Mahabharata, Book 1, Section XVII: Astika Parvaआदिपर्व

Kisari Mohan Ganguli’s English prose (1883–96), beside the Sanskrit of adhyāya 1.17.

17Sanskrit adhyāya 1.17 · Sanskrit source · English source

Sanskrit

सौतिरुवाच।
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु भगिन्यौ ते तपोधन।
अपश्यतां समायान्तमुच्चैः श्रवसमन्तिकात्।।
यं तु देवगणाः सर्वे हृष्टरूपमपूजयन्।
मथ्यमानेऽमृते जातमश्वरत्नमनुत्तमम्।।
अमोघबलमश्वानामुत्तमं जविनां वरम्।
श्रीमन्तमजरं दिव्यं सर्वलक्षणपूजितम्।।
शौनक उवाच।
कथं तदमृतं देवैर्मथितं क्व च शंस मे।
`कारणं चात्र मथने संजातममृतात्परम्।।'
यत्र जज्ञे महावीर्यः सोऽश्वराजो महाद्युतिः।।
सौतिरुवाच।
ज्वलन्तमचलं मेरुं तेजोराशिमनुत्तमम्।
आक्षिपन्तं प्रभां भानोः स्वशृङ्गैः काञ्चनोज्ज्वलैः।।
कनकाभरणं चित्रं देवगन्धर्वसेवितम्।
अप्रमेयमनाधृष्यमधर्मबहुलैर्जनैः।।
व्यालैरावारितं घोरैर्दिव्यौषधिविदीपितम्।
नाकमावृत्य तिष्ठन्तमुच्छ्रयेण महागिरिम्।।
अगम्यं मनसाप्यन्यैर्नदीवृक्षसमन्वितम्।
नानापतगसङ्घैश्च नादितं सुमनोहरैः।।
तस्य शृङ्गमुपारुह्य बहुरत्नाचितं शुभम्।
अनन्तकल्पमद्वन्द्वं सुराः सर्वे महौजसः।।
ते मन्त्रयितुमारब्धास्तत्रासीना दिवौकसः।
अमृताय समागम्य तपोनियमसंयुताः।।
तत्र नारायणो देवो ब्रह्माणमिदमब्रवीत्।
चिन्तयत्सु सुरेष्वेवं मन्त्रयत्सु च सर्वशः।।
देवैरसुरसङ्घैश्च मथ्यतां कलशोदधिः।
भविष्यत्यमृतं तत्र मथ्यमाने महोदधौ।।
सर्वौषधीः समावाप्य सर्वरत्नानि चैव ह।
मन्थध्वयुदधिं देवा वेत्स्यध्वममृतं ततः।।
।। इति श्रीमन्महाभारते आदिपर्वणि
आस्तीकपर्वणि सप्तदशोऽध्यायः।। 17 ।।

English Ganguli

“Sauti said, ‘O ascetic, about this time the two sisters saw approaching near, that steed of complacent appearance named Uchchaihsravas who was worshipped by the gods, that gem of steeds, who arose at the churning of the Ocean for nectar. Divine, graceful, perpetually young, creation’s master-piece, and of irresistible vigour, it was blest with every auspicious mark.’

“Saunaka asked, ‘Why did the gods churn the Ocean for nectar, and under what circumstances and when as you say, did that best of steeds so powerful and resplendent spring?’

“Sauti said, ‘There is a mountain named Meru, of blazing appearance, and looking like a heap of effulgence. The rays of the Sun falling on its peaks of golden lustre are dispersed by them. Decked with gold and exceedingly beautiful, that mountain is the haunt of the gods and the Gandharvas. It is immeasurable and unapproachable by men of manifold sins. Dreadful beasts of prey wander over its breasts, and it is illuminated by many divine life-giving herbs. It stands kissing the heavens by its height and is the first of mountains. Ordinary people cannot even think of ascending it. It is graced with trees and streams, and resounds with the charming melody of winged choirs. Once the celestials sat on its begemmed peak—in conclave. They who had practised penances and observed excellent vows for amrita now seemed to be eager seekers alter amrita (celestial ambrosia). Seeing the celestial assembly in anxious mood Nara-yana said to Brahman, ‘Do thou churn the Ocean with the gods and the Asuras. By doing so, amrita will be obtained as also all drugs and gems. O ye gods, chum the Ocean, ye will discover amrita.’”

So ends the seventeenth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva.