← 1.43 Story of Sagara: Gaṅgā redeems the sixty thousand · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.45 Story of Indra & Diti: Service, broken observance and division →

Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 44: Story of Indra: Ocean churning and the struggle for nectar

Summary. The Devas and asuras churn the ocean for freedom from death, contend over its gifts and fight for the nectar, Indra’s side gains sovereignty

Sequence

  1. The brothers marvel at Gaṅgā's descent and the filling of the ocean → they spend the night reflecting on the story, which makes the hours seem brief (1.44.1–5)
  2. after the morning rites, Rāma points out the boat brought by the munis → the company crosses to the Gaṅgā's northern bank and approaches Viśālā (1.44.6–9)
  3. Rāma asks about its dynasty → Viśvāmitra begins with what happened in this region in ancient times. In the Kṛta age, the sons of Diti and Aditi seek freedom from death, aging, and disease (1.44.10–13)
  4. they decide to churn the ocean of milk for the elixir, using Mandara as the churning rod and Vāsuki as the rope (1.44.14–17)
  5. Dhanvantari and the apsarases emerge → Viśvāmitra connects the apsarases' name to their birth from the waters and explains that, accepted by neither side as wives, they remain unattached to either (1.44.18–20)
  6. Vāruṇī, Varuṇa's daughter, arises seeking acceptance → Diti's sons reject her and Aditi's accept her, a distinction connected here with the names Asura and Sura and with surā, liquor (1.44.21–23)
  7. Uccaiḥśravas, the horse, the Kaustubha jewel, and the nectar emerge (1.44.24)
  8. a destructive battle breaks out over the nectar → Aditi's sons defeat and kill Diti's sons, and Indra gains sovereignty over the worlds. (1.44.25–27)

Verses 1.44.1–27

1.44.1

viśvāmitravacaḥ śrutvā rāghavaḥ sahalakṣmaṇaḥ
vismayaṃ paramaṃ gatvā viśvāmitram athābravīt

Having heard Viśvāmitra's words, Rāghava, together with Lakṣmaṇa, reached the utmost astonishment and then said to Viśvāmitra:

Words: viśvāmitravacaḥ — the words of Viśvāmitra; śrutvā — having heard; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava (Rāma); sahalakṣmaṇaḥ — together with Lakṣmaṇa; vismayaṃ — astonishment, wonder; paramaṃ — utmost, supreme; gatvā — having come to, reached; viśvāmitram — to Viśvāmitra; athābravīt — then said

1.44.2

atyadbhutam idaṃ brahman kathitaṃ paramaṃ tvayā
gaṅgāvataraṇaṃ puṇyaṃ sāgarasya ca pūraṇam

“Most wonderful is this supreme (tale) told by you, O brahmin — the holy descent of the Gaṅgā and the filling of the ocean.

Words: atyadbhutam — most wonderful; idaṃ — this; brahman — O brahmin; kathitaṃ — told, narrated; paramaṃ — supreme, highest; tvayā — by you; gaṅgāvataraṇaṃ — the descent of the Gaṅgā; puṇyaṃ — holy, sacred; sāgarasya — of the ocean; ca — and; pūraṇam — the filling

1.44.3

tasya sā śarvarī sarvā saha saumitriṇā tadā
jagāma cintayānasya viśvāmitrakathāṃ śubhām

For him, together with Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa), that whole night then passed as he pondered the auspicious tale of Viśvāmitra.

Words: tasya — for him, his; sā — that; śarvarī — night; sarvā — whole, entire; saha — together with; saumitriṇā — with Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa); tadā — then; jagāma — went, passed; cintayānasya — of him pondering; viśvāmitrakathāṃ — the tale of Viśvāmitra; śubhām — auspicious, lovely

1.44.4

tataḥ prabhāte vimale viśvāmitraṃ mahāmunim
uvāca rāghavo vākyaṃ kṛtāhnikam ariṃdamaḥ

Then at clear daybreak, Rāghava the destroyer of foes, his morning rites performed, spoke these words to the great sage Viśvāmitra:

Words: tataḥ — then; prabhāte — at daybreak, dawn; vimale — clear, spotless; viśvāmitraṃ — to Viśvāmitra; mahāmunim — the great sage; uvāca — said, spoke; rāghavo — Rāghava (Rāma); vākyaṃ — words, speech; kṛtāhnikam — having performed the morning rites; ariṃdamaḥ — destroyer of foes

1.44.5

gatā bhagavatī rātriḥ śrotavyaṃ paramaṃ śrutam
kṣaṇabhūteva sā rātriḥ saṃvṛtteyaṃ mahātapaḥ
imāṃ cintayataḥ sarvāṃ nikhilena kathāṃ tava

“The blessed night has passed; the supreme (tale) that was to be heard has been heard. O great ascetic, this night became as if it were but a moment, for me pondering this whole tale of yours in its entirety.

