SRI RAMACHARITRA
MANJARI
(Vishwamitra completes the story
of how Ganga came to earth and then starts narrating the story of Samudra
Manthan under the pretext of making Rama know the background of King Vishala.
Please read, comment and share. SDN)
“Immediately after completing the
Ashwamedha, King Sagara handed over the kingdom to Amshuman, did penance and
attained salvation. Subsequently, Amshuman and his son Dileepa too did penance
to invoke Lord Brahma seeking Ganga River and demised. Bhageeratha, son of
Dileepa, did severe penance in the name of Brahma, who was impressed with his
penance and advised him to do penance in the name of Lord Rudra to wear and
withstand the force of Ganga. He followed the instructions of Brahma and Lord
Rudra appeared before Bhageeratha. As appealed by him, Lord Rudra wore Ganga. Ganga
got into the plait of Lord Rudra and from there she went into the nether world.
She soaked the ashes of the children of Sagara. As soon as touching the ashes
of Sagara’s children, they got relieved from sins. They also attained
salvation.
Oh Ramadeva, how can I ever praise
the mystic and divine power of this Ganga as she washed your feet?”
Vishwamitra went on describing
the exemplary qualities of Ganga and crossed the river too, along with Rama and
Lakshmana.
While proceeding further after
crossing the Ganga, they came close to a city called Vaishali, which was under
the protective governance of King Vishala. As soon as hearing that Vishwamitra
was about to arrive in his town, King Vishala personally offered a warm welcome
to the sage and took him to his palace with reverence. King Vishala felicitated
Srirama with devotion. Sage Vishwamitra began narrating the background of King
Vishala to Rama: “Oh Ramadeva, when the gods and demons began churning Mount
Mandara, which was then used as the churning rod, king of serpents was used
like a rope. Due to continuous and forceful churning, Mount Mandara immersed in
the ocean. Then, you took the form of a giant tortoise (Kurma Avatar) with a
back that was as wide as one Yojana and wore the entire mountain on the back.
You also manifested in Vasuki and Mount Mandara to give them the power and
strength to bear the pain and fatigue being caused due to the friction and
churning. Still, the gods and demons soon got tired. You then assumed two forms
to stand on either side of the mountain and you only churned the mountain. Lord
Vayu consumed the entire quantity of poison that erupted. Lord Rudra, who
swallowed a little bit in the end, without the concentration, lost his
consciousness. You showered sympathy on him and saved him. As you continued to
churn the mountain, the Moon, five-tusked elephant Airavata, a horse named
Uchchaishravas, the tree of Parijata, Apsara women, Mahalakshmi and others came
out. In the end, you appeared as Dhanvantari and brought the Kalash containing
Elixir or Amrita. Once again, you assumed the form of Mohini and lured the
demons. You distributed the elixir among all deities, gods and goddesses. When
all the enraged demons launched a fierce war, you killed some of them and the
others were killed by the deities. Thus, even though the churning of mountain
was undertaken by both gods and demons, the fruits did not go to demons.
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