SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM: CANTO 8

(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'When the poison was drunk by him who rides the bull resumed all the immortals and Dânavas very pleased the churning of the ocean and was from the great force of it generated the cow of plenty [the surabhi, the source of the ghee]. (2) The sages conversant with the injunctions for the yajñas took charge of her, o King, because she, from the clarified butter, was fit for making oblations with the fire sacrifices and the progress towards God.

(3) Next was generated a horse white as the moon, named Uccaihs'ravâ, that Mahârâja Bali liked to have, while Indra desisted from the claim on the advise of the Lord [see B.G. 10: 27 and compare 4.19: 23].

(4) Thereafter was produced the king of resistance, the elephant Airâvata who white, with four tusks, defied the mountain [Kailâsa] that is the glory of the First Devotee [Lord S'iva, see 6.11: 11 and again B.G. 10: 27]. (5) Airâvana preceded eight elephants to each direction of the sky and following him was also generated a group of eight she-elephants headed by one named Abhramu, o King.

(6) Next was from the wide expanse of milk generated a valuable gem known as the Kaustubha and another one named Padmarâga; Lord Hari who desired their possession decorated His chest with them. Thereupon was generated the pârijâta flower which embellishes the heavenly places and thereby fulfills the wishes of the ones desiring wealth in much the same way, o King, as you always fulfill the wishes in the world.

(7) Then were also generated the Apsaras, who exquisitely dressed and decorated with gold were the extremely beautiful and attractive inhabitants of heaven who smoothly moving divert each his heart.

(8) After that manifested directly the Goddess of Splendor [Ramâ or Lakshmî] herself who along with the Lord illumined all directions with her lightening luster as Saudâmanî [lit.: forked lightening, also the sorceress; to deal with that splendor see the 'peace formula' of B.G. 5: 29]. (9) Each Sura, Asura and human being desired her, as the magnificent beauty of her features, youth, complexion and glories caught their minds. (10) The king of heaven arranged for her a seat and all the glorious and wonderful, sacred rivers and reservoirs assumed with their filling of golden waterpots thus a form with their pure waters. (11) The land delivered the complete of all the necessities and herbs for installing the deity; the cows contributed with the pure of their five products [milk, yogurt, ghee, dung and urine] and springtime brought together her fresh flowers and fruits. (12) The sages performed the ceremony of installation as is prescribed, to which for all good fortune the Gandharvas chanted the lore while their women did their best to dance to the occasion and sing mantras. (13) The clouds vibrated the two-sided drums, kettledrums, murajas and ânakas [two other types of drums] and with the sounds of bugles, conchshells, flutes and vînas it was a great tumult. (14) Next poured the great elephants jugs full of sacred water over the [deity of the] chaste goddess so beautiful with the lotus in her hand, while the twice-born were chanting hymns [see also a classic picture of Lakshmî]. (15) The ocean presented yellow silks for her to dress herself from top to bottom and Varuna brought the biggest garland together with drunken bumblebees to its sweetness. (16) From Prajâpati Vis'vakarmâ there was a choice of ornaments, Sarasvatî [the goddess of learning] supplied a necklace, Lord Brahmâ provided a lotus flower and the Nâgas [the excellent] brought earrings. (17) Thereupon worshiped in an all-auspicious ceremony went she, radiating a natural beauty, with the lotus garland held in her hand and the bees about it, around, with the decoration of the earrings to her cheeks and a coy smile on her face. (18) With her two breasts and her thin waist in symmetry and harmony and smeared with sandalwood pulp and kunkuma, appeared she, moving here and there with the sweet tinkling of her anklebells, exactly like a golden creeper. (19) In her position looking for the eternal qualities could she among the indwellers of heaven, the perfected, the unenlightened, the keepers of the wealth, the venerable ones and all the rest of the demigods, not find a single one who was faultless:

(20) 'Of the certain of one's austerity has one not conquered the anger, of spiritual knowledge is the scholar not free of attachments and someone great may not have overcome material desires; how can a person as such under the control of something else be a controller? (21) Proficient in the religion doesn't mean that one found friendship with other living beings, with one's renunciation may the cause of liberation be missed and with whatever power one may have over people, is one still subjected to the power of time; never will one, free from the contamination of the modes of nature, [apart from the Lord] find a second one [see also 1.2: 8]. (22) Someone may live long but still be unlucky or of misconduct, someone may master the art of living but not know to live long; if one is of both is such a person in some other way unlucky, and of someone best in all fields is not said that he has envisioned me [the devotion]!'

