King Pariksit said, Could you please describe why Lord Vishnu churned the ocean of milk? Why did he appear as a tortoise and hold up Mandara Mountain? What was obtained from churning the ocean of milk? Would you please describe all these activities of the Lord?
Suka Goswami said, When the sage Durvasa cursed Indra to be bereft of all his prosperity, all the worlds were also deprived of their wealth and sacrifices and rituals couldn’t be performed. Then their enemies attacked the gods and many of them died. The gods were afflicted on one side by fighting their enemies and on the other by the curse of Durvasa
Lord Indra and the gods could not find any solution to their problems. So they all went to see Lord Brahma and informed him of all the events. Brahma could understand that the gods were lacking power and consequently the universe was suffering. So Lord Brahma focused his mind on the Supreme Lord. Encouraged by his remembrance of the Lord, Brahma said to the gods, All of us should go and seek the shelter of the Supreme Lord. He is affectionate and kind to the gods, so he will surely bring us the good fortune we desire.
Then Brahma and the gods went beyond the darkness of the material world to the abode of the Supreme Lord. Although Brahma could not see the Lord, he began to offer prayers and said, We bow down before the unchanging, infinite Supreme Lord. You are the original cause of everything. You are incomprehensible and indescribable. You are the supreme unlimited truth. Let us all offer our respects unto the Supreme Lord who transcends the darkness of this material world. Although he is invisible to material vision, he is present everywhere.
Let us all bow down and worship the Supreme Lord who controls everyone and who treats everyone equally. No one can overcome his illusory energy which confounds everyone and causes them to forget the real wealth of their soul. All living beings are created by him and the entire material world rests at his feet. May that Supreme Lord be pleased with us and show us his favour.
Water generates and maintains all life and is the semen of the Supreme Lord. The moon is the mind of the Supreme Lord. May he be satisfied with us. Fire is the mouth of the Supreme Lord. May that supremely powerful Lord bestow his grace on us. The sun is the eye of the Supreme Lord. May that supremely opulent Lord be pleased with us.
All living beings gain their strength and breath of life from the air. The air comes from the life force of the Supreme Lord. May that Supreme Lord be pleased with us. From his mercy the gods came forth, from his anger Shiva originated and Brahma was produced from the intelligence of the Lord. The Vedic hymns came from the pores of his skin. Let that all powerful Lord be pleased with us.
Piety came from his chest and impiety from his back. The Veda and the brahmins were created from his mouth, the monarchy from his arms. The merchants came from his thighs and from his feet the workers are born. May that Supreme Lord bestow his grace on it.
Let us offer our reverence unto that Supreme Lord who is completely self satisfied. He is the controller of the world but detached from this material world. O Supreme Lord, please reveal your smiling face to us. Any actions dedicated to the Supreme Lord are never futile. Performing activities for the pleasure of the Supreme Lord automatically benefits everyone just as pouring water on the roots of a tree also nourishes all the branches and leaves. Let us all offer our homage unto the Supreme Lord.
Because Brahma had worshipped him, the Supreme Lord appeared before all the gods. He was as radiant as thousands of suns rising simultaneously. When Brahma and the other gods saw the form of the Lord they all offered their respect by immediately falling to the ground.
Brahma said, O Lord, because you have appeared before us we have all become joyful. Lord, you witness everything and nothing is unknown to you, so you are aware of the purpose for which we have come. We are all merely sparks illuminated by the fire of you my Lord. Please advise us what will be beneficial to the brahmins and gods.
The gods stood before him with folded hands. The Supreme Lord understood why the gods had approached him and in a voice like a rumbling cloud he said, Please listen carefully to what I say for it is for your benefit. For the time being you are not prosperous, therefore you should make a truce with your enemies. If the goal is important sometimes it is necessary to make an alliance even with your enemies.
