Koorma Avatar (The Tortoise Incarnation)
In Dashakam 27 of Narayaneeyam, the curse of Sage Durvasavu that rendered the Gods mortal is described, along with how Lord Vishnu helped the Gods regain their immortal state.
दर्वासास्सुरवनिताप्तदिव्यमाल्यं
शक्राय स्वयमुपदाय तत्र भूय: ।
नागेन्द्रप्रतिमृदिते शशाप शक्रं
का क्षान्तिस्त्वदितरदेवतांशजानाम् ॥१॥
durvaasaassuravanitaapta divyamaalyaM
shakraaya svayamupadaaya tatra bhuuyaH |
naagendra pratimR^idite shashaapa shakraM
kaa kshaantistvaditara devataamsha jaanaam || 1 ||
A rare divine garland that was given to Lord Indra by the sage Durvasa was later destroyed by Airavatha- the royal elephant. Upon discovering this, Durvasa became furious with Indra and cursed him. According to Bhattathiri, the only people who have the quality of tolerance are Lord Vishnu and those who are chosen by the Lord. Nobody else has that attribute.
शापेन प्रथितजरेऽथ निर्जरेन्द्रे
देवेष्वप्यसुरजितेषु निष्प्रभेषु ।
शर्वाद्या: कमलजमेत्य सर्वदेवा
निर्वाणप्रभव समं भवन्तमापु: ॥२॥
shaapena prathitajare(a)tha nirjarendre
deveShvapyasurajiteShu niShprabheShu |
sharvaadyaaH kamalajametya sarvadevaa
nirvaaNaprabhava samaM bhavantamaapuH || 2 ||
Durvaasaa’s curse caused the immortal Lord Indra to age. Following Indra, the Devas lost all of their power, and the Asuras vanquished them. The gods came along with Lord Brahmaa and Lord Shiva to request your protection. This sloka makes it abundantly evident that Sreemad Narayana is the only one who can provide the final resolution to any conflict.
ब्रह्माद्यै: स्तुतमहिमा चिरं तदानीं
प्रादुष्षन् वरद पुर: परेण धाम्ना ।
हे देवा दितिजकुलैर्विधाय सन्धिं
पीयूषं परिमथतेति पर्यशास्त्वम् ॥३॥
brahmaadyaiH stuta mahimaa chiraM tadaaniiM
praaduShShan varada puraH pareNa dhaamnaa |
he devaa ditija kulairvidhaaya sandhiM
piiyuuShaM parimathateti paryashaastvam ||3||
“Oh Mukund, the giver of blessings”, the Devas sang your praises endlessly until you came forth with a gleaming light emanating from your body to instruct them to unite with the asuras in order to acquire Amrut, the divine elixir.
सन्धानं कृतवति दानवै: सुरौघे
मन्थानं नयति मदेन मन्दराद्रिम् ।
भ्रष्टेऽस्मिन् बदरमिवोद्वहन् खगेन्द्रे
सद्यस्त्वं विनिहितवान् पय:पयोधौ ॥४॥
sandhaanaM kR^itavati daanavaiH suraughe
manthaanaM nayati madena mandaraadrim |
bhraShTe(a)smin badaramivOdvahan khagendre
sadyastvaM vinihitavaan payaHpayOdhau ||4||
The Devas proudly brought the Mandara mountain to act as their churning rod after forming an alliance with the Asuras. The mountain slipped out of their hands as they were carrying it. Perched atop Garuda, Lord Nàrayana lifted the Mandara mountain like a tiny berry and placed it in the milk ocean.
आधाय द्रुतमथ वासुकिं वरत्रां
पाथोधौ विनिहितसर्वबीजजाले ।
प्रारब्धे मथनविधौ सुरासुरैस्तै-
र्व्याजात्त्वं भुजगमुखेऽकरोस्सुरारीन् ॥५॥
aadhaaya drutamatha vaasukiM varatraaM
paathOdhau vinihita sarva biijajaale |
praarabdhe mathanavidhau suraasuraistairvyaajaattvaM
bhujagamukhe(a)karOssuraariin || 5 ||
Devas and Asuras started the churning of the milk ocean, which was full of various seeds and herbs, by using the serpent Vasuki as the churning rope. The Asuras were instructed by Lord Narayana to seize Vasuki’s head end.
