A story · Mahabharata — Stories

The Churning of the Ocean

Mahabharata, Adi Parva 18

The story · English

There is a mountain called Mandara with cloud-like peaks, covered in herbs and filled with the songs of birds and the roaming of beasts. The gods, Apsaras, and Kinnaras frequent its slopes. The gods desired to use this mountain as a churning rod, but they could not move it. They went to Vishnu and Brahman and asked them to devise a scheme to dislodge Mandara for their benefit. Vishnu and Brahman agreed, and Vishnu assigned the difficult task to the great snake prince, Ananta. Directed by both, Ananta tore the mountain from the earth, along with its forests and the creatures living within them. The gods then traveled to the shore of the Ocean and informed it that they had come to churn its waters to obtain nectar.

The Ocean agreed to the plan, provided it received a share of the nectar, stating it could endure the agitation of its waters. The gods then approached the Tortoise-king and asked him to support the mountain on his back. Once the Tortoise-king agreed, Indra placed Mandara upon him. The gods and the Asuras then used the mountain as a churning staff and the snake Vasuki as the cord. The Asuras held the hood of Vasuki while the gods held the tail. Ananta, siding with the gods, would occasionally lift and suddenly drop the snake's hood. This stretching caused black vapors and flames to issue from Vasuki's mouth, which became lightning-charged clouds that rained down to refresh the tired gods.

As the churning continued, a roar like the Universal Dissolution echoed through the deep. The massive mountain crushed many aquatic animals and denizens of the lower regions and the world of Varuna. Large trees on Mandara were torn up and fell into the water, their friction creating blazes that consumed lions and elephants. Indra extinguished these fires with heavy showers. After some time, gummy exudations from the mountain's trees and herbs mixed with the ocean water. The celestials drank this mixture and the liquid extract of gold to attain immortality. Eventually, the milky water turned into clarified butter, but the nectar still had not appeared. The gods, exhausted and without strength, turned to Brahman and Narayana for help.

Brahman asked Narayana to grant the gods the strength to continue. Narayana agreed, telling the wise ones to set the mountain back in position and resume their work. Once their strength was restored, the churning produced wondrous things. First emerged the Moon of a thousand rays, then Lakshmi dressed in white, followed by Soma, the White Steed, and the celestial gem Kaustubha. Lakshmi, Soma, and the Steed then approached the gods. Later, the divine Dhanwantari appeared holding the white vessel of nectar. Seeing this, the Asuras cried out that the nectar should be theirs. Finally, the great elephant Airavata emerged with two pairs of white tusks, and Indra took possession of him.

As the churning continued, the poison Kalakuta appeared. It blazed like fire and engulfed the Earth, its scent stupefying the three worlds. To save creation, Siva swallowed the poison at the request of Brahman. He held it in his throat, which turned blue, and he became known as Nilakantha. Witnessing these events, the Asuras grew desperate and prepared to fight the gods for the possession of Lakshmi and the Amrita. To prevent this, Narayana used his illusive power, Maya, and took the form of an enticing woman. Charmed by her beauty and grace, the Danavas and Daityas lost their reason and unanimously placed the vessel of Amrita into the hands of the fair damsel.

कथा · हिन्दी

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