You should try to produce a nectar that will give you immortality by drinking it. To make this nectar you should put vegetables, grass and herbs into the ocean of milk. Then you should churn the milk ocean with Mandara mountain as the churning rod and the great serpent Vasuki as the rope. Although the demons will help in this endeavour, it will be the gods who will gain the nectar.
You should be tolerant and agree to whatever the demons propose. There will be various things that will be generated from the churning. When these other things are produced from churning the ocean you should not be greedy to have these things.
After giving the gods this advice the Supreme Lord disappeared. Then the gods went to see King Bali the leader of the demons. After flattering King Bali, Indra suggested the proposal of the Supreme Lord and Bali and his associates all agreed to Indra’s plan.
Then the gods and the demons made a truce and cooperated to churn the milk ocean to obtain the nectar of immortality. They used their combined strength to uproot Mandara mountain and carry it toward the ocean of milk. They carried the mountain for a long distance and became very tired. They dropped the mountain and it shattered both the gods and the demons.
They were all discouraged, and the omniscient Supreme Lord appeared there on Garuda. The Lord glanced over the injured gods and demons and restored them to life. Then the Lord lifted Mandara mountain and placed it on Garuda’s back and took it to the ocean of milk. Garuda then unloaded the mountain next to the ocean and left.
They invited Vasuki, the king of the snakes and offered him a share of the nectar in exchange for his help in churning the ocean. Then they wound him around the mountain and holding the snake, the gods and demons began to churn the ocean of milk. They used Mandara mountain as a churning rod, but the mountain had no support and so it sank into the ocean.
The Supreme Lord then assumed the form of a giant tortoise and entered the ocean and lifted the mountain. With the mountain resting on the tortoise’s back they all began to churn the ocean again. As they rotated Mandara mountain on his back, the giant tortoise enjoyed the mountain scratching his back. The gods and demons worked with great strength to churn the ocean.
When despite all their efforts no nectar came from the ocean, the Supreme Lord began to churn the ocean. The entire ocean became turbulent and the fish and aquatic animals were all afraid. When the ocean was being churned, it produced a poison. As the poison spread in all directions, the gods went to ask Shiva for protection. The gods respectfully offered prayers to Shiva and said, O greatest among the gods, please save us from this terrible poison which is burning the entire universe.
Seeing that all the living beings were suffering and being disturbed by the poison Shiva felt great compassion for them. He said, All these living beings are in terrible danger because of the poison which has come from the ocean of milk. I must protect them. Most people are deluded by the illusory power of the Supreme Lord and so they are hostile to one another. Anyone who is compassionate toward others will please the Supreme Lord. When the Supreme Lord is pleased everyone is pleased. Therefore let me drink this poison and save everyone.
Then Lord Shiva took all the poison in his palm and drank it for the good of all living beings. The poison caused a blue line to appear around Lord Shiva’s neck. The sages consider this line a beautiful ornament on Shiva’s body. Pious and compassionate people are afflicted when other people suffer and they will accept suffering for themselves to alleviate the suffering of others. This constitutes the highest worship of the Supreme Lord. Everyone who heard of Shiva’s actions praised his deed. The poison that leaked from Shiva’s hand was consumed by scorpions, snakes and other animals with poisonous bites.
After Lord Shiva drank the poison the gods and demons resumed their churning of the ocean. The churning produced a cow known as surabhi, the cow of plenty. The cow produced abundant milk, butter and ghee. Since these items are necessary for the performance of sacrifices which enable one to progress spiritually, the great sages accepted the cow.
Next a horse named Uccaihsrava was generated from the ocean. Bali wanted this horse so Indra did not claim it since the Lord had previously advised him not to. After that, the king of elephants named Airavata was produced from the ocean. The elephant was white with four tusks.
After that the Kaustubha jewel came out of the ocean. Lord Vishnu desired this precious stone as an ornament for his chest. Next came the celestial patijata tree, this tree will produce anything the petitioner desires.