(23) This way of due consideration accepted the Goddess of the Splendor Him Mukunda, the reservoir of the Supreme so desirable and qualified in every way, as her husband even though He never looked for it, for He possessed the extraordinary transcendental qualities that were all good and independent of others. (24) After placing on His shoulders a ravishing fresh garland of lotuses vibrating with humming, maddened bumblebees, remained she, with a shy smile to her glittering eyes, by His side with His bosom as her real resort. (25) He, the father of the three worlds, made His bosom the residence of the mother, the goddess, the supreme of the wealth; she installed there increases by her mercifully glancing over the threefold creation the fortune of His servants and leaders. (26) With the sound of conchshells, bugles and all sorts of drums was there the greatest tumult of musical instruments so that all the gods of heaven and their women started to sing and dance. (27) Brahmâ, S'iva and all the directors of the world headed by Angirâ honored, with all they thus saw, the personality that was really the greatest by chanting and showering flowers. (28) With the merciful glance of the Goddess upon all the godly, the fathers of mankind and their generations were they all blessed with good behavior and good qualities and achieved they the ultimate satisfaction.

(29) When the Daityas and Dânavas, o King, being neglected by Lakshmî got frustrated, lost they depressed in their aching greed all sense of shame. (30) Following appeared Vârunî, the goddess of the drunkards, as a young lotus-eyed girl upon which the Asuras accepted her the way the Lord had arranged it for them.

(31) When thereupon the ocean was churned by the sons of Kas'yapa so eager for the nectar appeared there, o great King, a most wonderful man. (32) He was long, had stout and strong arms, a neck like a conch, reddish eyes, a blackish complexion, looked very young, had a garland and was decorated all over. (33) Clad in yellow, with his broad chest, his earrings with pearls well polished, his gleaming curly hair hanging down in strings, came he, decorated with bangles and moving strong as a lion, forward with a jar that to the rim was filled with nectar. (34) He was a plenary part of a plenary portion of the Supreme Lord Vishnu known by the name of Dhanvantari who, representing the full knowledge of medical science, was there to demand his share of the sacrifices. (35) The Asuras, greedy after all things, who saw him with the container full of nectar, immediately snatched the jug away. (36) When that jug containing the nectar by the Asuras was carried away, were all the godly desolate and turned they to the Lord for their protection. (37) Witnessing their sadness about it did the Supreme Lord who always tries to fulfill the wishes say: 'Do not be aggrieved, by means of a quarrel among them will I personally see to it that the nectar will be there for all of you.' (38) O master of man, then rose there among them a fugue about the nectar in which they with a thirsting heart said: 'Let me first, I first, not you, you wait!' (39-40) When the godly deserve it to take their share, have all who were of an equal effort in the duty of sacrifice an equal right; this is a matter of traditional duties [sanâtana dharma]!' This way tried the Daityas envious and weak, o King, violently to appropriate the jug, denying it factually each other constantly. (41-46) After this had passed assumed Lord Vishnu, the Supreme Controller who has a solution for each situation, the form of a supremely beautiful, wonderful woman who mystified all of them. Pleasing to behold was she as dark as a newly grown lotus, was she in all her limbs of the greatest beauty and harmony, and had she a straight nose to her ornamented ears and fine cheeks. She had fresh, firm, young but weighty breasts to her thin waist and a blissful expression on her face. From the humming bumblebees arround her she looked a bit anxious. With the mass of her waving hair and her nice neck with a mallikâ flower garland around it, with the beauty of her arms that were ornamented with the finest jewelry and bangles, with the fair sari spread over her breast that was an island of beauty and with the belt that covered her waist, moved she with her anklebells in grace. Coyly casting her glances with her eyebrows moving, gave she in the core of the hearts of the daitya leaders rise to a long-standing lusty desire.

S'rî S'uka said: 'S'rî S'uka said: 'When the poison was drunk by him who rides the bull resumed all the immortals and Dânavas very pleased the churning of the ocean and was from the great force of it generated the cow of plenty [the surabhi, the source of the ghee].

