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== रामायणे समुद्रमन्थनम् ॥ Samudra Manthana in Ramayana ==

== रामायणे समुद्रमन्थनम् ॥ Samudra Manthana in Ramayana ==

In the Balakanda (Sarga 45) of the Ramayana, the legend of churning the milky ocean is narrated to Rama and Lakshmana by Maharshi Vishvamitra when they reach the city named Vishala. Maharshi Vishvamitra narrates how halahala, the lethal poison as well as Amrta, emerged from the churning of the ocean. He also describes how Shiva contained the poison and how Vishnu helped the churning in His incarnation as Kurma (tortoise).<ref>Ramayana, Balakanda, [http://valmikiramayan.net/utf8/baala/sarga45/bala_45_frame.htm Sarga 45].</ref> It is said that,

In the Balakanda (Sarga 45) of the Ramayana, the legend of churning the milky ocean is narrated to Rama and Lakshmana by Maharshi Vishvamitra when they reach the city named Vishala. Maharshi Vishvamitra narrates how halahala, the lethal poison as well as Amrta, emerged from the churning of the ocean. He also describes how Shiva contained the poison and how Vishnu helped the churning in His incarnation as Kurma (tortoise).<ref>Valmiki Ramayana, Balakanda, [http://valmikiramayan.net/utf8/baala/sarga45/bala_45_frame.htm Sarga 45].</ref> It is said that,<blockquote>पूर्वम् कृत युगे राम दितेः पुत्रा महाबलाः | अदितेः च महाभागा वीर्यवन्तः सुधार्मिकाः || १-४५-१५</blockquote><blockquote>ततः तेषाम् नरव्याघ्रः बुद्धिः आसीत् महात्मनाम् | अमरा विर्जराः चैव कथम् स्यामो निरामयाः || १-४५-१६</blockquote><blockquote>तेषाम् चिंतयताम् तत्र बुद्धिः आसीत् विपश्चिताम् | क्षीर उद मथनम् कृत्वा रसम् प्राप्स्याम तत्र वै || १-४५-१७</blockquote><blockquote>ततो निश्चित्य मथनम् योक्त्रम् कृत्वा च वासुकिम् | मन्थानम् मन्दरम् कृत्वा ममन्थुर् अमित ओजसः || १-४५-१८<ref name=":0">Ramayana, Balakanda, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AA%E0%A5%AB Sarga 45].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''pūrvam kr̥ta yuge rāma diteḥ putrā mahābalāḥ | aditeḥ ca mahābhāgā vīryavantaḥ sudhārmikāḥ || 1-45-15''</blockquote><blockquote>''tataḥ teṣām naravyāghraḥ buddhiḥ āsīt mahātmanām | amarā virjarāḥ caiva katham syāmo nirāmayāḥ || 1-45-16''</blockquote><blockquote>''teṣām ciṁtayatām tatra buddhiḥ āsīt vipaścitām | kṣīra uda mathanam kr̥tvā rasam prāpsyāma tatra vai || 1-45-17''</blockquote><blockquote>''tato niścitya mathanam yoktram kr̥tvā ca vāsukim | manthānam mandaram kr̥tvā mamanthur amita ojasaḥ || 1-45-18''</blockquote>Meaning: Formerly in Krta yuga, oh, Rama, the highly powerful sons of Diti as well as those of Aditi, possessed of prowess, and virtuous and pious - both great beings - Oh foremost of men (Rama), fell to reflecting, - 'how we can thrive without ageing, illness, and likewise without death.' And as they reflected, it struck them, - 'by churning the ocean of milk, we must obtain amrta.' Deciding upon churning the Milky Ocean, those ones of immeasurable energy making Vasuki, Thousand-headed King of Snakes, the cord and Mt. Mandara as the stick, began churning deep.<ref name=":1">Manmatha Nath Dutt (1891), The Ramayana - [https://archive.org/details/Valmiki_Ramayana_English_Prose_Translation_7_volumes_by_Manmatha_Nath_Dutt_1891_to_1894/page/n7 Balakandam], Calcutta.</ref>

 

पूर्वम् कृत युगे राम दितेः पुत्रा महाबलाः | अदितेः च महाभागा वीर्यवन्तः सुधार्मिकाः || १-४५-१५

 

ततः तेषाम् नरव्याघ्रः बुद्धिः आसीत् महात्मनाम् | अमरा विर्जराः चैव कथम् स्यामो निरामयाः || १-४५-१६

 

तेषाम् चिंतयताम् तत्र बुद्धिः आसीत् विपश्चिताम् | क्षीर उद मथनम् कृत्वा रसम् प्राप्स्याम तत्र वै || १-४५-१७

 

ततो निश्चित्य मथनम् योक्त्रम् कृत्वा च वासुकिम् | मन्थानम् मन्दरम् कृत्वा ममन्थुर् अमित ओजसः || १-४५-१८

 

Once in Krita era, oh, Rama, the sons of Lady Diti were extremely energetic, whereas the sons of her younger sister Lady Aditi were vigorous and highly righteous. Oh, tigerly-man, Rama, then those great-souls speculated as to 'how we can thrive without ageing, illness, and likewise without death.' A thought occurred to those masterminds who were thinking on that matter clueing them up, 'we indeed can get elixir of life by churning the Milky Ocean. Deciding upon to churn the Milky Ocean then made Vasuki, Thousand-headed King of Snakes, as the churning rope and Mt. Mandara as stirrer, and those brothers whose energy is unlimited have started churning the Milky Ocean thoroughly.  