Thereafter the beautifully dressed inhabitants of heaven known as the Apsaras came out of the ocean. After that the goddess of fortune appeared from the ocean illuminating all directions with her radiance. Because of her beauty, grace, youth and complexion, everyone desired her. Indra arranged a seat for her and the sacred rivers personified brought her water in golden pots.
The personified earth brought her all the herbs needed for installing the deity. The cows contributed their milk, yoghurt, ghee, urine and dung, and spring personified brought her fresh fruit and flowers. The sages then performed the ceremony of installation of the deity, the Gandharvas of the heavenly planets sang heavenly melodies and the celestial women danced and sang.
The personified clouds beat drums, blew conch-shells and played flutes. Next the elephants bathed the goddess of fortune with sacred Ganges water, while the brahmins sang hymns. While she was being bathed the beautiful goddess sat with a lotus flower in her hand. The ocean brought her a yellow silk cloth for her dress and the god of the ocean Varuna offered her flower garlands laden with intoxicated bumblebees.
The progenitor, Vishvakarma, gave her beautiful ornaments and the Goddess of learning, Sarasvati brought her a necklace. Lord Brahma offered her a lotus flower and the residents of Naga gave her earrings. The Goddess of fortune’s bashful smile enhanced her beauty as she walked among everyone holding a garland of lotus flowers surrounded by bumblebees. Her waist was very thin and her symmetrical breasts were smeared with sandalwood and kunkuma. Her movement was like a golden creeper as she walked around and her ankle bells softly jingling.
She was looking among all the gods, demons and enlightened sages for a partner endowed with all the virtuous qualities. But she could not find anyone who was without faults. As the goddess examined all those who were assembled there, she thought to herself, There are some people who possess great austerity but they still cannot control their anger. Some people possess great wisdom but are not above attachment and others cannot control their desires. How can someone who is under the control of something else be a ruler?
There are some people who are virtuous but lack compassion for other living beings. There are some people who are renounced but this is not enough for liberation. There are some who are powerful but they have no power to control time. I can find no one who is completely free from the contamination of the modes of material nature. Someone may have a long life but still engage in misconduct. Someone may have good behaviour but not live long. Someone may have all good qualifications but still not be devoted to the Supreme Lord.
After due consideration the goddess of fortune accepted the Supreme Lord Mukunda as her partner because he has all the virtuous qualities. Then the goddess of fortune approached the Supreme Lord and placed the garland of lotus flowers around his neck and shyly stood next to him. The goddess of fortune is the embodiment of prosperity and the source of all wealth and riches. The residents of the celestial planets played their musical instruments and danced and sang. Brahma and the gods showered flowers.
The next to appear from the churning of the ocean was Varuni, the goddess of wine. The demons accepted her. After that a wonderful man appeared from the ocean of milk. His arms were long and muscular, he had a blackish complexion and was youthful. He wore garlands of flowers and was adorned with many ornaments. He was dressed in yellow with polished pearl earrings. He had shiny, curly hair and wore many bracelets and came bearing a jug of nectar. He was a direct portion of Lord Vishnu known as Dhanvantari who revealed the science of medicine, ayurveda.
When the greedy demons saw the jug of nectar they forcibly snatched the jug from him. The gods were dejected at seeing the jug taken away by the demons and they sought refuge of the Supreme Lord. The Lord said to them, Don’t worry, I will use my power of illusion to create conflict among the demons and start a fight between them, and in this way ensure the nectar will be available to you.
The demons began to fight among themselves about who would drink the nectar first. Meanwhile, Lord Vishnu assumed the form of a very beautiful woman, Mohini. She had a complexion which resembled a blue lotus. She had fine cheeks, an upturned nose and earrings in her ears. She had large, firm breasts and a thin waist. She wore a garland of mallika flowers in her hair and a necklace on her attractive neck. Her arms were decorated with the finest jewellery and she wore a sparkling cloth.
