Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 8: “Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter Six
SB8.6.16
TEXT 16
sri-suka uvaca
evam virincadibhir iditas tad
vijnaya tesam hrdayam yathaiva
jagada jimuta-gabhiraya gira
baddhanjalin samvrta-sarva-karakan
SYNONYMS
sri-sukah uvaca—Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; evam—thus; virinca-adibhih—by all the demigods, headed by Lord Brahma; iditah—being worshiped; tat vijnaya—understanding the expectation; tesam—of all of them; hrdayam—the core of the heart; yatha—as; eva—indeed; jagada—replied; jimuta-gabhiraya—like the sound of clouds; gira—by words; baddha-anjalin—unto the demigods, who stood with folded hands; samvrta—restrained; sarva—all; karakan—senses.
TRANSLATION
Sukadeva Gosvami continued: When the Lord was thus offered prayers by the demigods, headed by Lord Brahma, He understood the purpose for which they had approached Him. Therefore, in a deep voice that resembled the rumbling of clouds, the Lord replied to the demigods, who all stood there attentively with folded hands.
SB8.6.17
TEXT 17
eka evesvaras tasmin
sura-karye suresvarah
vihartu-kamas tan aha
samudronmathanadibhih
SYNONYMS
ekah—alone; eva—indeed; isvarah—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tasmin—in that; sura-karye—the activities of the demigods; sura-isvarah—the Lord of the demigods, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vihartu—to enjoy pastimes; kamah—desiring; tan—unto the demigods; aha—said; samudra-unmathana-adibhih—by activities of churning the ocean.
TRANSLATION
Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of the demigods, was capable of performing the activities of the demigods by Himself, He wanted to enjoy pastimes in churning the ocean. Therefore He spoke as follows.
SB8.6.18
TEXT 18
sri-bhagavan uvaca
hanta brahmann aho sambho
he deva mama bhasitam
srnutavahitah sarve
sreyo vah syad yatha surah
SYNONYMS
sri-bhagavan uvaca—the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; hanta—addressing them; brahman aho—O Lord Brahma; sambho—O Lord Siva; he—O; devah—demigods; mama—My; bhasitam—statement; srnuta—hear; avahitah—with great attention; sarve—all of you; sreyah—good fortune; vah—for all of you; syat—shall be; yatha—as; surah—for the demigods.
TRANSLATION
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and other demigods, please hear Me with great attention, for what I say will bring good fortune for all of you.
SB8.6.19
TEXT 19
yata danava-daiteyais
tavat sandhir vidhiyatam
kalenanugrhitais tair
yavad vo bhava atmanah
SYNONYMS
yata—just execute; danava—with the demons; daiteyaih—and the asuras; tavat—so long; sandhih—a truce; vidhiyatam—execute; kalena—by a favorable time (or kavyena—by Sukracarya); anugrhitaih—receiving benedictions; taih—with them; yavat—as long as; vah—of you; bhavah—good fortune; atmanah—of yourselves.
TRANSLATION
As long as you are not flourishing, you should make a truce with the demons and asuras, who are now being favored by time.
PURPORT
One word in this verse has two readings—kalena and kavyena. Kalena means “favored by time,” and kavyena means “favored by Sukracarya,” Sukracarya being the spiritual master of the Daityas. The demons and Daityas were favored in both ways, and therefore the demigods were advised by the Supreme Lord to execute a truce for the time being, until time favored them. SB8.6.20 TEXT 20 arayo ’pi hi sandheyah sati karyartha-gaurave ahi-musikavad deva hy arthasya padavim gataih SYNONYMS arayah—enemies; api—although; hi—indeed; sandheyah—eligible for a truce; sati—being so; karya-artha-gaurave—in the matter of an important duty; ahi—snake; musika—mouse; vat—like; devah—O demigods; hi—indeed; arthasya—of interest; padavim—position; gataih—so being. TRANSLATION O demigods, fulfilling one’s own interests is so important that one may even have to make a truce with one’s enemies. For the sake of one’s self-interest, one has to act according to the logic of the snake and the mouse. PURPORT A snake and a mouse were once caught in a basket. Now, since the mouse is food for the snake, this was a good opportunity for the snake. However, since both of them were caught in the basket, even if the snake ate the mouse, the snake would not be able to get out. Therefore, the snake thought it wise to make a truce with the mouse and ask the mouse to make a hole in the basket so that both of them could get out. The snake’s intention was that after the mouse made the hole, the snake would eat the mouse and escape from the basket through the hole. This is called the logic of the snake and the mouse. SB8.6.21 TEXT 21 amrtotpadane yatnah