=== हालाहलमहाविषम् ॥ The Poison Halahala ===

=== हालाहलमहाविषम् ॥ The Poison Halahala ===

अथ वर्ष सहस्रेण योक्त्र सर्प शिरांसि च | वमन्तो अति विषम् तत्र ददंशुर् दशनैः शिलाः || १-४५-१९

It is during this incident of churning the ocean that the poison halahala is spit out by the Serpent Vasuki. It is said that, <blockquote>अथ वर्ष सहस्रेण योक्त्र सर्प शिरांसि च | वमन्तो अति विषम् तत्र ददंशुर् दशनैः शिलाः || १-४५-१९</blockquote><blockquote>उत्पपाताम् अग्नि संकाशम् हालाहल महाविषम् | तेन दग्धम् जगत् सर्वम् स देव असुर मानुषम् || १-४५-२०</blockquote><blockquote>अथ देवा महादेवम् शंकरम् शरणार्थ्तिनः | जग्मुः पशुपतिम् रुद्रम् त्राहि त्राहि इति तुष्टुवुः || १-४५-२१</blockquote><blockquote>देवतानाम् भयम् दृष्ट्वा श्रुत्वा वाक्यम् तु शारङ्गिणः || १-४५-२५</blockquote><blockquote>हालाहलम् विषम् घोरम् संजग्राह अमृत उपमम् | देवान् विसृज्य देवेशो जगाम भगवान् हरः॥ १-४५-२६</blockquote><blockquote>ततो देव असुराः सर्वे मनथू रघुनन्दन।<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>''atha varṣa sahasreṇa yoktra sarpa śirāṁsi ca | vamanto ati viṣam tatra dadaṁśur daśanaiḥ śilāḥ || 1-45-19''</blockquote><blockquote>''utpapātām agni saṁkāśam hālāhala mahāviṣam | tena dagdham jagat sarvam sa deva asura mānuṣam || 1-45-20''</blockquote><blockquote>''atha devā mahādevam śaṁkaram śaraṇārthtinaḥ | jagmuḥ paśupatim rudram trāhi trāhi iti tuṣṭuvuḥ || 1-45-21''</blockquote><blockquote>''devatānām bhayam dr̥ṣṭvā śrutvā vākyam tu śāraṅgiṇaḥ || 1-45-25''</blockquote><blockquote>''hālāhalam viṣam ghoram saṁjagrāha amr̥ta upamam | devān visr̥jya deveśo jagāma bhagavān haraḥ॥ 1-45-26''</blockquote><blockquote>''tato deva asurāḥ sarve manathū raghunandana।''</blockquote>Meaning: After a thousand years had gone by, the Thousand-headed serpent Vasuki, serving as the churning cord, began to vomit virulent venom and to bite at the cliffs with its fangs. Thereby, there came out a lot of powerful poison like fire and in consequence, the entire universe with celestials, and Asuras, and men, began to burn. Thereupon, intending to seek refuge, they appeared before the mighty deity, Shankara or Pashupati or Rudra, praying to him saying 'save us, save us.' Witnessing the dismay of the celestials, and hearing also the words of Sharngin (Vishnu), Shiva gulped that lethal poison, halahala, as if it were nectar. And then leaving the deities, the worshipful Hara went away.<ref name=":1" />

 

उत्पपाताम् अग्नि संकाशम् हालाहल महाविषम् | तेन दग्धम् जगत् सर्वम् स देव असुर मानुषम् || १-४५-२०

 

अथ देवा महादेवम् शंकरम् शरणार्थ्तिनः | जग्मुः पशुपतिम् रुद्रम् त्राहि त्राहि इति तुष्टुवुः || १-४५-२१

 

 

 

 

इति उक्त्वा च सुरश्रेष्ठः तत्र एव अंतर्धीयत | देवतानाम् भयम् दृष्ट्वा श्रुत्वा वाक्यम् तु शारङ्गिणः || १-४५-२५

 

हालाहलम् विषम् घोरम् संजग्राह अमृत उपमम् | देवान् विसृज्य देवेशो जगाम भगवान् हरः॥ १-४५-२६

 

ततो देव असुराः सर्वे मनथू रघुनन्दन।

 

After a thousand years, the Thousand-headed serpent Vaasuki, which is being used as churning rope, is incapacitated to bear the friction of churning and fanged the cliffs of Mt. Mandara. Thereby a great lot of venom is disgorged from the heads of that serpent Vaasuki, which venom on melting the rocks of Mt. Mandara became the holocaustic poison called haalahala. A lethal poison similar to inferno known as haalahala has started to fulminate therefrom, by which whole universe of gods, non-gods and humans is burnt down. The gods seeking shelter then approached Rudra, the Cardinal God, Endower of Solace, and who husbands all the created animals inclusive of human-animals, namely Shiva, and they prayed to him saying 'save, save us.' And on observing the scare of gods and also on paying heed to the words of the Wielder of Bow called shaara~Nga, namely Vishnu, god Shiva gulped that lethal poison, haalahala , as if it is ambrosia. The god of gods Hara then left for his abode Kailash parting with other gods, and oh, Rama, the joy of Raghu's dynasty, the gods and non-gods have continued to churn the Milky Ocean.  