As demons were arguing amongst themselves over the nectar, they noticed Mohini coming towards them. As she approached them, she smiled coyly and glanced at the demons. The demons were all overcome with lustful desire for her.
The demons said, Look at the youthful and graceful form of this exquisitely beautiful woman. All the demons approached her and said, You have such beautiful lotus petal eyes. Who are you and why have you come here? We are losing our composure simply by looking at your shapely thighs. O beautiful lady, we are fighting over this jug of nectar, would you please help us resolve our disagreement?
The Supreme Lord in the form of a beautiful woman smiled at them and said, Why do you have confidence in my opinion? Wise men are never infatuated by women. When the demons heard this they all laughed and gave her the jug of nectar. Mohini said, If you all agree to abide with whatever I decide, whether right or wrong, only then will I agree to apportion the nectar among you.
The demons immediately agreed to her condition to accept whatever she decided. Then the gods and the demons fasted and bathed. They performed various sacrifices and rituals. They put on new clothes and adorned themselves with ornaments. Then they all sat facing toward the east.
The area was filled with the fragrance of incense, decorated with flowers and lit up with lamps. Mohini entered covered in a beautiful silk garment and carrying the jug of nectar. Her ankle bells tinkled as she slowly walked and her beauty captivated the attention of the gods and demons.
Mohini had decided that giving nectar to the demons would be like giving it to snakes because demons are disorderly and by nature. So she did not give the demons any of the nectar. Mohini made the demons and gods sit in separate lines. She gave the demons only charming words and looks, and gave the nectar of immortality to the gods.
The demons had agreed to abide by whatever Mohini decided. So they did not protest when she gave the nectar to the gods. They did not want to fight with Mohini or upset their attraction for her. So they respected her decision and did not say anything which might displease her.
Although the demons and the gods shared the same place, the same time, the same cause, the same objective and activity, they did not achieve the same result. The gods achieved the nectar because they had sought the protection of the Supreme Lord and so they received his benediction while the demons did not.
Whatever is done for the sake of one’s own body and enjoyment is temporary and unreal. But when these activities are done for the sake of the Supreme Lord they become real and permanent, just as water poured on the root of a tree will benefit the entire tree.
After the Supreme Lord had finished giving the nectar to the gods, Garuda transported him back to his own abode. The demons were angry that the gods had received the nectar and they raised their weapons and attacked the gods. The gods had renewed strength from drinking the nectar and they retaliated to defend themselves.
On the shore of the ocean of milk, a ferocious battle began. Both sides were extremely hostile to the other and they fought one another with swords, arrows and many other types of weapons. Some of them fought while riding on camels, others on elephants. Some were on donkeys, and some on monkeys or tigers. Some soldiers were riding on the back of eagles or hawks. Some were on buffaloes and rhinoceroses. Mounted on various animals, the armies fought each other.
The commander of the demoniac army was King Bali. He rode on an aircraft of illusion, it had a variety of weapons and it was sometimes visible and sometimes invisible. Bali sat in his celestial chariot under a decorated umbrella, and with his generals all around him he looked as brilliant as the rising moon.
Bali and his generals roared like lions and loudly sounded their conch-shells. Indra, the leader of the gods was seated on Airavata the elephant. He was surrounded by the gods who were seated on various beautifully decorated chariots.
The gods and demons stood before one another and reproached one another with words that pierced the heart. Then they began to fight one another in pairs. They all desired victory and they attacked one another with great strength and thrashed one another with their sharp arrows, swords and lances. The battlefield became strewn with severed arms, legs and heads, still decorated with ornaments and holding their various weapons.
Bali attacked Indra with his arrows, but Indra cut Bali’s arrows down with his own. Bali was enraged and took up other weapons. He attacked Indra with a lance, a javelin, a sword and a barbed missile, but Indra cut them all to pieces.
