The legend of churning Milk Ocean is narrated to Rama and Lakshmana when they reach and see a city named Vishaala. Vishvamitra narrates how haalahala, the lethal poison as well as Amrita, the ambrosial elixir emerged from the churning of Milk Ocean, and how Shiva contained the poison and how Vishnu helped the churning in His incarnation as Tortoise.
viśvāmitra vacaḥ śrutvā rāghavaḥ saha lakṣmaṇaḥ |
vismayam paramam gatvā viśvāmitram atha abravīt || 1-45-1
1. saha lakSmaNaH = with, Lakshmana; raaghavaH = Raghava; vishvaamitra vacaH shrutvaa = Vishwamitra's, words, on listening;, paramam vismayam gatvaa = great, astonishment, gone into; atha vishvaamitram abraviit = then, to Vishvamitra, addressed.
On listening the narration of Sage Vishwamitra about Ganga's descent along with Lakshmana, Rama went into a great astonishment, and then addressed Vishvamitra. [1-45-1]
ati adbhutam idam brahman kathitam paramam tvayā |
gaṃgā avataraṇam puṇyam sāgarasya api pūraṇam || 1-45-2
2. brahman = oh, Brahman; tvayaa kathitam paramam = by you, narrated, extremely - blessed legend; idam gangaa avataraNam = this, Ganga's, alighting; saagarasya [khananam] = ocean's, [digging]; puuraNam api = filling it, even; puNyam = [are] sacrosanct; ati adbhutam = highly, amazing.
"The blessed legend you have narrated about the digging of an ocean at the behest of Sagara, Ganga's alighting, and Bhageeratha filling it with the water of Ganga is sacrosanct and even highly amazing. [1-45-2]
kṣaṇa bhūta iva nau rātriḥ saṃvṛtta iyam paraṃtapa |
imām ciṃtayatoḥ sarvam nikhilena kathām tava || 1-45-3
3. parantapa = oh, enemy-inflamer; tava imaam sarvam kathaam = your, this, all of the, episode; nikhilena = in entirety; chintayatoH = while thinking of it; nau = to us two - Rama, Lakshmana; iyam raatriH = this, night; kshaNa bhuuta iva = a moment, became, as if; samvR^itta = rolled by.
"Oh, enemy-inflamer, for two of us entire night rolled by as if it is a single moment while we were thinking about the episode you have narrated in its entirety. [1-45-3]
tasya sā śarvarī sarvā mama saumitriṇā saha |
jagāma ciṃtayān asya viśvāmitra kathām śubhām ||1-45-4
4. vishvaamitra = oh, friend of universe - Vishvamitra; saumitriNaa saha = Saumitri, along with; tasyashubhaam kathaam = about it, auspicious one, about legend; cintayaan asya = while thinking, about it; saa sarvaa sharvarii jagaama = that, entire, night, rolled by.
"While thinking about the auspicious legend of Ganga along with Lakshmana, oh, friend of the universe, Vishvamitra, whole night rolled by." Thus Rama is addressing Vishvamitra. [1-45-4]
Here the placement of verses does not give a continuity of narration in this version, insofar as Rama's speech is concerned. Other versions have a continuity of narration.
tataḥ prabhāte vimale viśvāmitram tapodhanam|
uvāca rāghavo vākyam kṛta āhnikam arindamaḥ || 1-45-5
5. tataH = thereafter; arindamaH = enemy-oppressor; raaghavaH = Raghava; vimale prabhaate = fresh, on next dawn; kR^ita aahnikam = who performed, morning chores of rituals; vishvaamitram = to Vishvamitra; tapaH dhanam = who in asceticism, affluent; vaakyam uvaaca = sentence, spoke.