S'rî S'uka said: 'When the poison was drunk by him who rides the bull resumed all the immortals and dânavas very pleased the churning of the ocean and was from the great force of it generated the cow of plenty [the surabhi, the source of the ghee]. (Vedabase)

Text 2

The sages conversant with the injunctions for the yajñas took charge of her, o King, because she, from the clarified butter, was fit for making oblations with the fire sacrifices and the progress towards God.

The sages conversant with the injunctions for the yajña's took charge of it, o King, because it, of the clarified butter, was fit for making oblations with the fire sacrifices and the promotion to God. (Vedabase)

Text 3

Next was generated a horse white as the moon, named Uccaihs'ravâ, that Mahârâja Bali liked to have, while Indra desisted from the claim on the advise of the Lord [see B.G. 10: 27 and compare 4.19: 23].

Next was generated a horse white as the moon, named Uccaihs'ravâ, that Mahârâja Bali liked to have, but not Indra on the advise of the Lord [see B.G. 10: 27 and compare 4.19: 23]. (Vedabase)

Text 4

Thereafter was produced the king of resistance, the elephant Airâvata who white, with four tusks, defied the mountain [Kailâsa] that is the glory of the First Devotee [Lord S'iva, see 6.11: 11 and again B.G. 10: 27].

Thereafter was produced the king of resistance, the elephant Airâvata who white, with four tusks, defied the mountain [Kailâsa] that is the glory of the First Devotee [Lord S'iva]. [see 6.11: 11 and again B.G. 10: 27]. (Vedabase)

Text 5

Airâvana preceded eight elephants to each direction of the sky and following him was also generated a group of eight she-elephants headed by one named Abhramu, o King.

Airâvata headed eight elephants to each direction of the sky and following him was also generated a group of eight she-elephants headed by one named Abhramu, o King. (Vedabase)

Text 6

Next was from the wide expanse of milk generated a valuable gem known as the Kaustubha and another one named Padmarâga; Lord Hari who desired their possession decorated His chest with them. Thereupon was generated the pârijâta flower which embellishes the heavenly places and thereby fulfills the wishes of the ones desiring wealth in much the same way, o King, as you always fulfill the wishes in the world.

Next was from the wide expanse of milk generated a valuable gem known as the Kaustubha and another one named Padmarâga; Lord Hari who desired their possession decorated His chest with them. Thereupon was generated the pârijâta flower that embellishes the heavenly places and thereby fulfills the wishes of the ones desiring wealth much the same way, o King, you always do so in the world. (Vedabase)

Text 7

Then were also generated the Apsaras, who exquisitely dressed and decorated with gold were the extremely beautiful and attractive inhabitants of heaven who smoothly moving divert each his heart.

Then were also generated the Apsaras, who exquisitely dressed and decorated with gold were the extremely beautiful and attractive inhabitants of heaven who smoothly moving divert each his heart. (Vedabase)

Text 8

After that manifested directly the Goddess of Splendor [Ramâ or Lakshmî] herself who along with the Lord illumined all directions with her lightening luster as Saudâmanî [lit.: forked lightening, also the sorceress; to deal with that splendor see the 'peace formula' of B.G. 5: 29].

After that manifested directly the Goddess of Splendor [Ramâ or Lakshmî] herself who along with the Lord illumined all directions with her lightening luster as Saudâmanî [lit.: forked lightening, also the sorceress; to deal with that splendor see the 'peace formula' of B.G. 5: 29]. (Vedabase)

Text 9

Each Sura, Asura and human being desired her, as the magnificent beauty of her features, youth, complexion and glories caught their minds.

Each sura, asura and human being desired her, as her raving beauty, features, youth, complexion and glories caught their minds. (Vedabase)

Text 10

The king of heaven arranged for her a seat and all the glorious and wonderful, sacred rivers and reservoirs assumed with their filling of golden waterpots thus a form with their pure waters.

The king of heaven arranged her a seat and all glorious and wonderful sacred waters assumed with golden waterpots filled with pure water a form. (Vedabase)

Text 11

The land delivered the complete of all the necessities and herbs for installing the deity; the cows contributed with the pure of their five products [milk, yogurt, ghee, dung and urine] and springtime brought together her fresh flowers and fruits.

