Lakshmi Narayana Swayamvaram
गरलं तरलानलं पुरस्ता-
ज्जलधेरुद्विजगाल कालकूटम् ।
अमरस्तुतिवादमोदनिघ्नो
गिरिशस्तन्निपपौ भवत्प्रियार्थम् ॥१॥
garalaM taralaanalaM purastaa
jjaladherudvijagaala kaalakuuTam |
amarastutivaada mOda nighnO
girishastannipapau bhavatpriyaartham ||1||
The poison known as Kaalakoota, which resembled molten lava, was the first material to emerge from the ocean after the Devas and Asuras began to churn it. To honor Lord Narayana, Lord Siva turned the poison into his drink. The gods became devoted to Lord Shiva as a result of his act and they praised him with sacred hymns.
विमथत्सु सुरासुरेषु जाता
सुरभिस्तामृषिषु न्यधास्त्रिधामन् ।
हयरत्नमभूदथेभरत्नं
द्युतरुश्चाप्सरस: सुरेषु तानि ॥२॥
vimathatsu suraasureShu jaataa
surabhistaamR^iShiShu nyadhaasitradhaaman |
hayaratnamabhuudathebharatna
M dyutaru shchaapsarasaH sureShu taani ||2||
Bhattathiri offers prayers to the Lord of all three worlds through his verse. The great horse known as Uchchaishrava was the first divine gift from the churning. Airaavata, the great elephant, was the next to appear. (Airaavata, Indra’s celestial being, lost its immortality along with the gods and regained it during the Samudra Madhan). Next appeared Kalpaka, the celestial tree, followed by the Apsaras (divine damsels). Lord gave them to the gods. The divine cow Kaamadhenu appeared out of the sea during the Samudra Madhan. The holy sages received it as a gift from Lord Govind.
जगदीश भवत्परा तदानीं
कमनीया कमला बभूव देवी ।
अमलामवलोक्य यां विलोल:
सकलोऽपि स्पृहयाम्बभूव लोक: ॥३॥
jagadiisha bhavatparaa tadaaniiM
kamaniiyaa kamalaa babhuuva devii |
amalaamavalOkya yaaM vilOlaH
sakalO(a)pi spR^ihayaambabhuuva lOkaH ||3||
The goddess Lakshmi then rose from the ocean. Lakshmi Devi appeared in front of everyone with her captivating beauty. Everyone who saw her was enthralled by her attractive and pure figure and wanted to own her.
त्वयि दत्तहृदे तदैव देव्यै
त्रिदशेन्द्रो मणिपीठिकां व्यतारीत् ।
सकलोपहृताभिषेचनीयै:
ऋषयस्तां श्रुतिगीर्भिरभ्यषिञ्चन् ॥४॥
tvayi dattahR^ide tadaiva devyai
tridashendrO maNipiiThikaaM vyataariit |
sakalOpahR^itaabhiShechaniiyai-
rR^IShayastaaMshrutigiirbhirabhyaShi~nchan ||4||
Indra gave Ma Lakshmi a jewel-encrusted throne when Devi decided to make Lord Achyutha her beloved. Devi’s divine coronation (Abhisheka) was performed by the sages using sacred Vedic chants and all the auspicious materials collected from different sources.
अभिषेकजलानुपातिमुग्ध-
त्वदपाङ्गैरवभूषिताङ्गवल्लीम् ।
मणिकुण्डलपीतचेलहार-
प्रमुखैस्ताममरादयोऽन्वभूषन् ॥५॥
abhiSheka jalaanupaati mugdha
tvadapaa~Ngai ravabhuuShitaangavalliim |
maNikuNDala piita chela haara pramuk
haistaamamaraadayO(a)nvabhuuShan ||5||
Goddess Lakshmi became even more stunning after receiving Abhisheka Theertha. Devi’s beauty was enhanced by glances sent by the Lord’s divine grace. Devi was elegantly adorned by the Devas with gem-studded earrings, yellow garments, beautiful necklaces, and other divine decorations. The verse states that without acquiring divine inner light via Lord Narayana’s divine grace, attractiveness on the outside remains incomplete.