Thereafter on the next fresh dawn the enemy-oppressor Raghava spoke these words to sage Vishvamitra, whose affluence is nothing but asceticism, and who by now has performed his daily chores of rituals. [1-45-5]
gatā bhagavatī rātriḥ śrotavyam paramam śrutam |
tarāma saritam śreṣṭam puṇyam tri patha gām nadīm ||1-45-6
6. paramam shrotavyam shrutam = excellent, listenable [praiseworthy legend,] listened; bhagavatii raatriH gataa = deific, night, passed; saritam shreSTam puNyam = among rivers, prominent one, merited - Ganga; tri patha gaam nadiim = three, ways, coursing, river Ganga; taraama we now cross over.
"We have listened the praiseworthy legend of River Ganga, and the deific night has also passed by while listening such a legend, we may now cross over the very same prominent and merited River Ganga, the tri-path-cruiser. [1-45-6]
nauḥ eṣā hi sukha āstīrṇā ṛṣīṇām puṇya karmaṇām |
bhagavaṃtam iha prāptam jñātvā tvaritam āgatā || 1-45-7
7. sukha aastiirNaa = comfortably, blanketed [floor with mats etc.]; puNya karmaNaam R^iSiiNaam = of august, deeds, for sages - suitable for embarkation of great sages; eSaa nauH = this, boat; bhagava.ntam iha praaptam = your holiness, here, chanced - visited this place; j~naatvaa = on knowing; tvaritam aagataa = quickly, [boat] came [fetched by them]; hi = indeed.
"This boat which is suitable for the embarkation of the sages whose deeds are pious, and which is comfortably blanketed with mats in its deck has come here, and indeed on knowing about the visit of your holiness to this place the sages have fetched it." Thus Rama spoke to Vishvamitra. [1-45-7]
tasya tat vacanam śrutvā rāghavasya mahātmanaḥ |
saṃtāram kārayāmāsa sa ṛṣi saṃghasya kauśikaḥ || 1-45-8
8. tasya mahaa aatmanaH raaghavasya = his, great-souled, Raghava's; tat vacanam shrutvaa = that, sentence, on hearing; sa R^iSi sanghasya = along with, sages, assemblages of; [sa raaghavaH = with Raghava-s]; samtaaram = to cross over [river]; kaushikaH = , Kaushika - Vishvamitra]; kaarayaamaasa = started to make happen.
Hearing the words of great-souled Raghava, Vishvamitra of Kusha dynasty, started to cross over the River Ganga along with the assemblage of sages, and with both the Raghava-s. [1-45-8]
uttaram tīram āsādya saṃpūjya ṛṣi gaṇam tataḥ |
gaṃgā kūle niviṣṭāḥ te viśālām dadṛśuḥ purīm || 1-45-9
9. uttaram tiiram aasaadya = north side, bank, on arriving at; tataH = then; sampuujya R^iSi gaNam = honoured, sages, group - who ferried them to here; gangaa kuule niviSTaaH = then, Ganga's, on bank, sojourned; te = they; vishaalaam puriim dadR^ishuH = at Vishaala [named city,] they have seen.
Arriving at the northern bank of River Ganga they have honoured the group of sages who ferried them up to here and sent them off. Then sojourning on the riverbank of Ganga they have seen the city called Vishaala. [1-45-9]
tato muni varaḥ tūrṇam jagāma saha rāghavaḥ |
viśālām nagarīm raṃyām divyām svarga upamām tadā || 1-45-10
10. tataH = then; muni varaH = sage, the best - Vishvamitra; saha raaghavaH = with, Raghava-s; tadaa = next; ramyaam = charming; divyaam = admirable; svarga upamaam = to heaven, comparable; vishaalaam nagariim = to Vishaala, city; tuurNam jagaama = quickly, went.
