its begemmed peak and sat in conclave. They who had practised penances and observed excellent vows for amyita now seemed to be eager seekers after amrita (celestial ambrosia). Seeing the celestial assembly in anxious mood Narayana 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. Oye gods, churn the Ocean, ye will discover amrita !"
So ends the seventeenth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva.
SECTION XVIII
(Astika Parva continued)
Sauti said, "There is a mountain called Mandara adorned with cloud-like peaks. It is the best of mountains, and is covered all over with inter-twining herbs. There countless birds pour forth their melodies. and beasts of prey roam about. The gods, the Apsaras and the Kinnaras visit the place. Upwards it rises eleven thousand yojanas, and descends downwards as much. The gods wanted to tear it up and use it as a churning rod but failing to do so came to Vishnu and Brahman who were sitting together, and said unto them, 'Devise some efficient scheme, consider, ye gods, how Mandra may be dislodged for our good l"
Sauti continued,- "O son of Bhrigu ! Vishnu with Brahman assented to it. And the lotus-eyed one (Vishnu) laid the hard task on the mighty Ananta. the prince of snakes. The powerful Ananta, directed thereto. both by Brahman and Narayana, O Brahmana, tore up the mountain with the woods thereon and with the denizens of those woods. And the gods came to the shore of the Ocean with Ananta and addressed the Ocean, saying.- Ocean, we have come to churn thy water for obtain ing nectar!' And the Ocean replied, -'Be it so, as I shall not go without a share of it. I am able to bear the prodigious agitation of my water set up by the mountain. The gods then went to the king of tortoises and said to him, O Tostoise-king, thou wilt have to hold the mountain on thy back !' The Tortoise-king agreed, and India contrived to place the mountain on the former's back.
And the gods and the Asuras made Mandara churning staff and Vasuki the cord, and set about churning the deep for amrita. The Asuras held Vasuki by the hood and the gods held him by the tail. And Ananta, who was on the side of the gods, at intervals raised the snake's hood and suddenly lowered it. And in consequence of the stretch 'Vasuki received at the hands of the gods and the Asuras, black vapours with flames issued from his mouth. These, turned into clouds charged with lightning,
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