Chapter 12 - Churning of the Ocean: Birth of Fourteen Precious Jewels

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Skanda said:

1. Then the sons of Kaśyapa became delighted (as the poison was drunk up). They gaṃered at the place of churning. They again went on churning the Ocean for a thousand years.

2. While the Ocean was being churned by all of them, there emerged nothing. The participants in churning gasping for breath with their mouths, became slack (through fatigue).

3. The great serpent Vāsuki experienced feebleness and frailty of life. At the time of churning Mandara also could not keep up a stable condition.

4. Seeing them all bereft of strength, Pradyumna,^[1] authorized by Viṣṇu, entered the Devas, Asuras and the king of serpents (Vāsuki) and infused strength in them.

5. Even Aniruddha approached the king of mountains and with his thousand arms, stood like another big mountain.

6. Being wonder-struck at the restoration of extreme energy, the multitude of Suras and Asuras joyously and energetically churned the great Ocean.

7. At the gesture of Nārāyaṇa, Devas and others did not experience any fatigue. With the rhythmic pulling the churning (operation) looked splendid.

8. While the big Ocean was ṃus stirred and shaken up, the exudation and extracts of medicinal plants flowed into it all round.

9. From the reservoir of water which was in that stage (of being churned), there emerged the Moon who is called the presiding deity of loveliness and medicinal herbs.

10. Then the Cow Havirdhānī, the presiding deity of all cows, the yielder of the wishes of all, with a lustre like the moon, emerged.

11. Then a white horse, the presiding deity of all horses, manifested. Airāvata, the king of elephants, endowed with four tusks and of moon-like lustre came out.

12. Then came out the heavenly tree Pārijāta, the king of all trees. Then the excellent gem, the lotus-hued ruby called Kaustubha, emerged.

13. Then were born (i.e. came out) Apsaras (i.e. celestial damsels) who were the receptacles of beauty. Then was born Goddess Wine, the goddess that inebriates all.

14. Then came out the Śārṅga bow, the presiding deity of all weapons. Then emerged Pāñcajanya,^[2] the conch, the supreme deity of all musical instruments.

15. Then the Moon-god, Pārijāta as well as the bevy of celestial damsels resorting to the solar path, stood there instantaneously.

16. The leaders of Daityas immediately took hold of the king of horses and Vāruṇī, while Indra, the king of Devas took Airāvata with the consent of Hari.

17. The (gem) Kaustubha, the (Śārṅga) bow and the conch (Pāñcajanya) went over to Viṣṇu only. All of them gave Havirdhānī (cow) to sages.

18. While the Ocean was being churned again, Śrī herself directly manifested herself delighting with her glance the three worlds, surpassing the splendour of all.

19. All Suras, Asuras, men desired to get hold of her but nobody could approach her brilliance and power.

20. Knowing her to be Śrī, by her holding a lotus in her hand, Vāsava and God Brahmā and others, who knew her, were highly delighted.

21. The Ocean himself in person immediately came there and saying ‘This is my daughter’, took her in his lap, and occupied a golden seat.

22. While the Ocean was being churned by those powerful and firm (determined) seekers of the Nectar, the Nectar did not come out.

23. Then being disappointed regarding the emergence of the Nectar, they became slack in their efforts. O sage, the sons of Kaśyapa (i.e. Devas and Daityas) of faded faces became dejected.

24. Seeing them in that state, the Lord, the storehouse of compassion, the all-pervading Lord laughed and himself became ready to churn.

25. He was resplendent with the yellow garment, the end knot of which was tightly fastened with a jewelled girdle. He caught hold of the serpent in the middle by his (two pairs) of hands.

26. Daityas who caught hold of the mouth of the serpent stood on one side and all the Devas who held the tail of the serpent stood on the other side.

27. The Lord who stood between them sportively churned the Ocean, giving delight to the eyes (of all) with ornaments of his hands becoming (brightly) visible.

28. God Brahmā staying in the firmament along with prominent sages, showered him with flowers, uttering the sound (words) “Be victorious; be victorious.”

29. Then, from the Ocean that was churned was born a man Dhanvantari with a part of Viṣṇu. He was fair in complexion, was holding in his hand a pitcher containing Sudhā (Nectar).

30. Taking with him Amṛta (Nectar) which was the best essence of all ghee and other juices of plants and medicines, he went near Śrī.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

This being a Pāñcarātra work, inclusion of help from the different Vyūhas, Pradyumna and Aniruddha, is brought in. Mbh and other Purāṇas do not mention them, as for them the persons named as Vyūhas were Yādava heroes at the end of Dvāpara.

[2]:

BhP X differs. Kṛṣṇa killed the aquatic damon [demon?] Pañcaja or Pañcajana who abducted the son of Sāndīpani (Kṛṣṇa’s preceptor). After killing Pañcajana, Kṛṣṇa took away the conch in which Pañcajana lived. (PE 548)