Words: gatā — gone, passed; bhagavatī — blessed, revered; rātriḥ — the night; śrotavyaṃ — (that which was) to be heard; paramaṃ — supreme; śrutam — (has been) heard; kṣaṇabhūteva — as if it had become a moment; sā — that; rātriḥ — night; saṃvṛtteyaṃ — this has turned out to be; mahātapaḥ — O great ascetic; imāṃ — this; cintayataḥ — of me pondering; sarvāṃ — whole, all; nikhilena — in its entirety, completely; kathāṃ — tale, story; tava — your

1.44.6

tarāma saritāṃ śreṣṭhāṃ puṇyāṃ tripathagāṃ nadīm
naur eṣā hi sukhāstīrṇā ṛṣīṇāṃ puṇyakarmaṇām
bhagavantam iha prāptaṃ jñātvā tvaritam āgatā

Let us cross the holy Tripathagā (three-pathed) river, best of streams; for this comfortably fitted boat of the sages of holy deeds has come swiftly, having learned that the venerable one has arrived here.”

Words: tarāma — let us cross; saritāṃ — of rivers, streams; śreṣṭhāṃ — the best; puṇyāṃ — holy, sacred; tripathagāṃ — three-pathed (flowing in three worlds); nadīm — river; naur — boat; eṣā — this; hi — for, indeed; sukhāstīrṇā — comfortably spread out, well fitted; ṛṣīṇāṃ — of the sages; puṇyakarmaṇām — of holy deeds; bhagavantam — the venerable one; iha — here; prāptaṃ — arrived, come; jñātvā — having learned, known; tvaritam — swiftly, in haste; āgatā — has come

1.44.7

tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā rāghavasya mahātmanaḥ
saṃtāraṃ kārayām āsa sarṣisaṃghaḥ sarāghavaḥ

Hearing that speech of the great-souled Rāghava, he (Viśvāmitra), with his host of sages and with Rāghava, had the crossing made.

Words: tasya — that, his; tad vacanaṃ — that speech; śrutvā — having heard; rāghavasya — of Rāghava; mahātmanaḥ — of the great-souled one; saṃtāraṃ — the crossing; kārayām āsa — had (it) made, caused to be done; sarṣisaṃghaḥ — together with the host of sages; sarāghavaḥ — together with Rāghava

1.44.8

uttaraṃ tīram āsādya saṃpūjyarṣigaṇaṃ tatha
gaṅgākūle niviṣṭās te viśālāṃ dadṛśuḥ purīm

Reaching the northern bank and duly honouring the host of sages, they, settled on the bank of the Gaṅgā, beheld the city of Viśālā.

Words: uttaraṃ — northern; tīram — bank, shore; āsādya — having reached; saṃpūjyarṣigaṇaṃ — having honoured the host of sages; tatha — likewise (=tathā); gaṅgākūle — on the bank of the Gaṅgā; niviṣṭās — settled, seated; te — they; viśālāṃ — Viśālā; dadṛśuḥ — beheld, saw; purīm — the city

1.44.9

tato munivaras tūrṇaṃ jagāma saharāghavaḥ
viśālāṃ nagarīṃ ramyāṃ divyāṃ svargopamāṃ tadā

Then the best of sages, together with Rāghava, went quickly to the lovely, divine city of Viśālā, resembling heaven.

