॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Wednesday, 8 February 2023 VIII.08 Part 2 - The appearance of Amrutha and the need for Bhagavan to become Mohini.
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We saw many fantastic things already in this section of the eighth Skandha. Bhagavan's advising the Devas to go and churn the ocean in partnership with Asuras. The appearance of Kurma Avatara. The appearance of Kala Kuta and how Bhagavan Shiva drank up the poison to save the world. Then the appearance of Maha Lakshmi.
Now another fantastic part - how Bhagavan becomes Mohini!
नि:सत्त्वा लोलुपा राजन् निरुद्योगा गतत्रपा: । यदा चोपेक्षिता लक्ष्म्या बभूवुर्दैत्यदानवा: ॥
अथासीद् वारुणी देवी कन्या कमललोचना । असुरा जगृहुस्तां वै हरेरनुमतेन ते ॥
अथोदधेर्मथ्यमानात् काश्यपैरमृतार्थिभि: । उदतिष्ठन्महाराज पुरुष: परमाद्भुत: ॥
दीर्घपीवरदोर्दण्ड: कम्बुग्रीवोऽरुणेक्षण: । श्यामलस्तरुण: स्रग्वी सर्वाभरणभूषित: ॥
पीतवासा महोरस्क: सुमृष्टमणिकुण्डल: । स्निग्धकुञ्चित
केशान्तसुभग: सिंहविक्रम: ।
अमृतापूर्णकलसं बिभ्रद् वलयभूषित: ॥
स वै भगवत: साक्षाद्विष्णोरंशांशसम्भव: । धन्वन्तरिरिति ख्यात आयुर्वेददृगिज्यभाक् ॥
तमालोक्यासुरा: सर्वे कलसं चामृताभृतम् । लिप्सन्त: सर्ववस्तूनि कलसं तरसाहरन् ॥
नीयमानेऽसुरैस्तस्मिन्कलसेऽमृतभाजने । विषण्णमनसो देवा हरिं शरणमाययु: ॥
इति तद्दैन्यमालोक्य भगवान्भृत्यकामकृत् । मा खिद्यत मिथोऽर्थं व: साधयिष्ये स्वमायया ॥
मिथ: कलिरभूत्तेषां तदर्थे तर्षचेतसाम् । अहं पूर्वमहं पूर्वं न त्वं न त्वमिति प्रभो ॥
देवा: स्वं भागमर्हन्ति ये तुल्यायासहेतव: । सत्रयाग इवैतस्मिन्नेष धर्म: सनातन: ॥
इति स्वान्प्रत्यषेधन्वै दैतेया जातमत्सरा: । दुर्बला: प्रबलान् राजन्गृहीतकलसान् मुहु: ॥
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे विष्णु: सर्वोपायविदीश्वर: । योषिद्रूपमनिर्देश्यं दधार परमाद्भुतम् ॥ प्रेक्षणीयोत्पलश्यामं सर्वावयवसुन्दरम् । समानकर्णाभरणं सुकपोलोन्नसाननम् ॥
नवयौवननिर्वृत्तस्तनभारकृशोदरम् । मुखामोदानुरक्तालिझङ्कारोद्विग्नलोचनम् ॥
बिभ्रत् सुकेशभारेण मालामुत्फुल्लमल्लिकाम् । सुग्रीवकण्ठाभरणं सुभुजाङ्गदभूषितम् ॥ विरजाम्बरसंवीतनितम्बद्वीपशोभया । काञ्च्या प्रविलसद्वल्गुचलच्चरणनूपुरम् ॥ सव्रीडस्मितविक्षिप्तभ्रूविलासावलोकनै: । दैत्ययूथपचेत:सु काममुद्दीपयन् मुहु: ॥
T: Sage Shuka narrates to Parikshit:
Oh, King, because of being neglected by Maha Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune, the Asuras and Rakshasas were depressed, bewildered and frustrated, and thus they became listless and ineffectual.
Next appeared Varuni, the daughter of the ocean, the lotus-eyed goddess who is in charge of liquor and liquor lovers. With the permission of Bhagavan Maha Vishnu, the Asuras, headed by Bali, took possession of this goddess. ( We can imagine how fond they would be of liquor!)
Oh, King, thereafter, while Devas and Asuras, both, incidentally, sons of the great Sage Kashyapa (!) were engaged in churning the Ocean of Milk, a very wonderful male personality emerged.
He was strongly built; his arms were long, stout and strong; his neck, which was marked with three lines, resembled a conch shell (a common simile in Sanskrit to indicate a beautiful neck); his eyes were reddish (a common description of ocular beauty); and his complexion was dark. He was very young, he was garlanded with flowers, and his entire body was fully decorated with various ornaments. He was dressed in yellow garments and wore brightly polished earrings made of pearls. The tips of his curly hair were anointed with oil, and his chest was very broad. His body had all good features, he was stout and strong like a lion, and he was decorated with bracelets. In his hand, he carried a jug filled to the top with Amrutha!
This person was Lord Dhanvantari, a partial avatara of Bhagavan Maha Vishnu. He was very conversant with the science of medicine, and as one of the gods he was permitted to take his share in Yajnas. (Even today we perform Dhanvantari Homa!)
Upon seeing Dhanvantari carrying the jug of Amrutha, the Asuras, coveting the Amrutha for themselves, immediately snatched the jug away by force. When the jug of Amrutha was carried off by the Asuras, the Devas became morose. As usual. they sought supplicated to Bhagavan Sri Hari and fell at His lotus feet.
Sri Hari, who never forsakes His devotees, and had an affection for Devas who were basically Sattivic, said to them, “Do not be aggrieved. By My own Maya, I shall bewilder the Asuras by creating a quarrel among them. In this way, I shall fulfil your desire for Amrutha.”
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Sage Shuka now continues: A quarrel then arose among the Asuras over who would get the nectar first. Each of them said, “You cannot drink it first. I must drink it first. Me first, not you!” Some of the Asuras said, “All the gods have taken part in churning the Ocean of Milk. Now, as everyone has an equal right to partake in any public Yajna Phala, according to Dharma, it is befitting that the gods too now have a share of the nectar.” This sentiment was most voiced by those Asuras who were weak and therefore incapable of snatching the jug from the stronger Asuras! There was thus total chaos and nobody was getting any Amrutha.
Mohini
Bhagavan Maha Vishnu, who can deal with any adverse situation, then assumed the form of an extremely beautiful woman.
This incarnation of His as a woman, Mohini, was most pleasing. Her complexion resembled in colour a newly grown dark-cloured lotus, and every part of Her body was beautifully shaped. Her ears were decorated with splendid earrings, Her cheeks were very beautiful, Her nose was raised and Her face was full of youthful lustre.
This youthful Mohini's large breasts made Her waist seem very thin. Attracted by the fragrance of Her face and body, honeybees hummed around Her, making Her eyes move about restlessly.
Her hair, which was extremely beautiful, was garlanded with Mallika (Jasmine) flowers. Her attractively shaped neck was decorated with a necklace and other ornaments, Her arms were decorated with bangles, Her body was covered with a clean sari, and Her raised breasts seemed like islands in an ocean of beauty.
Her legs were decorated with ankle bells. Because of the movements of Her eyebrows as She smiled with shyness and glanced over the Asuras, all of them were overwhelmed with lusty desires, and every one of them desired to possess Her.
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