kriyatam avilambitam yasya pitasya vai jantur mrtyu-grasto ’maro bhavet SYNONYMS amrta-utpadane—in generating nectar; yatnah—endeavor; kriyatam—do; avilambitam—without delay; yasya—of which nectar; pitasya—anyone who drinks; vai—indeed; jantuh—living entity; mrtyu-grastah—although in imminent danger of death; amarah—immortal; bhavet—can become. TRANSLATION Immediately endeavor to produce nectar, which a person who is about to die may drink to become immortal. SB8.6.22-23 TEXTS 22–23 ksiptva ksirodadhau sarva virut-trna-latausadhih manthanam mandaram krtva netram krtva tu vasukim sahayena maya deva nirmanthadhvam atandritah klesa-bhajo bhavisyanti daitya yuyam phala-grahah SYNONYMS ksiptva—putting; ksira-udadhau—in the ocean of milk; sarvah—all kinds of; virut—creepers; trna—grass; lata—vegetables; ausadhih—and drugs; manthanam—the churning rod; mandaram—Mandara Mountain; krtva—making; netram—the churning rope; krtva—making; tu—but; vasukim—the snake Vasuki; sahayena—with a helper; maya—by Me; devah—all the demigods; nirmanthadhvam—go on churning; atandritah—very carefully, without diversion; klesa-bhajah—sharetakers of sufferings; bhavisyanti—will be; daityah—the demons; yuyam—but all of you; phala-grahah—gainers of the actual result. TRANSLATION O demigods, cast into the ocean of milk all kinds of vegetables, grass, creepers and drugs. Then, with My help, making Mandara Mountain the churning rod and Vasuki the rope for churning, churn the ocean of milk with undiverted attention. Thus the demons will be engaged in labor, but you, the demigods, will gain the actual result, the nectar produced from the ocean. PURPORT It appears that when different kinds of drugs, creepers, grass and vegetables are put into this milk and the milk is churned, as milk is churned for butter, the active principles of the vegetables and drugs mix with the milk, and the result is nectar. SB8.6.24 TEXT 24 yuyam tad anumodadhvam yad icchanty asurah surah na samrambhena sidhyanti sarvarthah santvaya yatha SYNONYMS yuyam—all of you; tat—that; anumodadhvam—should accept; yat—whatever; icchanti—they desire; asurah—the demons; surah—O demigods; na—not; samrambhena—by being agitated in anger; sidhyanti—are very successful; sarva-arthah—all desired ends; santvaya—by peaceful execution; yatha—as. TRANSLATION My dear demigods, with patience and peace everything can be done, but if one is agitated by anger, the goal is not achieved. Therefore, whatever the demons ask, agree to their proposal. SB8.6.25 TEXT 25 na bhetavyam kalakutad visaj jaladhi-sambhavat lobhah karyo na vo jatu rosah kamas tu vastusu SYNONYMS na—not; bhetavyam—should be afraid; kalakutat—of kalakuta; visat—from the poison; jaladhi—from the ocean of milk; sambhavat—which will appear; lobhah—greed; karyah—execution; na—not; vah—unto you; jatu—at any time; rosah—anger; kamah—lust; tu—and; vastusu—in the products. TRANSLATION A poison known as kalakuta will be generated from the ocean of milk, but you should not fear it. And when various products are churned from the ocean, you should not be greedy for them or anxious to obtain them, nor should you be angry. PURPORT It appears that by the churning process many things would be generated from the ocean of milk, including poison, valuable gems, nectar and many beautiful women. The demigods were advised, however, not to be greedy for the gems or beautiful women, but to wait patiently for the nectar. The real purpose was to get the nectar. SB8.6.26 TEXT 26 sri-suka uvaca iti devan samadisya bhagavan purusottamah tesam antardadhe rajan svacchanda-gatir isvarah SYNONYMS sri-sukah uvaca—Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; iti—thus; devan—all the demigods; samadisya—advising; bhagavan—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; purusa-uttamah—the best of all persons; tesam—from them; antardadhe—disappeared; rajan—O King; svacchanda—free; gatih—whose movements; isvarah—the Personality of Godhead. TRANSLATION Sukadeva Gosvami continued: O King Pariksit, after advising the demigods in this way, the independent Supreme Personality of Godhead, the best of all living entities, disappeared from their presence. SB8.6.27 TEXT 27 atha tasmai bhagavate namaskrtya pitamahah bhavas ca jagmatuh svam svam dhamopeyur balim surah SYNONYMS atha—after this; tasmai—unto Him; bhagavate—unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; namaskrtya—offering obeisances; pita-mahah—Lord Brahma; bhavah ca—as well as Lord Siva; jagmatuh—returned; svam svam—to their own; dhama—abodes; upeyuh—approached; balim—King Bali; surah—all the other demigods. TRANSLATION Then Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, after