Words: tato — then; munivaras — the best of sages; tūrṇaṃ — quickly, swiftly; jagāma — went; saharāghavaḥ — together with Rāghava; viśālāṃ — Viśālā; nagarīṃ — city; ramyāṃ — lovely, delightful; divyāṃ — divine; svargopamāṃ — resembling heaven; tadā — then

1.44.10

atha rāmo mahāprājño viśvāmitraṃ mahāmunim
papraccha prāñjalir bhūtvā viśālām uttamāṃ purīm

Then Rāma, of great wisdom, with palms joined, asked the great sage Viśvāmitra about the excellent city of Viśālā:

Words: atha — then; rāmo — Rāma; mahāprājño — of great wisdom; viśvāmitraṃ — Viśvāmitra; mahāmunim — the great sage; papraccha — asked; prāñjalir — with palms joined; bhūtvā — having become; viśālām — Viśālā; uttamāṃ — excellent; purīm — city

1.44.11

kataro rājavaṃśo 'yaṃ viśālāyāṃ mahāmune
śrotum icchāmi bhadraṃ te paraṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me

“Which royal dynasty is this in Viśālā, O great sage? I wish to hear it — blessings on you — for great is my curiosity.”

Words: kataro — which (of two); rājavaṃśo — royal dynasty; 'yaṃ — this; viśālāyāṃ — in Viśālā; mahāmune — O great sage; śrotum — to hear; icchāmi — I wish; bhadraṃ — blessing, good fortune; te — to you; paraṃ — great, supreme; kautūhalaṃ — curiosity, eagerness; hi — for, indeed; me — my, of me

1.44.12

tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā rāmasya munipuṃgavaḥ
ākhyātuṃ tat samārebhe viśālasya purātanam

Hearing that speech of Rāma, the bull among sages began to recount the ancient (history) of Viśālā:

Words: tasya — that, his; tad vacanaṃ — that speech; śrutvā — having heard; rāmasya — of Rāma; munipuṃgavaḥ — the bull among sages; ākhyātuṃ — to recount, tell; tat — that; samārebhe — began; viśālasya — of Viśālā; purātanam — the ancient (story)

1.44.13

śrūyatāṃ rāma śakrasya kathāṃ kathayataḥ śubhām
asmin deśe hi yad vṛttaṃ śṛṇu tattvena rāghava

“Listen, Rāma, to the auspicious tale of Śakra (Indra) as I tell it; hear truly, Rāghava, what happened in this land.

Words: śrūyatāṃ — let it be heard; rāma — O Rāma; śakrasya — of Śakra (Indra); kathāṃ — tale, story; kathayataḥ — of me telling; śubhām — auspicious; asmin — in this; deśe — land, place; hi — for, indeed; yad vṛttaṃ — what happened; śṛṇu — hear, listen; tattvena — truly, in truth; rāghava — O Rāghava

1.44.14

pūrvaṃ kṛtayuge rāma diteḥ putrā mahābalāḥ
aditeś ca mahābhāgā vīryavantaḥ sudhārmikāḥ

In olden times, in the Kṛta age, O Rāma, the sons of Diti were mighty, and (those) of Aditi illustrious, valorous, and most righteous.

Words: pūrvaṃ — formerly, of old; kṛtayuge — in the Kṛta age; rāma — O Rāma; diteḥ — of Diti; putrā — sons; mahābalāḥ — of great strength, mighty; aditeś ca — and of Aditi; mahābhāgā — illustrious, greatly fortunate; vīryavantaḥ — valorous, heroic; sudhārmikāḥ — most righteous

1.44.15

tatas teṣāṃ naraśreṣṭha buddhir āsīn mahātmanām
amarā nirjarāś caiva kathaṃ syāma nirāmayāḥ

Then, O best of men, this thought arose in those great-souled ones: 'How may we become immortal, undecaying, and free from disease?'

Words: tatas — then; teṣāṃ — of those; naraśreṣṭha — O best of men; buddhir — thought, idea; āsīn — arose, there was; mahātmanām — of the great-souled ones; amarā — immortal; nirjarāś caiva — and undecaying; kathaṃ — how; syāma — may we be, become; nirāmayāḥ — free from disease

1.44.16

teṣāṃ cintayatāṃ rāma buddhir āsīd vipaścitām
kṣīrodamathanaṃ kṛtvā rasaṃ prāpsyāma tatra vai

As those wise ones pondered, O Rāma, this thought arose: 'Having churned the ocean of milk, we shall obtain from it the elixir.'

