नीलकण्ठविजयचम्पूः

॥ अथ नीलकण्ठविजयचम्पूः ॥

Summary AI : Durvāsas offers a divine garland to Indra, who places it on his elephant, Airāvata. The elephant tramples the gift, prompting Durvāsas to curse the gods with the loss of Lakṣmī. The Asura armies defeat the weakened gods and occupy Amarāvatī. The victors suppress Vedic rites and compel Brāhmaṇa priests to serve them. Chaos replaces ancient religious laws as the gods flee their capital and the three worlds fall under the rule of the demon kings.

२

द्वितीयाश्वासः

The gods seek help to churn the ocean.

Summary AI : Indra and the gods gather at Mount Mandara. On Bṛhaspati’s advice, they approach Brahmā, who leads them to the Kṣīrasāgara. They find Viṣṇu reclining on the serpent Anantaśeṣa. Viṣṇu directs the gods to form a truce with the Asura hosts to churn the ocean for sudhā. He instructs them to use Mount Mandara as the churning rod and the serpent Vāsuki as the rope. Viṣṇu then commands them to meditate on Śiva before he departs.

३

तृतीयाश्वासः

Gods and demons prepare to churn the ocean.

Summary AI : Bṛhaspati negotiates a truce with the Asura preceptor Śukrācārya. Both factions agree to cooperate to obtain amṛta. They travel to Mount Mandara and seek the favor of Śiva before uprooting the peak. When the mountain sinks into the ocean, Viṣṇu assumes the Kūrma form to support it from beneath. The gods and Asuras persuade the serpent king Vāsuki to serve as the churning rope, winding his coils around the mountain to begin the labor.

४

तुरीयाश्वासः

Śiva drinks the poison to save the world.

Summary AI : As churning begins, Vāsuki’s breath scorches the Asuras. The Kālakūṭa poison emerges from the ocean, darkening the sky. Viṣṇu meditates on the goddess Amṛteśvarī and chants Sāman hymns to invoke Śiva. Śiva collects the lethal venom in his palm and drinks it. Pārvatī presses her hand against his throat to stop the poison, leaving a permanent dark blue mark. This act earns him the name Nīlakaṇṭha and ensures the safety of the universe.

५

पञ्चमाश्वासः

The gods receive nectar and regain their status.

Summary AI : The ocean yields the elephant Airāvata, the horse Uccaiḥśravas, the cow Surabhi, and the celestial trees. Nandin accepts the crescent moon for Śiva’s crest. Lakṣmī emerges and chooses Viṣṇu as her lord. Dhanvantari rises bearing the jar of amṛta. Viṣṇu assumes the form of Mohinī to deceive the Asuras and distribute the nectar to the gods. Rāhu is decapitated for his deception. The gods, restored by the nectar, regain their celestial kingdom and authority.

॥ इति नीलकण्ठविजयचम्पूः ॥

Other texts to read

पञ्चतन्त्रम् विष्णुशर्मा

कादम्बरीसंग्रहः कृष्णमाचार्यः

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