वज्रातिस्थिरतरकर्परेण विष्णो
विस्तारात्परिगतलक्षयोजनेन ।
अम्भोधे: कुहरगतेन वर्ष्मणा त्वं
निर्मग्नं क्षितिधरनाथमुन्निनेथ ॥७॥
kshubdhaadrau kshubhitajalOdare tadaaniiM
dugdhaabdhau gurutarabhaaratO nimagne |
deveShu vyathitatameShu tatpriyaiShii
praaNaiShiiH kamaThatanuM kaThOrapR^iShThaam || 6||
After thoroughly mixing the milk ocean to its deepest depths, the Mandara mountain, which was acting as the churning rod, was submerged due to its weight. The Devas were increasingly concerned. In order to support the Mandara mountain, the Lord took the shape of a hard-shelled tortoise. Thus, the Lord revealed His second incarnation, Koorma Avatar.
क्षुब्धाद्रौ क्षुभितजलोदरे तदानीं
दुग्धाब्धौ गुरुतरभारतो निमग्ने ।
देवेषु व्यथिततमेषु तत्प्रियैषी
प्राणैषी: कमठतनुं कठोरपृष्ठाम् ॥६॥
vajraatisthiratara karpareNa viShNO
vistaaraatparigata lakshayOjanena |
ambhOdheH kuharagatena varShmaNaa tvaM
nirmagnaM kshitidharanaathamunninetha || 7||
Reaching the ocean’s depths, the Lord lifted the enormous mountain with his back, which was harder than a diamond and wider than a lakh Yojanas.
वज्रातिस्थिरतरकर्परेण विष्णो
विस्तारात्परिगतलक्षयोजनेन ।
अम्भोधे: कुहरगतेन वर्ष्मणा त्वं
निर्मग्नं क्षितिधरनाथमुन्निनेथ ॥७॥
unmagne jhaTiti tadaa dharaadharendre
nirmethurdR^iDhamihasammadena sarve |
aavishya dvitayagaNe(a)pi sarparaaje
vaivashyaM parishamayannaviivR^idhastaan || 8||
The mountain was lifted into the air, and all the Devas and Asuras worked together to churn it with great energy. Through his presence, the Lord energized both Devas and Asuras and Vasuki the snake, relieving their fatigue.
उन्मग्ने झटिति तदा धराधरेन्द्रे
निर्मेथुर्दृढमिह सम्मदेन सर्वे ।
आविश्य द्वितयगणेऽपि सर्पराजे
वैवश्यं परिशमयन्नवीवृधस्तान् ॥८॥
uddaama bhramaNa javOnnamadgiriindra
nyastaikasthiratara hastapankajaM tvaam |
abhraante vidhigirishaadayaH pramOdaadudbhraantaa
nunuvurupaatta puShpavarShaaH || 9 ||
The Mandara mountain rose as a result of the strong whirl, forcing the Lord to stabilize it by applying pressure with his lotus hand. Lord Govinda was praised by all the gods, including Brahmaa Shiva and other deities, who showered him with flowers.
दैत्यौघे भुजगमुखानिलेन तप्ते
तेनैव त्रिदशकुलेऽपि किञ्चिदार्ते ।
कारुण्यात्तव किल देव वारिवाहा:
प्रावर्षन्नमरगणान्न दैत्यसङ्घान् ॥१०॥
daityaughe bhujagamukhaanilena tapte
tenaiva tridashakule(a)pi ki~nchidaarte |
kaaruNyaattava kila deva vaarivaahaaH
praavarShannamaragaNaannadaityasanghaan || 10
Fire escaped through the snake’s mouth, injuring the Asuras with burns. The Devas were as uncomfortable as the charred Asuras. O Lord! The rainclouds were sent down to relieve the Devas because of your kindness, but they did not rain on the Asuras.
उद्भ्राम्यद्बहुतिमिनक्रचक्रवाले
तत्राब्धौ चिरमथितेऽपि निर्विकारे ।
एकस्त्वं करयुगकृष्टसर्पराज:
संराजन् पवनपुरेश पाहि रोगात् ॥११॥
udbhraamyad bahu timi nakra chakravaale
tatraabdhau chiramathite(a)pi nirvikaare |
ekastvaM karayugakR^iShTa sarparaajaH
sanraajan pavanapuresha paahi rOgaat ||11||
Diverse aquatic life, such as fish and crocodiles, surfaced during the lengthy churning process, but the ocean remained unaltered. Upon witnessing this, the Lord churned and used his own hands to pull both ends of the serpent. Bhatrathiri requests to Srimad Narayana, the Lord of Guruvaayur! who churned the Mandara mountain with his bare hands to relieve him of his diseases.