Chapter 9 - Distribution of Nectar by Mohinī

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Śuka continued:

1. The Asuras who renounced the spirit of mutual friendship, reproached each other (for the nectar). Adopting the ways of robbers (with a determination to secure the nectar) they were snatching the jar of nectar from each other when they happened to behold the approaching damsel (the Mchinī-form of Viṣṇu).

2. “Oh what a graceful form! What exquisite splendour! What a charming youthfulness!” With such passion enkindled in their hearts, they ran up to her and began to enquire.

3. “Who are you Oh damsel, with eyes like lotus-petals? Whence have you come? What do you intend to do (What is the object of your visit)? Tell us whose daughter you are. You are as it were churning (agitating) our minds, Oh lady with shapely thighs!

4. Not that we do not know (i.e. we do know definitely) that you are not touched by the celestials, Daityas, Siddhas, Gandharvas, Cāraṇas or (even by) guardians of the worlds. How then (could it be) by human beings?

5. Oh lady with beautiful brows! Indeed! you must have been certainly deputed by the merciful Lord of the universe to give delight to the senses and minds of all embodied beings. Is it not so? or have you come of your own accord?

6. Oh proud lady with a beautiful waist! (Deputed by the Lord as you are)! As such it behoves you to bring about amity and happiness among us who, though kins, have turned out to be enemies by jealously contending to obtain one common object.

7. As the sons of the sage Kaśyapa, we are all brothers and have displayed our prowess. Be pleased to distribute the prize (the nectar') equitably, so that there will be no ground for a quarrel.

8. When approached with this request by the Daityas, Lord Hari who assumed the form of that damsel by his deluding Potency (Māyā), just laughed, and addressed them as follows, looking at them (all the while) with captivating sidelong glances.

The Lord said:

9. How is it that you, the sons of the (great) sage Kaśyapa,^[1] associate yourselves with a wanton woman like me? Certainly, no wise man reposes trust in women.

10. Oh enemies of celestials! The wise people say that the friendship of wolves and especially of way-ward women who are always on the look-out for ever-new victims (and men), is momentary (and unreliable).

Śrī Śuka said:

11. By such of her jocular and enticing remarks, the Asuras (were tempted to feel) reassured in their minds. They give out an incomprehensible yet significant laugh, and handed over the jar of nectar to her.

12. Thereupon, taking the charge of the jar of nectar, Hari spoke in a tone brightened up with a gentle smile: “If you (unanimously and whole-heartedly) are ready to accept whatever I do, whether right or wrong, in any way (I please), (then and then only) I shall (undertake to) distribute the nectar among you”.

13. On hearing her speech, the leaders of the Asuras, incapable of comprehending the depth and significance of her words, agreed to her condition saying “Be it so”.

14. Thereupon having observed a fast^[2] (as per Mohinī’s instruction) they took their bath. After offering oblations to the fire, and having distributed (food etc.) to cows, Brāhmaṇas and other beings, they got performed the rite of Svastyayava (recitation of benedictory verses and offer of blessings) by Brāhmaṇas.

15. Wearing brand new clothes according to their (individual) choice, and gorgeously adorning their person with ornaments, all of them entered upon (and squatted) on (the seats of) Kuśa grass the ends which pointed to the east.

16. 17. When the gods and demons (sons of Diti) were sitting with their faces to the east in that hall fragrant with incense, decorated with wreaths of flowers and illuminated with lamps, there entered, with the jar of nectar in hands, she (Mohinī) with beautiful, round, symmetrical thighs, of gait slow dus (to the weight of) her bulky hips covered with brilliant silk raiment, eyes swimming as if through inebriation, of pitcher-like big breasts, warbling (as it were) with the jingling of her gold anklets, Oh King.

18. Ogling Her, the veritable supreme Deity, as a compeer to goddess Śrī^[3] (or Lakṣmī in beauty), with a winning countenance, having beautiful ears adorned with gold ear-rings, shapely nose and charming cheeks, the gods and demons were completely enchanted by her glances accompanied with captivating smiles while her brassiere (the cloth cover of her breasts) slipped (exposing her breasts).

19. Considering that it is unfair to offer nectar to demons who like serpents are wicked by nature, Lord Viṣṇu did not distribute it to Asuras.

20. Arranging them both in separate rows, the Lord of the world made them sit in their respective rows.

21. Taking the Jar of nectar and beguiling the demons by charming movements of brows. bashful smiles, play with garment and ornaments, sweet flattering words, he made gods who were sitting at a distance, to drink the nectar which prevents old age and death.

22. Oh King! The Asuras abided by the pledge given by them. Out of covetous lust for her and feeling it below their dignity to quarrel with a lady, they kept quiet.

23. They cherished unbounded attachment and lustful longing for her and were too nervous to affect it adversely. Being restrained by the high reverence shown to them by her (“Let the niggardly gods drink first. Sensible people like you should wait a bit”) they uttered nothing unpleasant.

24. Disguising himself in the garb of celestials, Rāhu entered (stealthily) in the row of gods (between the sun and the moon) and drank the nectar but was indicated (exposed with gestures) by the sun and the moon (who feared him as more powerful than they).

25. Just while he (Rāhu) was drinking, Hari (swiftly) severed his head with his discus of razor-like sharpness so his headless trunk to which nectar did not touch, fell down dead.

26. His head (however) attained immortality upon which the Birthless Lord conferred planet-hood But cherishing (this old) enmity, he assails the sun and the moon on the new-moon-day and the full-moon-day (respectively whenever he gets an opportunity).

27. When gods had almost consumed the nectar, the glorious Lord Hari, the creator and protector of the world (renouncing his female form) reassumed his own form, while the Asura chiefs kept looking on (agape).

28. In this way, even though (the factors such as) time, place, instrument (apparatus), activity and the objective of the hosts of gods and demons were the same, there was divergence in the fruit (reaped). Out of them, gods easily obtained the fruit viz. the nectar, due to their resort to the dust of the lotus-feet of the Lord, while the Daityas did not.

29. Whatever is done by men with their life, wealth, senses, mind and words for their own person, progeny etc., becomes futile as a consequence of entertaining the idea of difference and distinction. But whatever is done by employing the same set of means dedicating them to the Lord without cherishing the sense of difference, is crowned with success like watering the roots of a tree (reaches to all its branches, leaves etc.).

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Bhāvārtha-dīpikā-prakāśa dissolves: Kaśyapa-dāyāda—into Kaśya-pa-dāya-ada—who are in the habit of and deserving to be served with wine. “Why do you want nectar?” VC. “You, sons of a great sage like Kaśyapa! The father a great sage and the sons hunt after wanton women!” This is the sarcastic joke.

[2]:

Upoṣya—VC. states that they had already observed a fast for the auspicious act of drinking nectar. But a quarrel broke out among themselves for settling which Mohinī became the mediator. After entrusting the jar of nectar to her. they took their bath.

[3]:

Śrī-Sakhī [Sakhīm]—Anvitārthaprakāśikā. observes that though Viṣṇu was a male companion of Śrī, he acted like a female friend to serve the interests of his devotees.