Bali then became invisible and an illusory mountain appeared above the gods and its burning trees and sharp rocks fell onto the gods. Snakes, scorpions and other poisonous creatures as well as lions, tigers and elephants all fell from the mountain crushing the gods below.
Hundreds of naked demonesses appeared carrying tridents and screaming, Stab them and cut them down! Then rumbling clouds appeared and with thunderous noise they rained hot burning coals on the gods. Bali created a great fire which began burning all the soldiers of the gods. This was followed by giant waves and whirlpools flooding down on the gods.
The soldiers of the gods were overwhelmed by the magical illusions created by the invisible demon soldiers. When the gods could not fight against the activities and illusions of the demons they all meditated on the Supreme Lord who immediately appeared. The Supreme Lord came riding on Garuda, wearing yellow garments and the Kaustubha jewel on his chest. He wore a brilliant helmet and earrings and held eight weapons in his hands.
The moment the Supreme Lord appeared on the battlefield, the illusions created by the demons were overcome, just as the calamities in a dream stop when someone awakens. The mere remembrance of the Supreme Lord one can free one from all troubles.
The demon Kalanemi saw that the Lord had arrived on the battlefield, and fiercely hurled his javelin at Garuda. The Supreme Lord casually caught the trident and used it to kill Kalanemi. Then two demons named Mali and Sumali attacked the Lord and he chopped off their heads with his disc.
Because of the presence of the Supreme Lord, the gods recovered their minds and their senses from the illusions of the demons, and they began to fight back and beat the demons. Indra took up his thunderbolt to kill Bali and all the demons were desolate and they cried ‘Alas, Alas’.
Indra released his thunderbolt weapon and Bali and his aircraft fell to the ground. Like lions killing deer, all the gods began killing the demons. When Brahma saw that the demons would soon be totally obliterated, he sent the divine sage Narada to restrain them.
Narada said, By seeking refuge of the Supreme Lord, he gave you the nectar. You have what you want and you stop this fighting. The gods respected the words of Narada, and so they ceased their hostilities and returned to their celestial abodes.
The survivors still on the battlefield took Bali to his spiritual teacher Sukra and he resuscitated Bali using his knowledge of restoring life. Defeated by Indra and deprived of his opulence and his life, Bali was brought back to life by Sukra and his followers. Because of this, Bali became Sukra’s disciple and served him faithfully and offering Sukra everything he desired.
Sukra was satisfied with Bali’s service and because Sukra wanted to conquer the celestial realm of Indra, he made Bali perform a sacrifice that would enable him to achieve his desire. After the sacrificial fire was worshipped with offerings of ghee, a chariot covered with gold plates emerged from the fire. It was drawn by four horses and was adorned with a banner with the emblem of a lion. There was also a divine bow and two quivers of inexhaustible arrows. Bali’s grandfather Prahlada gave him a garland of flowers that never fade and Sukra gave him a conch-shell.
Bali offered respects to Sukra, the brahmins and Prahlada. Then he took his weapons, mounted his chariot and along with his soldiers, he departed for the opulent kingdom of Indra. King Bali and his soldiers attacked Indra’s capital terrifying all the women who resided there.
Indra understood the consequences of Bali’s strength and his intention to conquer the city, so he went to see his spiritual teacher Brhaspati and said, Bali is attacking the city with such remarkable power that I do not think anyone has the ability to defeat him. How has he gained such formidable strength, skill and courage?
Brhaspati said, Bali gained his irresistible strength by becoming a disciple of the mighty brahmin Sukra. You will not be able to defeat him because he is endowed with a superior spiritual strength. To oppose him is as useless as a human being opposing death. Therefore you should leave the celestial realm and go where your enemies cannot find you while you wait for the favourable situation of your enemy to be reversed. At present Bali is flourishing because of the brahminical power invested in him, but in the future he will insult the brahmins and meet his demise.
Lord Indra and the other gods accepted the advice of Brhaspati and left the celestial realm. Then Bali entered Indra’s city and took control of the entire universe.