The land brought together all the necessities and herbs for installing the deity; the cows contributed with the pure of their five [milk, yoghurt, ghee, dung and urine] and springtime brought together her fresh flowers and fruits. (Vedabase)

Text 12

The sages performed the ceremony of installation as is prescribed, to which for all good fortune the Gandharvas chanted the lore while their women did their best to dance to the occasion and sing mantras.

The sages performed the ceremony of installation as is prescribed to which for all good fortune the Gandharva's chanted the lore while their women did their best dancing to the occasion also singing mantra's. (Vedabase)

Text 13

The clouds vibrated the two-sided drums, kettledrums, murajas and ânakas [two other types of drums] and with the sounds of bugles, conchshells, flutes and vînas it was a great tumult.

The clouds vibrated the drums, kettledrums, murajas and ânakas [two other types of drums] and with the sounds of bugles, conchshells, flutes and vinas it was a great tumult. (Vedabase)

Text 14

Next poured the great elephants jugs full of sacred water over the [deity of the] chaste goddess so beautiful with the lotus in her hand, while the twice-born were chanting hymns [see also a classic picture of Lakshmî].

Next poured the great elephants jugs full of sacred water over the [deity of the] chaste goddess so beautiful with the lotus in her hand, while the twice-born were chanting hymns [see also a classic picture of Laxmi]. (Vedabase)

Text 15

The ocean presented yellow silks for her to dress herself from top to bottom and Varuna brought the biggest garland together with drunken bumblebees to its sweetness.

The ocean presented yellow silks for her dress from top to bottom and Varuna brought the biggest garland with drunken bumblebees to its sweetness. (Vedabase)

Text 16

From Prajâpati Vis'vakarmâ there was a choice of ornaments, Sarasvatî [the goddess of learning] supplied a necklace, Lord Brahmâ provided a lotus flower and the Nâgas [the excellent] brought earrings.

From Prajâpati Vis'vakarmâ there was a choice of ornaments, Sarasvatî [the goddess of learning] supplied a necklace, Lord Brahmâ provided a lotus flower and the Nâga's [the excellent] brought earrings. (Vedabase)

Text 17

Thereupon worshiped in an all-auspicious ceremony went she, radiating a natural beauty, with the lotus garland held in her hand and the bees about it, around, with the decoration of the earrings to her cheeks and a coy smile on her face.

Thereupon worshiped in an all-auspicious ceremony went she, with the lotus garland with the bees captured by her hand, around, with the decoration of the earrings to her cheeks and a coy smile on her face that radiated her natural beauty. (Vedabase)

Text 18

With her two breasts and her thin waist in symmetry and harmony and smeared with sandalwood pulp and kunkuma, appeared she, moving here and there with the sweet tinkling of her anklebells, exactly like a golden creeper.

With her two breasts in symmetry and harmony, smeared with sandalwood pulp and kunkuma, her thin waist, did she, moving here and there with the sweet tinkling of her anklebells, appear exactly like a golden creeper. (Vedabase)

Text 19

In her position looking for the eternal qualities could she among the indwellers of heaven, the perfected, the unenlightened, the keepers of the wealth, the venerable ones and all the rest of the demigods, not find a single one who was faultless:

Examining for the eternal of her position the indwellers of heaven, the perfected, the unenlightened, the keepers of the wealth, the venerable ones and all the rest of the demigods, could she not accept any of them as being faultless: (Vedabase)

Text 20

'Of the certain of one's austerity has one not conquered the anger, of spiritual knowledge is the scholar not free of attachments and someone great may not have overcome material desires; how can a person as such under the control of something else be a controller?

'Of the certain of one's austerity has one not conquered the anger, of spiritual knowledge is the scholar not void of attachments and someone great may not have overcome material desires; how can a person as such under the control of something else be a controller? (Vedabase)

Text 21

Proficient in the religion doesn't mean that one found friendship with other living beings, with one's renunciation may the cause of liberation be missed and with whatever power one may have over people, is one still subjected to the power of time; never will one [apart from the Lord] find a second one as free from the contamination of the modes of nature [see also 1.2: 8].