=== कूर्मावतारः ॥ Kurma Avatara ===

=== कूर्मावतारः ॥ Kurma Avatara ===

प्रविवेश अथ पातालम् मन्थानः पर्वतोत्तमः॥ १-४५-२७

<blockquote>प्रविवेश अथ पातालम् मन्थानः पर्वतोत्तमः॥ १-४५-२७</blockquote><blockquote>ततो देवाः स गन्धर्वाः तुष्टुवुः मधुसूदनम्। त्वम् गतिः सर्व भूतानाम् विशेषेण दिवौकसाम्॥ १-४५-२८</blockquote><blockquote>पालय अस्मान् महाबाहो गिरिम् उद्धर्तुम् अर्हसि । इति श्रुत्वा हृषीकेशः कामठम् रूपम् आस्थितः॥ १-४५-२९</blockquote><blockquote>पर्वतम् पृष्टतः कृत्वा शिश्ये तत्र उदधौ हरिः। पर्वत अग्रम् तु लोकात्मा हस्तेन आक्रम्य केशवः॥ १-४५-३०</blockquote><blockquote>देवानाम् मध्यतः स्थित्वा ममन्थ पुरुषोत्तमः।<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>''praviveśa atha pātālam manthānaḥ parvatottamaḥ॥ 1-45-27''</blockquote><blockquote>''tato devāḥ sa gandharvāḥ tuṣṭuvuḥ madhusūdanam। tvam gatiḥ sarva bhūtānām viśeṣeṇa divaukasām॥ 1-45-28''</blockquote><blockquote>''pālaya asmān mahābāho girim uddhartum arhasi । iti śrutvā hr̥ṣīkeśaḥ kāmaṭham rūpam āsthitaḥ॥ 1-45-29''</blockquote><blockquote>''parvatam pr̥ṣṭataḥ kr̥tvā śiśye tatra udadhau hariḥ। parvata agram tu lokātmā hastena ākramya keśavaḥ॥ 1-45-30''</blockquote><blockquote>''devānām madhyataḥ sthitvā mamantha puruṣottamaḥ।''</blockquote>Meaning: Then, as the celestials resumed the churning, that foremost of mountains serving as stirrer, caved into the subterranean regions. Thereupon the deities along with gandharva-s prayed to the slayer of Madhu, saying, 'You alone are the recourse to all beings, especially to the celestials. Oh mighty armed one, protect us and recover the mountain.' Having heard this, Hrshikesha (or Hari), assuming the form a tortoise, stood in the sea, supporting the hill on his back; and that atman of all, Keshava, Purushottama, taking hold of the top of the hill by his hand, began to churn the ocean, stationed in the midst of the celestials.<ref name=":1" />

 

ततो देवाः स गन्धर्वाः तुष्टुवुः मधुसूदनम्। त्वम् गतिः सर्व भूतानाम् विशेषेण दिवौकसाम्॥ १-४५-२८

 

पालय अस्मान् महाबाहो गिरिम् उद्धर्तुम् अर्‌हसि। इति श्रुत्वा हृषीकेशः कामठम् रूपम् आस्थितः॥ १-४५-२९

 

पर्वतम् पृष्टतः कृत्वा शिश्ये तत्र उदधौ हरिः। पर्वत अग्रम् तु लोकात्मा हस्तेन आक्रम्य केशवः॥ १-४५-३०

 

देवानाम् मध्यतः स्थित्वा ममन्थ पुरुषोत्तमः।

 

Now the loftiest mountain that is being used as stirrer, namely Mt. Mandara, has caved into the netherworld, thereby the gods along with gandharva-s have prayed to Madhusuudana, the other name of Vishnu. You alone are the recourse to all beings, especially to the dwellers in heavens, oh ambidextrous god Vishnu, you safeguard us, it will be apt of you elevate the mountain.' So prayed gods to Vishnu. Hearing the prayer of gods Vishnu, Hrisheekesha, the controller of senses, adopting the form a tortoise and positioning the stirring Mt. Mandara on that tortoiseshell, he lay recumbent at the bottom of Milky Ocean as a base to the stirrer. Keshava then reached out his hand and grasped the mountaintop as he is the Cosmic-Soul, and thus staying amid gods that Supreme Person Vishnu participated in churning the ocean by holding the stirring mountain upright.  

=== रत्नावतरणम् ॥ Jewels Surface ===

=== रत्नावतरणम् ॥ Jewels Surface ===