offering their respectful obeisances to the Lord, returned to their abodes. All the demigods then approached Maharaja Bali. SB8.6.28 TEXT 28 drstvarin apy asamyattan jata-ksobhan sva-nayakan nyasedhad daitya-rat slokyah sandhi-vigraha-kalavit SYNONYMS drstva—observing; arin—the enemies; api—although; asamyattan—without any endeavor to fight; jata-ksobhan—who became agitated; sva-nayakan—his own captains and commanders; nyasedhat—prevented; daitya-rat—the Emperor of the Daityas, Maharaja Bali; slokyah—very respectable and prominent; sandhi—for making negotiations; vigraha—as well as for fighting; kala—the time; vit—completely aware of. TRANSLATION Maharaja Bali, a most celebrated king of the demons, knew very well when to make peace and when to fight. Thus although his commanders and captains were agitated and were about to kill the demigods, Maharaja Bali, seeing that the demigods were coming to him without a militant attitude, forbade his commanders to kill them. PURPORT Vedic etiquette enjoins: grhe satrum api praptam visvastam akutobhayam. When enemies come to their opponent’s place, they should be received in such a way that they will forget that there is animosity between the two parties. Bali Maharaja was well conversant with the arts of peacemaking and fighting. Thus he received the demigods very well, although his commanders and captains were agitated. This kind of treatment was prevalent even during the fight between the Pandavas and the Kurus. During the day, the Pandavas and Kurus would fight with the utmost strength, and when the day was over they would go to each other’s camps as friends and be received as such. During such friendly meetings, one enemy would offer anything the other enemy wanted. That was the system. SB8.6.29 TEXT 29 te vairocanim asinam guptam casura-yutha-paih sriya paramaya justam jitasesam upagaman SYNONYMS te—all the demigods; vairocanim—unto Baliraja, the son of Virocana; asinam—sitting down; guptam—well protected; ca—and; asura-yutha-paih—by the commanders of the asuras; sriya—by opulence; paramaya—supreme; justam—blessed; jita-asesam—who became the proprietor of all the worlds; upagaman—approached. TRANSLATION The demigods approached Bali Maharaja, the son of Virocana, and sat down near him. Bali Maharaja was protected by the commanders of the demons and was most opulent, having conquered all the universes. SB8.6.30 TEXT 30 mahendrah slaksnaya vaca santvayitva maha-matih abhyabhasata tat sarvam siksitam purusottamat SYNONYMS maha-indrah—the King of heaven, Indra; slaksnaya—very mild; vaca—by words; santvayitva—pleasing Bali Maharaja very much; maha-matih—the most intelligent person; abhyabhasata—addressed; tat—that; sarvam—everything; siksitam—that was learned; purusa-uttamat—from Lord Visnu. TRANSLATION After pleasing Bali Maharaja with mild words, Lord Indra, the King of the demigods, who was most intelligent, very politely submitted all the proposals he had learned from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Visnu. SB8.6.31 TEXT 31 tat tv arocata daityasya tatranye ye ’suradhipah sambaro ’ristanemis ca ye ca tripura-vasinah SYNONYMS tat—all those words; tu—but; arocata—were very pleasing; daityasya—to Bali Maharaja; tatra—as well as; anye—others; ye—who were; asura-adhipah—the chiefs of the asuras; sambarah—Sambara; aristanemih—Aristanemi; ca—also; ye—others who; ca—and; tripura-vasinah—all the residents of Tripura. TRANSLATION The proposals submitted by King Indra were immediately accepted by Bali Maharaja and his assistants, headed by Sambara and Aristanemi, and by all the other residents of Tripura. PURPORT It appears from this verse that politics, diplomacy, the propensity to cheat, and everything that we find in this world in individual and social negotiations between two parties are also present in the upper planetary systems. The demigods went to Bali Maharaja with the proposal to manufacture nectar, and the Daityas, the demons, immediately accepted it, thinking that since the demigods were already weak, when the nectar was produced the demons would take it from them and use it for their own purposes. The demigods, of course, had similar intentions. The only difference is that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Visnu, was on the side of the demigods because the demigods were His devotees, whereas the demons did not care about Lord Visnu. All over the universe there are two parties—the Visnu party, or God-conscious party, and the godless party. The godless party is never happy or victorious, but the God-conscious party is always happy and victorious. SB8.6.32 TEXT 32 tato