Words: teṣāṃ — of those; cintayatāṃ — pondering, reflecting; rāma — O Rāma; buddhir — thought; āsīd — arose, there was; vipaścitām — of the wise ones; kṣīrodamathanaṃ — the churning of the ocean of milk; kṛtvā — having done, performed; rasaṃ — the elixir, essence; prāpsyāma — we shall obtain; tatra — there, from it; vai — indeed

1.44.17

tato niścitya mathanaṃ yoktraṃ kṛtvā ca vāsukim
manthānaṃ mandaraṃ kṛtvā mamanthur amitaujasaḥ

Then, having resolved on the churning, and having made Vāsuki the churning-cord and Mandara the churning-stick, those of boundless might churned (the ocean).

Words: tato — then; niścitya — having resolved, decided; mathanaṃ — the churning; yoktraṃ — the churning-cord, rope; kṛtvā — having made; ca — and; vāsukim — Vāsuki (the serpent); manthānaṃ — the churning-stick; mandaraṃ — Mandara (the mountain); kṛtvā — having made; mamanthur — they churned; amitaujasaḥ — those of boundless might

1.44.18

atha dhanvantarir nāma apsarāś ca suvarcasaḥ
apsu nirmathanād eva rasāt tasmād varastriyaḥ
utpetur manujaśreṣṭha tasmād apsaraso 'bhavan

Then (arose) one named Dhanvantari, and the Apsarases of great splendour: from the very churning in the waters, from that elixir, excellent women arose, O best of men; and because they arose from the waters (apsu), they became Apsarases.

Words: atha — then; dhanvantarir — Dhanvantari (physician of the gods); nāma — by name; apsarāś ca — and the Apsarases; suvarcasaḥ — of great splendour; apsu — in the waters; nirmathanād — from the churning; eva — very, indeed; rasāt — from the elixir; tasmād — from that; varastriyaḥ — excellent women; utpetur — arose, sprang up; manujaśreṣṭha — O best of men; tasmād — therefore, because of that; apsaraso — Apsarases; 'bhavan — they became

1.44.19

ṣaṣṭiḥ koṭyo 'bhavaṃs tāsām apsarāṇāṃ suvarcasām
asaṃkhyeyās tu kākutstha yās tāsāṃ paricārikāḥ

Sixty crores were those Apsarases of great splendour, and innumerable, O Kākutstha, were those who were their attendants.

Words: ṣaṣṭiḥ — sixty; koṭyo — crores (ten-millions); 'bhavaṃs — were, became; tāsām — of those; apsarāṇāṃ — of the Apsarases; suvarcasām — of great splendour; asaṃkhyeyās — innumerable; tu — but, and; kākutstha — O Kākutstha (descendant of Kakutstha); yās — who; tāsāṃ — of them; paricārikāḥ — attendants, maidservants

1.44.20

na tāḥ sma pratigṛhṇanti sarve te devadānavāḥ
apratigrahaṇāc caiva tena sādhāraṇāḥ smṛtāḥ

All those gods and demons did not accept them (as wives); and precisely because of that non-acceptance they are remembered as common to all.

Words: na — not; tāḥ — them; sma — (particle, past sense); pratigṛhṇanti — accept, receive; sarve — all; te — those; devadānavāḥ — gods and demons; apratigrahaṇāc — because of non-acceptance; caiva — and indeed; tena — by that, for that reason; sādhāraṇāḥ — common (to all); smṛtāḥ — are remembered, called

1.44.21

varuṇasya tataḥ kanyā vāruṇī raghunandana
utpapāta mahābhāgā mārgamāṇā parigraham

Then Vāruṇī, the illustrious daughter of Varuṇa, O delight of the Raghus, arose, seeking someone to accept her.

Words: varuṇasya — of Varuṇa; tataḥ — then; kanyā — daughter, maiden; vāruṇī — Vāruṇī (also: spirituous liquor); raghunandana — O delight of the Raghus; utpapāta — sprang up, arose; mahābhāgā — illustrious, greatly blessed; mārgamāṇā — seeking, searching for; parigraham — one to accept (her), a taker

1.44.22

diteḥ putrā na tāṃ rāma jagṛhur varuṇātmajām
adites tu sutā vīra jagṛhus tām aninditām

The sons of Diti did not accept her, the daughter of Varuṇa, O Rāma; but the sons of Aditi, O hero, accepted her, the blameless one.