The great sage Vishvamitra then quickly started along with Rama and Lakshmana to the charming and admirable city Vishaala, which in comparison is like heaven. [1-45-10]
atha rāmo mahāprājño viśvāmitram mahāmunim |
papraccha prāṃjaliḥ bhūtvā viśālām uttamām purīm || 1-45-11
11. atha = then; mahaa praaj~naH raamaH = highly, perspicacious - who has a flair for knowing, Rama; praanjaliH bhuutvaa = with folded palms, on becoming; mahaa munim vishvaamitram = with great sage, Vishvamitra; uttamaam vishaalaam puriim = about prominent, Vishaala, city; papracCha = enquired about.
Then Rama, whose flair for knowing everything is high, became suppliant duly adjoining his palms, and enquired about the prominent city Vishala with the great Sage Vishvamitra. [1-45-11]
katamo rāja vaṃśo ayam viśālāyām mahāmune |
śrotum icchāmi bhadram te param kautūhalam hi me || 1-45-12
12. mahaa mune = oh, great, sage; vishaalaayaam = in Vishaala - kingdom; ayam raaja vamshaH katamaH [kataraH] = this, king's, dynasty, which is; shrotum icChaami = for hearing, I am interested; te bhadram = safeness betides you; me param kautuuhalam hi = to me, highly, inquisitiveness is there, indeed.
"Oh, great sage, which dynasty of kings is ruling from this city of Vishaala? Let safeness betide you, I am interested to hear of it and indeed I am highly inquisitive about it." Thus Rama spoke to Vishvamitra. [1- 45-12]
tasya tat vacanam śrutvā rāmasya munipuṃgavaḥ |
ākhyātum tat samārebhe viśālasya purātanam || 1-45-13
13. muni pungavaH = sage, the eminent; tasya raamasya = his, Rama's; tat vacanam shrutvaa = that, sentence, on hearing; vishaalasya puraatanam = Vishaala's, ancient; tat = that - legend; aakhyaatum sam aarebhe = to narrate, well, started to.
Hearing that sentence of Rama then the eminent sage Vishvamitra has commenced to narrate the legend of ancient Vishaala. [1-45-13]
śrūyatām rāma śakrasya kathām kathayataḥ śrutām |
asmin deśe hi yat vṛttam śṛṇu tattvena rāghava || 1-45-14
14. raama = oh, Rama; shakrasya kathaam = Indra's, auspicious, legend; kathayataH shrutaam = as narrated, as I heard; shruuyataam = let it be heard; asmin deshe yat vR^ittam hi = in this, country, what, has happened, indeed; [tat api = that, even]; raaghava = oh Raghava; tattvena shR^iNu = in quintessence, you listen.
"Oh, Rama, I will tell you about the auspicious legend of Indra as I was told, and you listen to it as I tell. Oh, Raghava, indeed you may now listen to the quintessence of what has happened in this country. [1-45-14]
pūrvam kṛta yuge rāma diteḥ putrā mahābalāḥ |
aditeḥ ca mahābhāgā vīryavantaḥ sudhārmikāḥ || 1-45-15
15. mahaabhaagaa raama = oh, highly, fortunate, Rama; puurvam kR^ita yuge = once, in Krita, era; diteH putraa = Diti's, sons; mahaa balaaH = extremely, energetic ones; aditeH ca = Aditi's, also ; viiryavantaH = vigorous ones; su dhaarmikaaH = highly righteous ones.
"Once in Krita era, oh, Rama, the sons of Lady Diti were extremely energetic, whereas the sons of her younger sister Lady Aditi were vigorous and highly righteous. [1-45-15]
Diti is the elder sister of Aditi and the first wife of Sage Kaashyapa. Her sons were originally called asura-s, and later given the nomenclature of raakshasaa-s, the demons. Lady Aditi the second wife of that sage Kaashyapa, gave birth to the progeny of sura-s, later generally called as devataa-s, the gods. These two ladies are the daughters of Daksha Prajaapati.
tataḥ teṣām naravyāghraḥ buddhiḥ āsīt mahātmanām |
amarā virjarāḥ caiva katham syāmo nirāmayāḥ || 1-45-16
16. tataH = then; naravyaaghraH = oh, tigerly-man, Rama; mahaa atmanaam teSaam = great-souled ones, to them; vi jaraaH = without, decay - without old age; a maraa = without, death - deathless; caiva = also, likewise; nir aamayaaH = without, illness, mortification; katham syaamaH = how, we shall be - how to thrive; buddhiH aasiit = thought - speculation, occurred.