devasurah krtva samvidam krta-sauhrdah udyamam paramam cakrur amrtarthe parantapa SYNONYMS tatah—thereafter; deva-asurah—both the demons and the demigods; krtva—executing; samvidam—indicating; krta-sauhrdah—an armistice between them; udyamam—enterprise; paramam—supreme; cakruh—they did; amrta-arthe—for the sake of nectar; parantapa—O Maharaja Pariksit, chastiser of enemies. TRANSLATION O Maharaja Pariksit, chastiser of enemies, the demigods and the demons thereafter made an armistice between them. Then, with great enterprise, they arranged to produce nectar, as proposed by Lord Indra. PURPORT The word samvidam is significant in this verse. The demigods and demons both agreed to stop fighting, at least for the time being, and endeavored to produce nectar. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura notes in this connection: samvid yuddhe pratijnayam The word samvit is variously used to mean “in fighting,” “in promising,” “for satisfying,” “in addressing,” “by practical action,” “indication,” and “knowledge.” SB8.6.33 TEXT 33 tatas te mandara-girim ojasotpatya durmadah nadanta udadhim ninyuh saktah parigha-bahavah SYNONYMS tatah—thereafter; te—all the demigods and demons; mandara-girim—Mandara Mountain; ojasa—with great strength; utpatya—extracting; durmadah—very powerful and competent; nadanta—cried very loudly; udadhim—toward the ocean; ninyuh—brought; saktah—very strong; parigha-bahavah—having long, strong arms. TRANSLATION Thereafter, with great strength, the demons and demigods, who were all very powerful and who had long, stout arms, uprooted Mandara Mountain. Crying very loudly, they brought it toward the ocean of milk. SB8.6.34 TEXT 34 dura-bharodvaha-srantah sakra-vairocanadayah aparayantas tam vodhum vivasa vijahuh pathi SYNONYMS dura—for a great distance; bhara-udvaha—by carrying the great load; srantah—being fatigued; sakra—King Indra; vairocana-adayah—and Maharaja Bali (the son of Virocana) and others; aparayantah—being unable; tam—the mountain; vodhum—to bear; vivasah—being unable; vijahuh—gave up; pathi—on the way. TRANSLATION Because of conveying the great mountain for a long distance, King Indra, Maharaja Bali and the other demigods and demons became fatigued. Being unable to carry the mountain, they left it on the way. SB8.6.35 TEXT 35 nipatan sa giris tatra bahun amara-danavan curnayam asa mahata bharena kanakacalah SYNONYMS nipatan—falling down; sah—that; girih—mountain; tatra—there; bahun—many; amara-danavan—demigods and demons; curnayam asa—were smashed; mahata—by great; bharena—weight; kanaka-acalah—the golden mountain known as Mandara. TRANSLATION The mountain known as Mandara, which was extremely heavy, being made of gold, fell and smashed many demigods and demons. PURPORT By constitution, gold is heavier than stone. Since Mandara Mountain was made of gold and was therefore heavier than stone, the demigods and demons could not properly carry it to the ocean of milk. SB8.6.36 TEXT 36 tams tatha bhagna-manaso bhagna-bahuru-kandharan vijnaya bhagavams tatra babhuva garuda-dhvajah SYNONYMS tan—all the demigods and demons; tatha—thereafter; bhagna-manasah—being brokenhearted; bhagna-bahu—with broken arms; uru—thighs; kandharan—and shoulders; vijnaya—knowing; bhagavan—the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu; tatra—there; babhuva—appeared; garuda-dhvajah—being carried on Garuda. TRANSLATION The demigods and demons were frustrated and disheartened, and their arms, thighs and shoulders were broken. Therefore the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who knows everything, appeared there on the back of His carrier, Garuda. SB8.6.37 TEXT 37 giri-pata-vinispistan vilokyamara-danavan iksaya jivayam asa nirjaran nirvranan yatha SYNONYMS giri-pata—because of the falling of Mandara Mountain; vinispistan—crushed; vilokya—observing; amara—the demigods; danavan—and the demons; iksaya—simply by His glance; jivayam asa—brought back to life; nirjaran—without aggrievement; nirvranan—without bruises; yatha—as. TRANSLATION Observing that most of the demons and the demigods had been crushed by the falling of the mountain, the Lord glanced over them and brought them back to life. Thus they became free from grief, and they even had no bruises on their bodies. SB8.6.38 TEXT 38 girim caropya garude hastenaikena lilaya aruhya prayayav abdhim surasura-ganair vrtah SYNONYMS girim—the mountain; ca—also; aropya—placing; garude—on the back of Garuda; hastena—by the hand; ekena—one; lilaya—very easily as His pastime; aruhya—getting on; prayayau—He went; abdhim—to the ocean of milk; sura-asura-ganaih—by the demigods and asuras; vrtah—surrounded. TRANSLATION