Skandapurana 2.9.10

Sāvarṇi said:

How was Fortune, which had gone to the ocean, obtained again by Indra, O Skanda? / Tell me all of this story that rests on Nārāyaṇa.

Skanda said:

Deprived of Fortune, the king of the gods, even by the Dānavas who were [likewise] deprived of fortune,

was defeated, stripped of his abode, and had all his possessions lost.

In mountain caves and thickets, and here and there in forests,

he wandered together with the guardians of the directions, Varuṇa and the others.

Clothed in garments of bark and antelope skins, feeding on the flesh of beasts and birds,

the gods, Daityas, humans, and Nāgas had identical conduct and accoutrements.

The vessels in the dwellings of everyone were only earthen;

all the people were wretched, and the women were like goblin-witches.

In the beginning there was a drought of twelve years upon the earth;

afterwards, rain fell in some places in small amounts, and in some places not at all.

Thus a hundred years passed for them amidst the miseries of poverty.

Having powerful past karma already begun, they did not die even in the midst of extreme misery.

They lived like the almost dead, like dwellers in hell within the hells.

Even while striving to obtain Fortune through sacrifices and other means, they did not obtain her.

Then, at the end of a thousand years, they went for refuge to Mount Meru;

because of the curse of Durvāsas, all the gods, [now] ill-clad, went to Brahmā.

Bowing to him, Indra and the others reported their misery;

for right from the beginning he knew the misfortune of the gods due to his omniscience.

Then, having rebuked Indra, Brahmā, together with Śiva,

unable to avert that misery, wished to propitiate Viṣṇu.

Then, intending to worship with austerity him who is fond of austerity,

he approached the Ocean of Milk, accompanied by the host of all the gods.

On its delightful northern shore, they all, observing a vow of fasting,

standing on one foot with upraised arms, performed austerity.

In their hearts they meditated upon Keśava, the destroyer of all distress,

upon Vāsudeva, the husband of Lakṣmī, with their minds made one-pointed.

Then, at the end of a hundred years, Lord Viṣṇu, glorious Kṛṣṇa himself,

showed compassion to the wretched gods who had fallen into extreme peril.

He whose form is invisible even to knowers of the self through abundant austerities,

manifested there through grace, possessing the radiance of a million suns.

First, suddenly flashing forth, only a great orb of light,

white, dense, and peerless, did all the gods see.

In the middle of it, Brahmā and Śiva saw the husband of Ramā,

dark as a rain-cloud, four-armed, holding a mace, a lotus, and the discus,

adorned with a diadem, girdle, bracelets, earrings, and other ornaments,

clothed in yellow silk, possessing a divine and beautiful form.

Their minds overcome with joy, the two bowed down like a staff;

and then, by his will, the gods also, seeing him, bowed with joy.

They became exceedingly joyful, like the penniless upon finding a treasure.

All the gods, joining their palms in reverence, praised him with devotion:

The gods said:

Oṃ! Homage to the Blessed One, to you, Vāsudeva; we meditate upon [you].

To Pradyumna and Aniruddha, and homage to Saṃkarṣaṇa. // 22

To the one whose form is the syllable Oṃ and Brahman, whose form is manifested in three ways,

to the cause of the creation, sustenance, and dissolution of the cosmic egg, and to the one devoid of qualities. // 23

To the one whose form brings delight to the eyes, who destroys the suffering of those who bow down,

homage to you, Keśava, whose form is the independent sovereign Lord! // 24

To the one who brings joy to all his devotees, who deludes time, māyā, and the rest,

to Kṛṣṇa, eternal bliss, homage to the one abiding in true righteousness! // 25

To the one whose renown is able to deliver those submerged in the ocean of worldly existence,

to you of wondrous form, dark as a rain-cloud, homage! // 26

Bearing mace, lotus, conch, and discus with long arms,

to you, protector of the gods, cows, brahmins, and righteousness, homage, homage! // 27

To the most excellent, bestower of desired boons to those who surrender,

to you, known through the Vedas and scriptures, the womb of the Vedas, homage! // 28

To the one seated in the midst of the orb of light, whose divine form is beautiful,

we bow to you, Viṣṇu, who are higher than the highest! // 29

To the one whose greatness lies far beyond speech and mind, whose form is the imperishable,

to the inner controller of all, and to the immense one, homage, homage! // 2.9.10.30

You alone are the giver of happiness to those who have taken refuge in you; therefore we,

exceedingly afflicted by a great calamity, have approached you for refuge. // 31

Because of our offense toward Durvāsas, your devotee and a devotee of the God of gods,

we have been deprived of fortune and have fallen into this miserable plight. // 32

When we were deprived of clothing, food, drink, abode, and other things, O Lord, even dharma

abandoned us and departed along with Fortune; you are the Lord capable of protecting them. // 33

For we and dharma are known to be yours;

therefore, you alone ought to make us happy as before. // 34

Skanda said:

Thus entreated by the gods, the Blessed One, that ocean of compassion,

spoke, delighting the gods with a voice deep as a thundercloud. // 35

The Blessed Lord said:

O gods, I know all your distress arising from your offense against a virtuous one.

This very day apply the means that I tell you for its cessation. // 36

Having cast all medicinal herbs into the ocean, using Mount Mandara

with the king of serpents as the churning-rope, churn it together with the asuras. // 37

First making peace with the Danujas, carry out the churning of the ocean.

I will give you assistance; you need have no distress in that regard. // 38

Having obtained the nectar and the glance of Fortune, with your vigor greater than before,

you shall be [victorious]; but the Daityas, being averse to me, shall partake only of misery. // 39

Skanda said:

Having spoken thus, Viṣṇu, who destroys the distress of devotees, vanished.

The gods, having bowed to him, began to do what he had told them. // 2.9.10.40

Thus ends the tenth chapter, titled “Setting Forth the Grace of Śrī Vāsudeva,” in the Śrīvāsudevamāhātmya in the second section, the Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa, of the venerable Skandapurāṇa containing eighty-one thousand verses. // 10