. Afterwards came out the charming Pârıjâta flower shrub with bunches of golden flowers. Shortly after the Devas and the demons found the sky covered with smoke which gradually spread in every dırection and caused terrible headache to everyone making them senseless and lıe down. They all sat down on the coast holding their heads. In the meantime that smoke turned out to be the unbearable Bârabânala (conflagration) by the heat of which many Devas and demons were singed and began to run about in all dırections, after it Dundubha snakes, various kinds of red and black snakes, living on air alone, came forth. Also came out serpents with long teeth, red-coloured snakes, snakes living on air alone, also white, yellow and variously coloured snakes, also snakes came out of Gnasa class.—3-10

250.4

kaustubhaśca maṇirdivyaścotpanno'mṛtasambhavaḥ.
marīcivikacaḥ śrīmān nārāyaṇa urogataḥ .. 250.4 ..

250.5

pārijātaśca vikaca kusumastavakāñcitaḥ.
anantaramapaśyaṃste dhūmamambarasannibham .. 250.5 ..

250.6

āpūritadiśāmbhāgaṃ duḥsahaṃ sarvadehinām .
tamāghrāya surāḥ sarve mūrcchitāparilaṅghitāḥ .. 250.6 ..

250.7

upāviśannabdhitaṭe śiraḥ saṃgṛhya pāṇinā.
tataḥ krameṇa durvāraḥ so'nalaḥ pratyadṛśyata .. 250.7 ..

250.8

jvālāmālākulākāraḥ samantād bhīṣaṇo'rciṣā.
tenāgnināparikṣiptāḥ prāyaśastu surāsurāḥ .. 250.8 ..

250.9

dagdhāścāpyarddhadagdhāśca babhramuḥ sakalā diśaḥ.
pradhānā devadaityāśca bhīṣitāstena vahninā .. 250.9 ..

250.10

anantaraṃ samudbhūtāstasmāt ḍuṇḍubhajātayaḥ.
kṛṣṇasarpā mahādaṃṣṭrā raktāśca pavanāśanāḥ .. 250.10 ..

250.11

śvetapītāstathā cānye tathā gonasa-jātayaḥ.
maśakābhramarā daṃśā makṣikāḥ śalabhāstathā .. 250.11 ..

Next came forth mosquitoes, flies, centipedes, and innumerable kinds of venomous insects and terrible beings.—11-12

250.12

karṇaśalyāḥ kṛkalāsā anekāścaiva babhramuḥ.
prāpino daṃṣṭriṇo raudrāstathā hi viṣajātayaḥ .. 250.12 ..

250.13

śāṅgahālāhalāmusta vatsakaṃ gurubhasmagāḥ.
nīlapatrādayaścānye śataśo bahubhedinaḥ.
yeṣāṃ gandhena dahyante giriśrṛṅgāṇyapi drutam .. 250.13 ..

Then came out most deadly poisons by the mere fumes of which the mountain summits were consumed as well as Saruga, Halâhala, Musta, Vatsa, Kangaru, Bhasmaga, and Nilapatra and hundreds of other poisonous things.—13

250.14

anantaraṃ nīlarasaughabhṛṅga bhinnāñjanābhaṃ viṣamaṃ śvasantam.
kāyena lokāntarapūrakeṇa keśaiśca vahnipratimairjvaladbhiḥ .. 250.14 ..

Shortly after the Devas and the demons beheld in that vast ocean a terrible form of blue colour, lıke Bhrınga Anjana and mountaın, shining lıke golden clouds, full of precious gems and roaring lıke clouds, the most deadly poison—Kâlakûta—strong lıke fire. It is throwing off awful breath, and enveloping all the Lokas by its body, its haırs blazing lıke fire. Its body was decked with golden gems, ıt was dressed in yellow robes, a crown on the head and adorned with various flowers. It began to make dreadful noise in the ocean. Its fumes pervaded all round and caused an awful consternation among those present there. Under its deadly influence, many became petrified, most of them began to vomıt froth. They all were awfully terrified and most of them were rendered senseless.—14-17

250.15

suvarṇamuktāphalabhūṣitāṅgaṃ kirīṭinaṃ pītadukūlajuṣṭam.
nīlotpalābhaiḥ kusumaiḥ kṛtārdhaṃ garjantamambhodharabhīmavegam .. 250.15 ..

250.16

adrākṣurambhonidhimadhyasaṃsthaṃ savigrahaṃ dehi bhayāśrayantam.
vilokya taṃ bhīṣaṇamugranetraṃ bhūtāśca vitresurathāpi sarve .. 250.16 ..

250.17

kecidvilokyaiva gatā hyabhāvaṃ niḥsaṃjñatāṃ cāpyapare prapannāḥ.
vemurmukhebhyo'pi ca phenamanye kecittvavāptā viṣamāmavasthām .. 250.17 ..

