Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.1981

c9.1981

(iv) Consumed Kālakuṭa. Owing to the curse of Durvāsas the Devas were subjected to symptoms of old age, and to produce amṛta (nectar) as remedy for this unfortunate development, the churning of Kṣīrābdhi (ocean of milk) was started. Vāsuki, the snake, was used as cord to rotate mount Mandara, which was used as the churning rod. When the churning became very intense, the mortal poison Kālakuṭa emerged out of Vāsuki's mouth. (Another view is held that Kālakuṭa rose out of the milk-sea). On the emergence of the deadly poison the asuras ran off in great fear, the Devas got bewildered, Bāli and Sugrīva too got frightened; and without exhibiting his fright Viṣṇu covered his face; on the whole it appeared as though the entire world would be reduced to ashes.