SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM: CANTO 8

S'rî S'uka said: 'As they, the Asuras, among themselves were snatching the nectar from one another tossing it to and fro and thus, behaving like thieves, grew very inimical, saw they [the Lord in the form of] a very beautiful woman [called Mohinî-mûrti] coming towards them.

S'rî S'uka said: 'As they, the asuras, among themselves were snatching the nectar from one another and thus, behaving like thieves, grew very inimical tossing it to and fro, saw they [the Lord in the form of] a very beautiful woman [called Mohinî-mûrti] coming towards them. (Vedabase)

Text 2

'What a body, what a luster and what a beauty of youth She has!' so they said, in their hearts lusting to sleep with her as they hurried for her attention.

'What a body, what a luster and what a beauty of youth She has!' so they said in their hearts lusting to sleep with her as they hastened for her attention. (Vedabase)

Text 3

'Who are you with your lotus petal eyes and whence and why did you come here; to whom, o beautiful thighs upsetting our minds, do you belong, please tell us!

'Who are you with your lotuspetal eyes and whence and why did you come here; to whom, o beautiful thighs upsetting our minds, do you belong, please tell us! (Vedabase)

Text 4

Nor we, nor any godly person, demon, perfected one, creature of heaven or venerable one has ever laid hands on you and known you, not to mention any local master of the human society.

Nor we, nor any godly person, demon, perfected one, creature of heaven or venerable one has ever laid hands on you and known you, not to mention any local master of the human society. (Vedabase)

Text 5

We may thank providence, o beautiful eyebrows, for sending you; isn't your mercy there to bring what pleases the senses and minds of all who are of flesh and blood?

We may thank providence, o beautiful eyebrows, for sending you; isn't your mercy there to bring what pleases the senses and minds of all who are of flesh and blood? (Vedabase)

Text 6

O smashing lady, could you be our luck to settle the mounting differences between us who as family members are more and more of enmity over this one issue [of the nectar], o slim beauty?

O smashing lady, could you be our luck to settle the mounting differences between us who as family members are more and more of enmity over this one issue [of the nectar], o slim beauty? (Vedabase)

Text 7

Make it so that you with all of us, able and competent brothers that are the descendants of Kas'yapa, are sure to divide [the nectar] justly without any partiality.'

Make it so that you with all of us, able and competent brothers that are the descendants of Kas'yapa, are sure to divide [the nectar] justly without any partiality.' (Vedabase)

Text 8

As a mature woman looking at them with an enchanting smile, addressed the illusion of feminine beauty that was an incarnation of the Lord, thus the Daityas who were urging for it.

As a full woman looking at them with an enchanting smile spoke the illusion of feminine beauty that was an incarnation of the Lord, thus being urged by the daityas, to them. (Vedabase)

Text 9

The Supreme Lord said: 'How can it be that you all, descendants of Kas'yapa, put faith in associating with an eye-catcher like Me; to be enamoured with women is something one never finds with the wise!

The Supreme Lord said: 'How can it be that you all, descendants of Kas'yapa, put faith in associating with an eye-catcher like Me; a thing towards women that with the wise never occurs. (Vedabase)

Text 10

They all agree that monkeys and dogs, o enemies of the Suras, and especially independent women, are fickle in their relationships, always looking for a newer and newer mate.'

They all agree that treekeeping monkeys and dogs, o enemies of the suras, and especially loose women, are said to be temporary in their relationships, exchanging one friend for another.' (Vedabase)

Text 11

S'rî S'uka said: 'Thus sporting with them made She all the Asuras laugh who, despite of her serious demeanor cherished her in their minds, and so they handed over the jar of nectar.

S'rî S'uka said: 'Thus sporting with them laughed all the asuras, cherishing her in their minds despite of her serious demeanor, and handed they over the jar of nectar. (Vedabase)

Text 12

Next taking hold of the amrit container spoke the Lord with a painted smile to all His beauty and words: 'If you promise to accept whatever I may do, honest or not, then I'll give each his share of this nectar.'

Next taking possession of the amrit container spoke the Lord with a painted smile to all His beauty and words: 'If you promise to accept whatever I may do, honest or not, then I'll give each his share of this nectar. (Vedabase)

Text 13

Having heard her consented they, the chiefs of the Asuras all full of her, to the words thus spoken and said they: 'So be it!'

Having heard her consented they, the chiefs of the asuras all mad about her, to the words thus spoken with: 'So be it!'. (Vedabase)

Text 14-15

They then observed a fast, bathed, offered oblations of ghee into the fire, were of charity towards the cows, the brahmins and each and everyone, performed they ceremonies according the brahmin precept, dressed they up to their taste with the newest and finest and sat they all in full ornate down on kus'a seats that all faced the east.

They then observed a fast, bathed, offered oblations of ghee into the fire, were of charity towards the cows, the brahmins and each and everyone, performed ceremonies to the brahmin precept, dressed themselves to their taste with the newest and finest and sat in full ornate all down on kus'a-seats that each faced the east. (Vedabase)

Text 16-17

When the Suras and Daityas, all with their faces turned to the east sat down, all dressed up with garlands and with lamps in an arena full of incense smoke, entered there and then, o ruler of man, holding the container, she, with her youthful, restless eyes, the sounds of her tinkling ankle bells and jugs of breasts, striding slowly with a beautiful sari around her wide hips and elephant trunk like thighs.