250.18

śvāsena tasya nirdagdhā tato viṣṇvindradānavāḥ.
dagdhāṅgāranibhā jātā ye bhūtā divyarūpiṇaḥ.
tatastu sambhramādviṣṇustamuvāca surātmakam.. 250.18 ..

By its fumes Viṣnu, Indra demons, etc., became burst and other dıvıne beings turned into cleaned coals. Lord Viṣnu addressing this form said:—18

250.19

śrībhagavānuvāca.
ko bhavānantakaprakhyaḥ kimicchasi kuto.़pi ca.
kiṃ kṛtvā te priyaṃ jāye devamācakṣva me'khilam .. 250.19 ..

"Who are you of this death lıke nature and what is your object? Whence have you come? How will you be pleased?" Hearing those words of Lord Viṣnu, Kâlakûta thundered out lıke a huge kettle drum.—19-20 “I am Kâlakûta poison born out of the churning of the ocean. I am born to kill the Devas and the demons for their having churned the ocean so furiously.—21-22.

250.20

tacca tasya vacaḥ śrutvā viṣṇoḥ kālāgnisannibhaḥ.
uvāca kālakūṭastu bhinnadundubhi nisvanaḥ .. 250.20 ..

250.21

kālakūṭa uvāca.
ahaṃ hi kālakūṭākhyo viṣo'mbudhisamudbhavaḥ.
yadā tīvratarāmarṣaiḥ parasparavadhaiṣibhiḥ .. 250.21 ..

250.22

surāsurairvimathito dugdhāmbho nidhiradbhutaḥ.
sambhūto'haṃ tadā sarvān hantuṃ devān sadānavān .. 250.22 ..

250.23

sarvāniha haniṣyāmi kṣaṇamātreṇa dehinaḥ.
mā māṃ grasata vai sarve yāta vā giriśāntikam .. 250.23 ..

I shall now destroy them in a moment They should now either swallow me or go to Lord Śiva.”—23.

250.24

śrutvaitadvacanaṃ tasya tato bhītāḥ surāsurāḥ.
brahmaviṣṇū puraskṛtya gatāste śaṅkarāntikam .. 250.24 ..

Hearing those fearful words, the Devas and the demons placing Brahmâ and Viṣṇu in front of them repaired to the abode of Lord Śiva and stood at His gateway They were announced to the Lord by His attendant Gaṇeṣa and with His permission went inside His cave in the golden Mandarâchala the steps of which were studded with precious stones, having pillars of Vaidûrya gem. Then they knelt down and prayed to the Lord under the leadership of Brahmâ.—24-27.

250.25

niveditāstato dvāsthaiste gaṇeśaiḥ surāsurāḥ.
anujñātāḥ śivenātha viviśurgiriśāntikam .. 250.25 ..

250.26

mandarasya guhāṃ haimīṃ muktā mālā vibhūṣitām.
sukhacchamaṇi sopānaṃ vaiḍhūryyastambha maṇḍitām .. 250.26 ..

250.27

tatra devāsuraiḥ sarvairjānubhirdharaṇīṃ gataiḥ.
brahmaṇāmagrataḥ kṛtvā idaṃ stotramudāhṛtam .. 250.27 ..

250.28

devadānavā ūcuḥ.
namastubhyaṃ virūpākṣa! sarvato'nantacakṣuṣe.
namaḥ pinākahastāya vajrahastāya dhanvine . 250.28 ..

The Devas and the demons:—“Virûpâkṣa! having divine eyes, armed with bow, thunderbolt and Pinâka, we salute you—28

250.29

namastriśūlahastāya daṇḍahastāya dhūrjaṭe.
namastrailokyanāthāya bhūtagrāmaśarīriṇe .. 250.29 ..

O, One armed with trident, the Lord of the three realms, the receptacle of all the beings, we all salute you.—29.

250.30

namaḥ surārihantre ca somāgnyarkāgyracakṣuṣe.
brahmaṇe caiva rudrāya namaste viṣṇurupiṇe .. 250.30 ..

O, destroyer of the enemies of the Devas, having for your eyes, the Sun, the Moon and the fire, the one who manifest yourself as Brahmâ, Viṣṇu and Rudra, Sâṁkhya Yoga, ordaining welfare to all the beings, we salute you.—30-31.

250.31

brahmaṇe vedarūpāya namaste devarūpiṇe.
sāṅkhyayogāya bhūtānāṃ namaste śambhavāya te .. 250.31 ..

250.32

manmathāṅgavināśāya namaḥ kālakṣayaṅkara.
raṃhase devadevāya namaste ca surottama! .. 250.32 ..

