12. Samudra manthan

The Suta said: “Tapodhana! At this same time, both the sisters saw Ucchaishrava, who was born during the churning of nectar, samudra mathana worshipped by all the gods, beautiful in form, the finest horse jewel, divine, endowed with all attributes, wealthy, eternally youthful, the best, most excellent, and most powerful of horses, coming towards them.” Shaunaka said: “How and why did the gods churn the nectar? Where was Mahavira Mahadyuti Ashvaraja born? Explain.” The sage Suta said: “There is a mountain called Meru, shining with infinite brilliance. The rays of the sun, falling on its bright glassy peak, were emanating from there.

Adorned with golden ornaments, adorned with the perfume of the gods, unappealing and invisible, it is invisible to the bad people. Wild animals roam the highest peak of that mountain, illuminated by divine herbs. It is surrounded by many riverside trees and filled with the melodious sounds of various birds. All the great sages had formed a congregation on its auspicious peak, which had stood tall since the infinite kalpa. Sitting there, the ascetics, who were practicing asceticism, were asking each other how they could obtain nectar. Addressing all the Suras and Brahma who were engaged in mantra meditation, the lord Narayana said: "Let the gods and demons unite and churn the great ocean. When the great ocean is churned, nectar will be born there." "O gods! When the ocean is churned, all medicines and all gems first rise to the surface. At the end, nectar is also found." Suta said: “Clouds are peak-shaped, adorned with mountain peaks, covered with a web of foliage, and that is the mountain Mandara. There, flocks of various birds sing and there are various cruel beasts. There, kinnaras, apsaras, and devas roam.

It is located eleven thousand yojanas above the earth and eleven thousand yojanas below.

Unable to tear it, all the gods came to Vishnu, who was seated with Brahma, and said: “Think of some way to raise the mandara.” Bhargava! “So be it,” said Vishnu and Brahma. Ananta, the mighty warrior of action, who was praised by Brahma and Narayana, lifted it up. Brahmin! That great power, Ananta, using his strength, pulled down that mountain king along with the forest and trees. Then all the gods gathered on the seashore and said: “Ocean! We have all gathered here to churn you for nectar.” Then the ocean king replied: “Give me a part of it too. I can stop the great uproar that will arise from the pouring of the mountain.” All the Surasuras went to King Kurma's Aakoopara and asked, "I want you to lift this mountain on your back and hold it."

"So be it," said the tortoise, and Indra, with the help of a machine, lifted the mountain onto its back. Brahmin! Using the Mandara mountain and the Vasuki as a rope, the gods, along with the giant Danavas, began to extract nectar from the ocean, which was a treasure of water.

On one side, the great demons were holding the head of the Nagaraja, and on the other side, all the gods were holding its tail. Lord Anant stood next to Lord Narayana, and both of them repeatedly raised and lowered the head of the serpent Vasuki. A cloud of smoke and flame emerged from the mouth of the snake Vasuki, which was dragged along by the sound of the thunder. The garlands of flowers falling from the trees in the valleys of that mountain range relieved the fatigue of the entire demon army. A loud roar, like the roar of a great cloud, was heard from the mandara which was being used in churning the ocean by the gods and the demons. The various aquatic creatures there were crushed by the Mahadri and disappeared in hundreds of numbers in that lake. Various beings from the Varuna world and the inhabitants of the underworld perished in this conflict. The great mountains on the rotating mountain collided with each other and rolled into the ocean with the nesting birds. Their clash caused many fires to break out, making the dark mountain look like a black cloud suffused with lightning. The various birds and animals living there, elephants and lions, all burned in it.

Then the immortal Indra poured down heavy rain and calmed the burning fire. The glue, secretions, and medicinal juices contained in those great mountains mixed with the water of the ocean and dissolved. Suras attained immortality by drinking the nectar of those trees and the nectar of Kanchana. From that sea, which was once water, a fine, flavorful ghee emerged. Then all the gods came to the place where Brahma, the boon-giver, was present and said: "Brahma! We are exhausted from toil. We have not yet obtained the nectar." "Except for Lord Narayana, no other demon-naga is able to continue the churning of this ocean." Then Brahma asked Lord Narayana: "Vishnu! Grant strength to your devotees." Vishnu said: “I am giving strength to all those engaged in this work. Submerge the mandara mountain and everyone start churning.” The Suta said: “Hearing the words of Narayana, he gained new strength and began to dig again using the mountain. Then, the radiant, cold-blooded Soma equal to a hundred thousand parts, endowed with a pleasant radiance, emerged from the ocean.

Then from Ghrita, Panduravasini Sri was born. Then Suradevi and Shvetaturaga were born.

The divine Kaustubha gem that resides on the chest of Srimannarayana was also produced with the nectar. As directed by Aditya, Sri, Sura, Soma and Turaga hurriedly joined the gods. Then, the god Dhanvantari stood up, holding a white pot filled with nectar . Seeing this wonder, the Danavas shouted loudly for the nectar, "This is ours." Then Lord Narayana, through magic, took on the form of a beautiful woman, Mohini, and deceived the demons. "All the foolish demons, with their minds fixed on her, placed the nectar in the woman's hands."