The Lord very easily lifted the mountain with one hand and placed it on the back of Garuda. Then, He too got on the back of Garuda and went to the ocean of milk, surrounded by the demigods and demons. PURPORT Here is proof of the omnipotence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is above everyone. There are two classes of living entities—the demons and the demigods—and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is above them both. The demons believe in the “chance” theory of creation, whereas the demigods believe in creation by the hand of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The omnipotence of the Supreme Lord is proved here, for simply with one hand He lifted Mandara Mountain, the demigods and the demons, placed them on the back of Garuda and brought them to the ocean of milk. Now, the demigods, the devotees, would immediately accept this incident, knowing that the Lord can lift anything, however heavy it might be. But although demons were also carried along with the demigods, demons, upon hearing of this incident, would say that it is mythological. But if God is all-powerful, why would it be difficult for Him to lift a mountain? Since He is floating innumerable planets with many hundreds and thousands of Mandara Mountains, why can’t He lift one of them with His hand? This is not mythology, but the difference between the believers and the faithless is that the devotees accept the incidents mentioned in the Vedic literatures to be true, whereas the demons simply argue and label all these historical incidents mythology. Demons would prefer to explain that everything happening in the cosmic manifestation takes place by chance, but demigods, or devotees, never consider anything to be chance. Rather, they know that everything is an arrangement of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the difference between the demigods and the demons. SB8.6.39 TEXT 39 avaropya girim skandhat suparnah patatam varah yayau jalanta utsrjya harina sa visarjitah SYNONYMS avaropya—unloading; girim—the mountain; skandhat—from his shoulder; suparnah—Garuda; patatam—of all the birds; varah—the biggest or most powerful; yayau—went; jala-ante—where the water is; utsrjya—placing; harina—by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sah—he (Garuda); visarjitah—discharged from that place. TRANSLATION Thereafter, Garuda, the chief of birds, unloaded Mandara Mountain from his shoulder and brought it near the water. Then he was asked by the Lord to leave that place, and he left. PURPORT Garuda was asked by the Lord to leave that place because the snake Vasuki, who was to be used as the rope for churning, could not go there in the presence of Garuda. Garuda, the carrier of Lord Visnu, is not a vegetarian. He eats big snakes. Vasuki, being a great snake, would be natural food for Garuda, the chief of birds. Lord Visnu therefore asked Garuda to leave so that Vasuki could be brought to churn the ocean with Mandara Mountain, which was to be used as the churning rod. These are the wonderful arrangements of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Nothing takes place by accident. Carrying Mandara Mountain on the back of a bird and putting it in its right position might be difficult for anyone, whether demigod or demon, but for the Supreme Personality of Godhead everything is possible, as shown by this pastime. The Lord had no difficulty lifting the mountain with one hand, and Garuda, His carrier, carried all the demons and demigods together by the grace of the Supreme Lord. The Lord is known as Yogesvara, the master of all mystic power, because of His omnipotence. If He likes, He can make anything lighter than cotton or heavier than the universe. Those who do not believe in the activities of the Lord cannot explain how things happen. Using words like “accident,” they take shelter of ideas that are unbelievable. Nothing is accidental. Everything is done by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as the Lord Himself confirms in Bhagavad-gita (9.10). Mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sacaracaram. Whatever actions and reactions occur within the cosmic manifestation all take place under the superintendence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. However, because the demons do not understand the potency of the Lord, when wonderful things are done, the demons think that they are accidental. Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Sixth Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled “The Demigods and Demons Declare a Truce.”
acare namni tosane
sambhasane kriyakare
sanketa-jnanayor api