Annihilator of Cupid! destroyer of the Lokas and time! the Lord of all the Devas, our salutations to you Ekavîra! Śarba, the one with plaited hair, the Lord of Pârvatî, the destroyer of the sacrifice of Dakṣa and Tripura, the cause of the universe and giver of bliss and freedom to all, of the forms of Indra, Agni, Varuṇa, the three Vedas, Ṛik, Yajur, Sâma, you are the Puruṣa, you are Iśvara, Vipra, having Śrutis for your eyes as well, you are Sattva, Rajo and Tamoguṇas, eternal, we salute you. You are the foremost; you are the formidable.—32-36.

250.33

ekavīrāya śarvāyaḥ namaḥ piṅgakapardine.
umābhartre namastubhyaṃ yajñatripuraghātine .. 250.33 ..

250.34

śuddhabodhaprabuddhāya muktakaivalyarūpiṇe.
lokatrayavidhātre ca varuṇendrāgnirūpiṇe .. 250.34 ..

250.35

ṛgyajuḥ sāmavedāya puruṣāyeśvarāya ca.
agyrāya caiva cogrāya viprāya śruticakṣuṣe .. 250.35 ..

250.36

rajase caivasattvāya namaste stimitātmane.
anityanityabhāvāya namo nityacarātmane .. 250.36 ..

250.37

vyaktāya caivāvyaktāya vyaktāvyaktāya vai namaḥ.
bhaktānāmārtināśāya priyanārāyaṇāya ca .. 250.37 ..

The darkness is also Your Form; you are eternal and changeful; you are manifested; you are unmanifested; you are both manifest and unmanifest; you are dear to Nârâyaṇa; we salute you.—37.

250.38

umāpriyāya śarvāya nandivaktrāñcitāya ca.
ṛtumanvantakalpāya pakṣamāsadinātmane .. 250.38 ..

Beloved of the Goddess Pârvatî, residing in the mouth of Nandî, you are the seasons, the Manvantaras, the Kalpas, fortnights, months, days; the one who manifests himself in many ways; you are Muṇḍî (with shaved heads), Rathî, Dhanvî Yati, and Brahmachârî. Holder of the lotus, having directions for your garments, we salute you.”—38-40.

250.39

nānārupāya muṇḍāya varūtha pṛthudaṇḍine.
namaḥ kamalahastāya digvāsāya śikhaṇḍine .. 250.39 ..

250.40

dhanvine rathine caiva yataye brahmacāriṇe.
ityevamādicaritaiḥ stutaṃ tubhyaṃ namo namaḥ .. 250.40 ..

250.41

evaṃ surāsurai sthāṇustatastoṣamupāgataḥ.
uvāca vākyaṃ bhītānāṃ smitānvita śubhākṣaram .. 250.41 ..

After that prayer the Lord Śiva became pleased and said:—“Devas and demons! why have you come here? Why do you look so helpless and suffering? What shall I do for you? Tell me your object outright.” Hearing such words of the Lord the Devas and the demons said:—41-42

250.42

śrīśaṅkara uvāca.
kimarthamāgatā brūta trāsaglānamukhāmbujā!.
kiṃ vā'bhīṣṭaṃ dadāmyadya kāmaṃ prabrūta mā ciram .
ityuktāste tu devena procustaṃ sasurāsurāḥ .. 250.42 ..

250.43

surāsurā ūcuḥ.
amṛtārthe mahādeva! mathyamāne mahodadhau.
viṣamadbhutamudbhūtaṃ lokasaṃkṣayakārakam .. 250.43 ..

“We have churned the mighty ocean for nectar, out of which has come out the most deadly Kâlakûṭa poison which threatens to destroy us all, if we do not gulp it down.—43-44.

250.44

sa uvācātha sarveṣāṃ devānāṃ bhayakārakaḥ.
sarvānvā bhakṣayiṣyāmi athavā mā pibastathā .. 250.44 ..

250.45

tamaśaktāḥ vayaṃ grastuṃ so'smān śakto balotkaṭaḥ.
eṣaniśvāsamātreṇa śataparvasamadyutiḥ .. 250.45 ..

We are unable to devour that poison. We have come to you being overpowered by it. It sends up its fumes powerful like the

flashes of lightning and has blackened Viṣṇu dismayed Dharmarâja, rendered many unconscious and killed several —45 46

250.46

viṣṇuḥ kṛṣṇaḥ kṛtastena yamaśca viṣamātmavān.
mūrcchitāḥ patitāścānye vipranāśaṅgatāḥ pare .. 250.46 ..

250.47

arthā'narthakriyāṃ yāti durbhagānāṃ yathā vibho!
durbalānāñca saṃkalpo yathā bhavati cāpadi .. 250.47 ..