Proficient in the religion one finds no friendship with other living beings, renunciation one may possess but the cause of liberation may be missed, and with whatever power one may find with people, one finds no relief from the power of time; never will one, free from the contamination of the modes of nature, [apart from the Lord] find a second one [see also 1.2: 8]. (Vedabase)

Text 22

Someone may live long but still be unlucky or of misconduct, someone may master the art of living but not know how to get old; when someone knows to combine these two may such a person be unlucky another way, and of someone best in all fields is not said that he has envisioned me [the devotion]!'

Someone may live long but indeed have no luck or be of right conduct, someone may be the best in it but not know to live long; if one is of both is such a person in some other way unlucky, and someone of the best score in all fields has no need for me!' (Vedabase)

Text 23

This way of due consideration accepted the Goddess of the Splendor Him Mukunda, the reservoir of the Supreme so desirable and qualified in every way, as her husband even though He never looked for it, for He possessed the extraordinary transcendental qualities that were all good and independent of others.

This way of due consideration accepted the Goddess of the Splendor - because He possessed the extraordinary transcendental qualities that were all good and not depending on others - Him Mukunda, the reservoir of the Supreme, as her husband so desirable and qualified in every way, although He never looked for it. (Vedabase)

Text 24

After placing on His shoulders a ravishing fresh garland of lotuses vibrating with humming, maddened bumblebees, remained she, with a shy smile to her glittering eyes, by His side with His bosom as her real resort.

After placing on His shoulders a ravishing fresh garland of lotuses vibrating with humming, maddened bumblebees, remained she, with a shy smile to her glittering eyes, by His side with His bosom as her real resort. (Vedabase)

Text 25

He, the father of the three worlds, made His bosom the residence of the mother, the goddess, the supreme of the wealth; she installed there increases by her mercifully glancing over the threefold creation the fortune of His servants and leaders.

She, the mother, the goddess, made the bosom of the father of the three worlds her residence, wherein staying she glances over His own servants with the greatest compassion, increasing with the great leaders of the three worlds the supreme of the opulent. (Vedabase)

Text 26

With the sound of conchshells, bugles and all sorts of drums was there the greatest tumult of musical instruments so that all the gods of heaven and their women started to sing and dance.

With their conchshells, bugles and all sorts of drums was there the greatest sound of musical instruments and became all the gods of heaven and their women engaged in song and dance. (Vedabase)

Text 27

Brahmâ, S'iva and all the directors of the world headed by Angirâ honored, with all they thus saw, the personality that was really the greatest by chanting and showering flowers.

Brahmâ, S'iva and all the directors of the world headed by Angirâ honored the personality that was really the greatest, by chanting and showering flowers to what they all saw. (Vedabase)

Text 28

With the merciful glance of the Goddess upon all the godly, the fathers of mankind and their generations were they all blessed with good behavior and good qualities and achieved they the ultimate satisfaction.

With the merciful glance of the Goddess upon all the godly, the fathers of mankind and their generations were they all blessed with good behavior and good qualities and achieved they the ultimate satisfaction. (Vedabase)

Text 29

When the Daityas and Dânavas, o King, being neglected by Lakshmî got frustrated, lost they depressed in their aching greed all sense of shame.

When the daityas and dânavas, o King, being neglected by Lakshmî got frustrated lost they in their aching greed all sense of shame and their energy. (Vedabase)

Text 30

Following appeared Vârunî, the goddess of the drunkards, as a young lotus-eyed girl upon which the Asuras accepted her the way the Lord had arranged it for them.

Following appeared Vârunî, the goddess of the drunkards, as a young lotus-eyed girl and the asuras accepted her verily the way the Lord planned it for them. (Vedabase)

Text 31

When thereupon the ocean was churned by the sons of Kas'yapa so eager for the nectar appeared there, o great King, a most wonderful man.

When thereupon the ocean was churned by the sons of Kas'yapa so eager for the nectar appeared there, o great King, a most wonderful man. (Vedabase)

Text 32

He was long, had stout and strong arms, a neck like a conch, reddish eyes, a blackish complexion, looked very young, had a garland and was decorated all over.

He was long, had stout and strong arms, a neck like a conch, reddish eyes, a blackish complexion, looked very young, had a garland and was decorated all over. (Vedabase)

Text 33

Clad in yellow, with his broad chest, his earrings with pearls well polished, his gleaming curly hair hanging down in strings, came he, decorated with bangles and moving strong as a lion, forward with a jar that to the rim was filled with nectar.