"Oh, tigerly-man, Rama, then those great-souls speculated as to 'how we can thrive without ageing, illness, and likewise without death.' [1-45-16]
teṣām ciṃtayatām tatra buddhiḥ āsīt vipaścitām |
kṣīra uda mathanam kṛtvā rasam prāpsyāma tatra vai || 1-45-17
17. cintayataam teSaam vipashcitaam = thus thinking, to those, masterminds; tatra = in that matter; buddhiH aasiit = thought, occurred; kSiira uda mathanam kR^itvaa = milk, ocean, churning, on performing; tatra = from it; rasam praapsyaama vai = elixir, we will get, indeed.
"A thought occurred to those masterminds who were thinking on that matter clueing them up, 'we indeed can get elixir of life by churning the Milky Ocean.' [1-45-17]
tato niścitya mathanam yoktram kṛtvā ca vāsukim |
manthānam mandaram kṛtvā mamanthur amita ojasaḥ || 1-45-18
18. tataH = then; a mita ojasaH = un, limited, energetic ones - both groups; mathanam nishcitya = churning, on deciding; vaasukim yoktram kR^itvaa = Vasuki - King of Snakes, as churning-rope, on making; mandaram manthaanam kR^itvaa = mountain Mandara, as stirrer, on making; ma manthuH = thoroughly, churned - Milky Ocean.
"Deciding upon to churn the Milky Ocean then made Vasuki, Thousand-headed King of Snakes, as the churning rope and Mt. Mandara as stirrer, and those brothers whose energy is unlimited have started churning the Milky Ocean thoroughly. [1-45-18]
atha varṣa sahasreṇa yoktra sarpa śirāṃsi ca |
vamanto ati viṣam tatra dadaṃśur daśanaiḥ śilāḥ || 1-45-19
19. atha varSa sahasreNa = later, by years, thousand [after a thousand years]; yoktra sarpa shiraamsi ca = churning rope, serpent, heads, also; tatra = in that - friction of churning; ati viSam = a great lot of, venom; vamantaH = disgorged; shilaaH dadamshuH dashanaiH = cliffs [of Mt. Mandara]; fanged, with fangs.
"After a thousand years, the Thousand-headed serpent Vaasuki, which is being used as churning rope, is incapacitated to bear the friction of churning and fanged the cliffs of Mt. Mandara. Thereby a great lot of venom is disgorged from the heads of that serpent Vaasuki, which venom on melting the rocks of Mt. Mandara became the holocaustic poison called haalahala. [1-45-19]
utpapātām agni saṃkāśam hālāhala mahāviṣam |
tena dagdham jagat sarvam sa deva asura mānuṣam || 1-45-20
20. agni sankaasham = inferno, similar to; haalaahala mahaa viSam = halahala, lethal, poison; ut pa paataam = started to up, verily, fall - started to fulminate - from Mt. Mandara; tena = by that; sa deva asura maanuSam = together with, gods, demons, humans; jagat sarvam dagdham = universe, whole, is burnt down.
"A lethal poison similar to inferno known as haalahala has started to fulminate therefrom, by which whole universe of gods, non-gods and humans is burnt down. [1-45-20]
atha devā mahādevam śaṃkaram śaraṇārthtinaḥ |
jagmuḥ paśupatim rudram trāhi trāhi iti tuṣṭuvuḥ || 1-45-21
21. tataH = then; devaaH = gods; sharaNa arthtinaH = shelter, seeking; mahaadevam = to Cardinal God; pashu patim = to animal's, lord of; sham karam = Solace, Endower; rudram = to Rudra; jagmuH = went to; traahi traahi iti tuSTuvuH = save, save us, thus, they prayed to Him.
