Chapter summary
मोहनक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य Mohana Kṣetra Māhātmya
The Revered Guru said: Tormented by the Asuras, the Devas sought refuge with Brahmā, journeying to Satyaloka to meet the God of gods, the Lord of the universe. (v.1)
**The Devas said:**
"O Lotus-seated one, O Lord of gods, we are greatly afflicted by the sons of Danu. We seek refuge in you alone, the master of the three worlds. It was by your grace, O Deva, that we were established in our positions of authority, a fruit of our past merits, and thus we protect the world. However, the Daityas, possessing immense strength and valour, oppress us relentlessly. When we manage to slay them, the great sage Śukrācārya revives them again with his knowledge called Mṛtasañjīvanī, which restores the dead to life. O Lord of the universe, we do not possess such a science, and thus we have grown weak. Protect us, O Lotus-born!" (v.2-5)
**Brahmā said:**
"May well-being be upon you, O highly fortunate ones, and upon the entire world. Let us all take refuge in Govinda, the very source of all auspiciousness. For just as watering the root of a tree nourishes its trunk and branches, so too is the worship of Viṣṇu beneficial for all beings and for oneself." (v.6-7)
**The Revered Guru said:**
Having spoken thus, the Lotus-seated Brahmā gathered all the Suras [deities] and, approaching the Ocean of Milk, sought refuge in Hari. Thereupon, Lord Viṣṇu, the sovereign one whose movements are unhindered, joyfully commanded them to churn the milk ocean. (v.8-9)
Prompted by Viṣṇu, the Devas, accompanied by the Dānavas [demons], brought Mount Mandara and Vāsuki, the lord of serpents. Making the mountain their churning rod and Vāsuki the rope, they began to churn the milk ocean, driven by a fervent thirst for the nectar of immortality. At that very juncture, Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself, assuming the form of a tortoise (Kūrma) and revered by both Suras and Asuras, lifted the great mountain upon His back. (v.10-12)
Then, from the churning, a dreadful poison named Hālahala arose. Terrified, both the gods and demons sought refuge in Śaṅkara [Lord Śiva]. Rudra [Śiva] drank the Hālahala, and for this reason, He is known as 'Hālāsya-sundara'—He whose face is beautiful with the poison, which shines with a blue lustre in his mouth. (v.13-14)
As the ocean was churned again, there arose Kāmadhenu (the wish-fulfilling cow), the Kalpaka tree, Uccaiḥśravas (the divine horse), Gajendra (the king of elephants), the Kaustubha gem, and a host of Apsaras [celestial nymphs]. These treasures emerged from the ocean, and the Suras and Asuras received them. Then, from a thousand-petalled lotus, the beautiful-faced Lakṣmī Herself appeared and chose Viṣṇu, the Lord of all worlds, as her divine consort. He, the abode of Śrī [Lakṣmī], thus became known as Śrīnivāsa, offering His chest as her eternal dwelling. Following this, Viṣṇu, the repository of compassion, appeared as Dhanvantari, wonderfully beautiful, holding a pot of nectar in His hand. (v.15-17)
All the Suras praised Him with folded hands. But the Dānavas, through deception, snatched the nectar from His hand. To outwit these deceitful Asuras in turn, the capable Lord Viṣṇu assumed the form of Mohinī, the enchantress, and shone forth, captivating the entire universe. (v.18-19)
Arriving at Mohana Kṣetra, near Madhurā, those Daityas began to quarrel amongst themselves, each desiring to drink the nectar first. When they saw Mohinī arrive there, they themselves became utterly enchanted. They willingly handed the pot of nectar to her, requesting her to perform the distribution. (v.20-21)
Mohinī, seating the Devas and the Daityas in separate rows, began the distribution, singing and dancing enchantingly. Beholding her exquisite beauty and desiring to possess her, all the Dānavas became utterly infatuated, forgetting even the nectar itself. Meanwhile, she, the enchantress of all, bestowed the nectar upon the Devas. (v.22-23)
A Daitya named Svarbhānu, witnessing this great deception, left the row of Daityas and cunningly sat down in the row of the Devas. Yet, Govinda, the Lord of the world, in His compassionate, all-seeing wisdom, offered nectar even to him, despite knowing his true identity. (v.24-25)
"This Svarbhānu is an Asura! Let him be slain! Let him be slain!" exclaimed the Sun and Moon, who were extremely angry and envious. Instantly, Lord Viṣṇu severed his head. However, by the power of the nectar already consumed, both the head and the trunk remained alive, separate from each other. He then transformed them into Rāhu and Ketu and established them among the planets. From that time onwards, there came to be nine planets in the world. (v.26-28)
Before this, only seven planets were recognized, each governing a day of the week. As shadow-forms, those two—Rāhu and Ketu—periodically seize the Sun and Moon. Again and again, the Lord drives them away with His discus. An eclipse occurs because of the touch of their shadow upon the Sun and Moon. (v.29-30)
Then, Nārada pacified the Suras and Dānavas by explaining their respective powers, all for the welfare of the world. That very place on earth where the Lord performed the distribution of nectar, He made into the excellent holy site named Mohana. (v.33-34)
In this sacred site, Viṣṇu is revered as Kāḷamegha, and Śrī [Lakṣmī] as Meghalatā. The sacred pond is known as Sudhāpuṣkariṇī, and the holy site itself is Mohana Kṣetra. For those who serve them here, all diseases are destroyed. They become equal to the gods, free from old age and illness. (v.35-36)
Thus, the eighth chapter, titled "The Glory of Mohana Kṣetra," in the Fifth Volume of the Divyadeśavaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