Words: diteḥ — of Diti; putrā — sons; na — not; tāṃ — her; rāma — O Rāma; jagṛhur — took, accepted; varuṇātmajām — the daughter of Varuṇa; adites — of Aditi; tu — but; sutā — sons; vīra — O hero; jagṛhus — took, accepted; tām — her; aninditām — the blameless one

1.44.23

asurās tena daiteyāḥ surās tenāditeḥ sutāḥ
hṛṣṭāḥ pramuditāś cāsan vāruṇī grahaṇāt surāḥ

By reason of that the sons of Diti became Asuras and the sons of Aditi Suras; and the Suras were glad and delighted at accepting Vāruṇī (the liquor surā).

Words: asurās — Asuras; tena — by that, for that reason; daiteyāḥ — the Daiteyas (sons of Diti); surās — Suras (gods); tenāditeḥ — by that, of Aditi; sutāḥ — the sons; hṛṣṭāḥ — glad, thrilled; pramuditāś cāsan — and were delighted; vāruṇī — Vāruṇī (the liquor surā); grahaṇāt — from the acceptance, taking; surāḥ — the Suras (gods)

1.44.24

uccaiḥśravā hayaśreṣṭho maṇiratnaṃ ca kaustubham
udatiṣṭhan naraśreṣṭha tathaivāmṛtam uttamam

Uccaiḥśravas, best of horses, and the jewel Kaustubha, and likewise the excellent nectar of immortality arose, O best of men.

Words: uccaiḥśravā — Uccaiḥśravas (the divine horse); hayaśreṣṭho — best of horses; maṇiratnaṃ — the jewel-gem; ca — and; kaustubham — Kaustubha (the gem); udatiṣṭhan — arose, came up; naraśreṣṭha — O best of men; tathaivāmṛtam — and likewise the nectar of immortality; uttamam — excellent, supreme

1.44.25

atha tasya kṛte rāma mahān āsīt kulakṣayaḥ
adites tu tataḥ putrā diteḥ putrāṇa sūdayan

Then, O Rāma, for the sake of it (the nectar) there arose a great destruction of the race; and thereupon the sons of Aditi slew the sons of Diti.

Words: atha — then; tasya — of it, for it; kṛte — for the sake of; rāma — O Rāma; mahān — great; āsīt — there was, arose; kulakṣayaḥ — destruction of the race; adites — of Aditi; tu — but, and; tataḥ — then, thereupon; putrā — sons; diteḥ — of Diti; putrāṇa — the sons (=putrān); sūdayan — slew, destroyed

1.44.26

aditer ātmajā vīrā diteḥ putrān nijaghnire
tasmin ghore mahāyuddhe daiteyādityayor bhṛśam

The valiant sons of Aditi violently slew the sons of Diti in that terrible, great battle between the Daiteyas and the Ādityas.

Words: aditer — of Aditi; ātmajā — sons; vīrā — valiant, heroic; diteḥ — of Diti; putrān — the sons; nijaghnire — slew, killed; tasmin — in that; ghore — terrible, dreadful; mahāyuddhe — great battle; daiteyādityayor — of the Daiteyas and the Ādityas; bhṛśam — violently, exceedingly

1.44.27

nihatya ditiputrāṃs tu rājyaṃ prāpya puraṃdaraḥ
śaśāsa mudito lokān sarṣisaṃghān sacāraṇān

Having slain the sons of Diti and gained the kingdom, Puraṃdara (Indra), rejoicing, ruled the worlds together with the hosts of sages and the Cāraṇas.

Words: nihatya — having slain; ditiputrāṃs — the sons of Diti; tu — and; rājyaṃ — the kingdom, sovereignty; prāpya — having gained, obtained; puraṃdaraḥ — Puraṃdara (Indra, breaker of citadels); śaśāsa — ruled, governed; mudito — rejoicing, delighted; lokān — the worlds; sarṣisaṃghān — together with the hosts of sages; sacāraṇān — together with the Cāraṇas (celestial singers)

← 1.43 Story of Sagara: Gaṅgā redeems the sixty thousand · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.45 Story of Indra & Diti: Service, broken observance and division →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

Plain text: /text/1/44.md · JSON: /data/1/44.json