Clad in yellow, with his broad chest, his earrings with pearls well polished, his gleaming curly hair hanging down in strings, moved he strong as a lion, decorated with bangles, with the jar that to the rim was filled with nectar. (Vedabase)

Text 34

He was a plenary part of a plenary portion of the Supreme Lord Vishnu known by the name of Dhanvantari who, representing the full knowledge of medical science, was there to demand his share of the sacrifices.

He indeed was a part of a plenary portion of the Supreme Lord Vishnu known by the name of Dhanvantari who, standing for the full knowledge of medical science, was there to demand his share of the sacrifices. (Vedabase)

Text 35

The Asuras, greedy after all things, who saw him with the container full of nectar, immediately snatched the jug away.

The asuras, greedy after all things, who saw him with the container full of nectar, immediately snatched the jug away. (Vedabase)

Text 36

When that jug containing the nectar by the Asuras was carried away, were all the godly desolate and turned they to the Lord for their protection.

When that jug containing the nectar by the asuras was carried away, were all the godly dejected and went they to the Lord to take shelter. (Vedabase)

Text 37

Witnessing their sadness about it did the Supreme Lord who always tries to fulfill the wishes say: 'Do not be aggrieved, by means of a quarrel among them will I personally see to it that the nectar will be there for all of you.'

Witnessing their sadness about it did the Supreme Lord who always tries to fulfill the wishes say: 'Do not be aggrieved, by means of a quarrel among them will I by my own energy take care of the nectar for all of you.' (Vedabase)

Text 38

O master of man, then rose there among them a fugue about the nectar in which they with a thirsting heart said: 'Let me first, I first, not you, you wait!'

O master of man, then there was among the lot of them a fugue about the nectar to which they with a thirsting heart said: 'Let me first, I first, not you, you wait! (Vedabase)

Text 39-40

When the godly deserve it to take their share, have all who were of an equal effort in the duty of sacrifice an equal right; this is a matter of traditional duties [sanâtana dharma]!' This way tried the Daityas envious and weak, o King, violently to appropriate the jug, denying it factually each other constantly.

When the godly deserve to take their share, do all who were of an equal effort in the duty of the sacrifice, have an equal right; this is a matter of traditional duties [sanâtana dharma]!' Thus did the daityas envious and weak, o King, violently, try to appropriate the jug denying it factually each other constantly. (Vedabase)

Text 41-46

After this had passed assumed Lord Vishnu, the Supreme Controller who has a solution for each situation, the form of a supremely beautiful, wonderful woman who mystified all of them. Pleasing to behold was she as dark as a newly grown lotus, was she in all her limbs of the greatest beauty and harmony, and had she a straight nose to her ornamented ears and fine cheeks. She had fresh, firm, young but weighty breasts to her thin waist and a blissful expression on her face. From the humming bumblebees arround her she looked a bit anxious. With the mass of her waving hair and her nice neck with a mallikâ flower garland around it, with the beauty of her arms that were ornamented with the finest jewelry and bangles, with the fair sari spread over her breast that was an island of beauty and with the belt that covered her waist, moved she with her anklebells in grace. Coyly casting her glances with her eyebrows moving, gave she in the core of the hearts of the daitya leaders rise to a long-standing lusty desire.

After this had happened assumed Lord Vishnu, the Supreme Controller who knows a solution for each situation, the form of a supremely beautiful, wonderful woman whom no one could place. Pleasing to the eye was she as dark as a new lotus, in all her limbs of the greatest beauty and harmony, and had she a straight nose to her ornamented ears and fine cheeks. Her new, firm, young but weighty breasts to her thin waist and her merry face attracted humming bumblebees from whom she anxiously eyed. With the mass of her hair waving and her nice neck with a mallikâ flower garland, the beauty of her arms that were ornamented with the finest jewelry and bangles, with the fair sari spread over her breast that was an island of beauty and with the belt that covered her waist moved she with her anklebells in grace. Shy casting her glances with her eyebrows moving, awakened she in the core of the hearts of the daitya leaders a long-standing lusty desire. (Vedabase)