"The gods seeking shelter then approached Rudra, the Cardinal God, Endower of Solace, and who husbands all the created animals inclusive of human-animals, namely Shiva, and they prayed to him saying 'save, save us.' [1-45-21]
evam uk{]taḥ tato devaiḥ deveśvaraḥ prabhuḥ |
prādur āsīt tato atra eva śaṃkha cakra dharo hariḥ || 1-45-22
22. tataH = then; prabhuH = the lord; deva iishvaraH = God of Gods - Shiva; devaiH evam uktaH = by gods, this way, he is addressed - prayed; shankha cakra dharaH hariH = conch, disc, handling, Hari - Vishnu; tataH = then - in the meanwhile; atra eva praadur aasiit = to there, only, revealed himself.
"This way while the gods are praying the Lord and God of Gods, namely Shiva, then handling his disc and conch-shell Vishnu has also revealed himself at that place. [1-45-22]
uvāca enam smitam kṛtvā rudram śūladharam hariḥ |
daivataiḥ madhyamāno tu tat pūrvam samupasthitam || 1-45-23
tat tvadīyam suraśreṣṭhaḥ surāṇām agrato hi yat |
agra pūjāmi iha sthitvā gṛhāṇa idam viṣam prabho || 1-45-24
23. hariH = Vishnu; smitam kR^itvaa = smile, making [smilingly]; shuula dharam = Trident, Wielder of; enam rudram = to him, to Rudra; uvaaca = spoke; sura shreSThaH = oh, among gods, best god; daivataiH madhyamaanaH tu = by gods, while churning, but; [yat = which]; puurvam samupasthitam = firstly, emerged - element from Milk Ocean; tvadiiyam hi = it is yours, isn't it; yat = by which reason, by virtue of; suraaNaam agrataH = among gods, [you are] foremost god; [asi = you are]; prabho = oh, omnicompetent god, Shiva; agra puujaam = as prime, oblation; [matvaa = deeming it as]; iha sthitvaa = in this [position of foremost god,] staying at it - applying yourself to that position; idam viSam gR^ihaaNa = this, poison, you take.
"And Vishnu smilingly spoke to wielder of trident Rudra, 'oh, god the best, whatever element that has emerged from the churning of Milk Ocean by gods, that shall belong to you, isn't it. By virtue of your position as the foremost god among gods, oh, omnicompetent god Shiva, you please accept this poison applying yourself to that position of foremost god, and deeming this poison, haalahala, as a foremost oblation to your godhood. [1-45-23, 24]
iti uktvā ca suraśreṣṭhaḥ tatra eva aṃtardhīyata |
devatānām bhayam dṛṣṭvā śrutvā vākyam tu śāraṅgiṇaḥ || 1-45-25
hālāhalam viṣam ghoram saṃjagrāha amṛta upamam |
25, 26a. sura shreSThaH iti uktvaa = best one among gods - Vishnu, this way, on saying; tatra eva antardhiiyata = there, only, disappeared; [saH = he that Shiva]; devataanaam bhayam dR^iSTvaa = god's, scare, on observing; shaara~NgiNaH = the wielder of bow called shaara~nga, so, shaara~Ngi dhanvan, i.e., Vishnu; vaakyam shrutvaa = words, on listening; ghoram haalaahalam viSam = lethal, halahala, poison; amR^ita upamam = ambrosia, as if it is; sam jagraaha = well taken - gulped the poison.
"Saying so Vishnu, the best one among gods, has disappeared then and there only. And on observing the scare of gods and also on paying heed to the words of the Wielder of Bow called shaara~Nga, namely Vishnu, god Shiva gulped that lethal poison haalahala , as if it is ambrosia. [1-45-25, 26a]