With all the suras and daityas, with their faces thus sitting to the east, all dressed up with garlands and lamps in an arena full of incense smoke, there then, o ruler of man, holding the container, entered she, with her youthful restless eyes, the sounds of her tinkling ankle bells and jugs of breasts, striding slowly with a beautiful sari around her wide hips and elephant trunk thighs. (Vedabase)

Text 18

Looking at Her, the Lord Supreme who with golden earrings, charming ears, nose, cheeks and face posed as a girlfriend of the Goddess, were they all enchanted the way she with a smile glanced at them while her sari was slightly waving over her breasts.

Looking at Her, the Lord Supreme who with golden earrings, charming ears, nose, cheeks and face posed as a girlfriend of the Goddess, were they all enchanted as she with a smiling glance looked them over while her sari waved slightly to her breasts. (Vedabase)

Text 19

Considering it a miscalculation of giving milk to snakes to hand out the nectar to the bunch of vile natured demons, delivered the Infallible One not a drop of it.

Thinking it to be a miscalculation of giving milk to snakes, to hand out the nectar to the bunch of vile natured demons, delivered the Infallible One not a drop of it. (Vedabase)

Text 20

Arranging different lines for the both of them had the master of the Universe each of them orderly seated at his own side.

Arranging different lines for the both of them had the master of the Universe them all orderly seated to their own places. (Vedabase)

Text 21

The Lord with the nectar who with sweet words beguiled the Daityas, made the ones sitting opposite of them drink of the nectar that would free them from old age, death and disability.

The Lord with the nectar beguiling the daityas with sweet words made the ones sitting at the other side drink of the nectar that defeats old age, death and disability. (Vedabase)

Text 22

The Asuras, according their promise, kept themselves in check, o King and remained silent, considering it an abomination to fight a woman.

The asuras, because of what they had promised to do, kept themselves in check, o King and remained silent thinking that to fight with a woman was an abominable thing. (Vedabase)

Text 23

Not to break the bond of friendship with her felt they, moved by the greatest respect and honor, all obliged and said they not the slightest that would displease her.

Not to break the bond of being friends with her were they, moved by the greatest respect and honor, all bound by her and said they not the slightest to displease her. (Vedabase)

Text 24

He who darkens the luminaries [Râhu] dressed himself up as one of the godly and sat among the godconscious to drink from the nectar but was, by sun and moon, quickly detected.

He who darkens the luminaries [Râhu] dressed himself up as one of the godly and sat among the godconscious to drink the nectar but was by sun and moon quickly detected. (Vedabase)

Text 25

The moment he drank the nectar was the head of Râhu cut off by the Lord His razor sharp cakra, but the decapitated body, which was not touched by the nectar, fell dead to the ground.

The moment he was drinking the nectar was the head of Râhu cut off by the Lord His cakra sharp as a razor, but the decapitated body untouched by the nectar, fell dead on the spot. (Vedabase)

Text 26

The head that thus had attained immortality was by Lord Brahmâ recognized as a planet and it is that very Râhu that during eclipses [or with lunar phases] inimically represses the sun and the moon [see also 5.24: 1-3, 6.6: 37 and 6.18: 12-14].

The head so having attained immortality was by Lord Brahmâ recognized as a planet and it is that very Râhu that during eclipses [or with moonphases] chases the sun and moon in animosity [see also 5.24: 1-3, 6.6: 37 and 6.18: 12-14]. (Vedabase)

Text 27

When the godly were almost done drinking from the nectar revealed the Supreme Lord Hari, the well-wisher of all the worlds, in the presence of of all the asuras and their leaders His original form.

When the godly were almost done drinking the nectar revealed the Supreme Lord Hari, the well-wisher of all the worlds, in the presence of all the asuras and their leaders His original form. (Vedabase)

Text 28

Even though the Suras and Asuras were thus unified in respect of the same place, time, objective, cause, activities and ambition, were they not as equal in the result they achieved; the God-minded easily achieved the nectar with it because theirs was the benediction of the saffron dust of the lotus feet, but that was not the case with the Daityas [compare B.G. 4: 11].

Although the suras and asuras were thus one to the same place, time, objective, cause, activities and ambition, were they not equal in the result; the godminded easily achieved the nectar with it because theirs was the benediction of the saffron dust of the lotus feet and not the daityas [compare B.G. 4.11]. (Vedabase)

Text 29

Whatever that is done for the sake of one's own life and welfare, all those human activities, ideas and words in relation to one's body and family, are all transient [asat, 'untrue', they are all of separation], but the same indeed becomes factual and permanent when it is not done in separation - it then grows into that which is the watering of the root that is beneficial for everyone [see 8.5: 49].

Whatever is done for the sake of one's own life and welfare, all those human activities, ideas and words in relation to one's body and family, are all transient [asat, 'untrue'] in separation, but the same indeed becomes factual and permanent if it is done not being separate - it then grows into that which is the watering of the root that is beneficial for everyone [see 8.5:49].' (Vedabase)