Lord! as the pelf of the unfortunate becomes the source of misfortune, and as in misfortunes the objects of the weak are not fulfilled, similarly this deadly poison has come deadly to us We have, therefore, come to you for succour and be pleased to give your helping hand to us —47-48

250.48

viṣametatsamudbhūtaṃ tasmādvāmṛtakākṣayā.
asmād bhayān mocayatvaṃ gatistvañca parāyaṇam.. 250.48 ..

250.49

bhaktānukampī bhāvajño bhuvanādīśvaro vibhuḥ.
yajñāgrabhukta sarvahaviḥ saumyaḥ somaḥ smarāntakṛt .. 250.49 ..

You are clement on your devotees, knower of all motives, the recipient of the first share of sacrificial offerings the most Supreme Lord, the annihilator of Kâma, you are Soma and Saumya and doing well to the Devas, you alone are our strength, you are the protector of the attendants, pray be pleased to swallow it and thus rescue us from the danger of our being destroyed by the formidable poison ”—49 50

250.50

tvameko no gatirdeva gīrvāṇagaṇaśarmakṛt.
rakṣāsmān bhakṣasaṃkalpād virūpākṣa! viṣajvarāt .. 250.50 ..

250.51

tacchrutvā bhagavānāha bhaganetrāntakṛdbhavaḥ.
bhakṣayiṣyāmyahaṃ ghoraṃ kālakūṭaṃ mahāviṣam .. 250.51 ..

Mahâdeva said —“ I shall swallow the Kâlakûta, and shall also fulfil if there is any other difficult mission to be accomplished by you ”—51 52

250.52

tathānyadapi yatkṛtyaṃ kṛcchrasādhyaṃ surāsurāḥ!.
taccāpi sādhayiṣyāmi tiṣṭhadhvaṃ vigatajvarāḥ .. 250.52 ..

250.53

ityuktvā hṛṣṭaromāṇo bāṣpagadgadakaṇṭhinaḥ.
ānandāśru parītākṣāḥ sa nāthā iva menire ..
surā brahmādaya sarve samāśvastāḥ sumānasāḥ .. 250.53 ..

The Devas and the demons were filled with extraordinary delight on hearing those words of the Lord, their eyes were moist with tears of joy and their voices got choked —53

250.54

tato'vrajad drutagatinā kakudminā haro'mbare pavanagatirjagatpatiḥ.
pradhāvitairasurasurendranāyakaiḥ svavāhanairvigṛhīta śubhracāmaraiḥ.
puraḥ saraiḥ sa tu śuśubhe śubhāśrayaiḥ śivo vaśī śikhikapiśordhvajūṭakaḥ .. 250.54 ..

Afterwards Lord Mahâdeva set out on his quick going buffalo as swift as wind on the aerial track when the Devas and the demons also followed Him on their respective conveyances, fanning the Lord with chowries —54

The Lord s knotted hairs standing up on high became tawny coloured by the fire of His third eye Then the Lord saw Kâlakûta on getting to the coast of the ocean —55

250.55

āsādya dugdhasindhuṃ taṃ kālakūṭaṃ viṣaṃ yataḥ.
tato devo mahādevo vilokya viṣamaṃ viṣam .. 250.55 ..

250.56

cchāyā sthānakamāsthāya so'pibadvāmapāṇinā.
pīyamāne viṣe tasmiṃstato devāḥ mahāsurāḥ .. 250.56 ..

He went to a shady place and quaffed it holding it in His left hand The Devas and the demons thundered out with glee when they saw the Lord drinking it They also danced and sang, and Brahmâ and other Devas began to pray When the venom was deposited in the throat of the Lord, Bali along with the Devas and the demons said “ O Lord! white like the lotus, the venom looks awfully beautiful like bees in your throat —56 59

250.57

jaguśca nanṛtuścāpi siṃhanādāṃśca puṣkalān.
cakruḥ śakramukhādyāśca hiraṇyākṣādayastathā .. 250.57 ..

250.58

stuvantaścaiva deveśaṃ prasannāścābhavaṃstadā.
kaṇṭhadeśe tataḥ prāpto viṣe devamathābruvan .. 250.58 ..

250.59

viriñcipramukhā devā balipramukhato'surāḥ.
śobhate deva! kaṇṭhaste gātre kundanibhaprabhe .. 250.59 ..

250.60

bhṛṅgamālānibhaṃ kaṇṭhe'pyatraivāstu viṣaṃ tava.
ityuktaḥ śaṅkaro devastathā prāha purāntakṛt .. 250.60 ..

It looks as if you are wearing a garland of black bees Let this remain in your throat ” The Lord replied that if that be the case He would let it lie there and not allow it to settle down, Śiva thus returned home after quaffing the poison and the Devas and the demons again resumed the churning of the ocean —60-61

250.61

pīte viṣe devagaṇān vimucya gato haro mandaraśailameva.
tasmin gate devagaṇāḥ punastaṃ mamanthurabdhiṃ vividhaprakāraiḥ .. 250.61 ..