वरणस्रजमात्तभृङ्गनादां
दधती सा कुचकुम्भमन्दयाना ।
पदशिञ्जितमञ्जुनूपुरा त्वां
कलितव्रीलविलासमाससाद ॥६॥
varaNa srajamaatta bhR^inga naadaa
M dadhatii saa kuchakumbha mandayaanaa |
padashi~njitama~njunuupuraa tvaa
M kalitavriila vilaasamaasasaada ||6||
Carrying a garland brimming with bees, Goddess Lakshmi made her way towards the Lord with elegant movements. As Ma Lakshmi walked toward Lord Vishnu, her anklet sounds produced a lovely melody that accompanied her elegant movements and modest demeanor.
गिरिशद्रुहिणादिसर्वदेवान्
गुणभाजोऽप्यविमुक्तदोषलेशान् ।
अवमृश्य सदैव सर्वरम्ये
निहिता त्वय्यनयाऽपि दिव्यमाला ॥७॥
girishadruhiNaadi sarvadevaan
guNabhaajO(a)pyavimukta dOShaleshaan |
avamR^ishya sadaiva sarvaramye
nihitaa tvayyanayaa(a)pi divyamaalaa ||7||
Goddess Lakshmi assessed all of the sacred creatures, beginning with Lord Shiva and Brahma, but she also assessed their flaws despite acknowledging their divine excellence. Since Lord Vishnu is the most captivating deity, Dèvi chose to devote herself to him. She wanted to give him the divine garland as a token of her unwavering love. According to Ma Lakshmi, Lord Vishnu is the only flawless eternal being, who transcends all human boundaries.
उरसा तरसा ममानिथैनां
भुवनानां जननीमनन्यभावाम् ।
त्वदुरोविलसत्तदीक्षणश्री-
परिवृष्ट्या परिपुष्टमास विश्वम् ॥८॥
urasaa tarasaa mamaanithainaaM
bhuvanaanaaM jananiimananya bhaavaam |
tvadurO vilasattadiikshaNa shrii
parivR^iShTyaa paripuShTamaasa vishvam ||8||
Lord Vishnu accepted Goddess Lakshmi with joy as he knew, she was the mother of all worlds. Ma Lakshmi dedicated herself to him with pure devotion. The divine light that radiated from Devi’s eyes spread across to nourish and bless the entire universe.
अतिमोहनविभ्रमा तदानीं
मदयन्ती खलु वारुणी निरागात् ।
तमस: पदवीमदास्त्वमेना-
मतिसम्माननया महासुरेभ्य: ॥९॥
ati mOhana vibhramaa tadaaniiM
madayantii khalu vaaruNii niraagaat |
tamasaH padaviimadaastvamenaa-
matisammaananayaa mahaasurebhyaH ||9||
Intoxicating and deceitful, Vāruṇī (goddess of liquor and intoxication) was the next to emerge from the ocean. Lord Vishnu recognized that Vāruṇī followed darkness, so he assigned her to great demons in an attempt to show honor under the guise of respect. It is evident from this sloka that each person must make a conscious choice between descending into attachment indulgence and ignorance (Tamas) or following clarity, knowledge, and truth (Sattva).
तरुणाम्बुदसुन्दरस्तदा त्वं
ननु धन्वन्तरिरुत्थितोऽम्बुराशे: ।
अमृतं कलशे वहन् कराभ्या-
मखिलार्तिं हर मारुतालयेश ॥१०॥
taruNaambuda sundarastadaa tvaM
nanu dhanvantarirutthitO(a)mburaasheH |
amR^itaM kalashe vahan karaabhyaama
khilaartin hara maarutaalayesha ||10||
In the end, Lord Vishnu displayed his magnificent form as Dhanvantari, who emerged from the ocean of milk like a rain cloud. By holding a golden pot in his hands, the Lord brought the nectar of immortality (Amṛta) to alleviate all suffering.
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