Passage 1
श्रीराम उवाच— अथ सा मोहिनी योषित्करभोरुरुदित्वरा। श्लथद्दुकूलमध्योद्यन्नितम्बतटभासुरा॥१॥
Śrī Rāma said: Then that exalted woman Mohinī, whose thighs resembled an elephant's trunk, appeared resplendent as the slope of her hips emerged at the middle of her loosening silk garment.
Passage 2
लीलालसगतिस्तन्वी मदविह्वललोचना। शिञ्जाननूपुरद्वन्द्वपादपद्मगतिक्रमा॥२॥
The slender woman moved with a languid, playful gait, her eyes overcome with intoxication. Each step of her lotus feet made her pair of anklets ring.
Passage 3
स्वर्णकुम्भस्तनी कर्णरत्नाभरणभूषिता। आविशद्रत्नशालां तां विभ्राणामृतभाजनम्॥३॥
Her breasts resembled golden jars and jeweled ornaments adorned her ears. She entered the jeweled hall carrying the vessel of nectar.
Passage 4
सा पद्मजासमरुचिर्मणिकुण्डलत्विङ्भ्राजिष्णुकर्णयुगला शुकचञ्चुनासा। दीव्यत्कपोलमुकुरा शरदिन्दुवक्त्रा स्रंसत्सुचारुवसनालकसन्तताढ्या॥४॥
Her beauty equaled that of lotus-born Lakṣmī; both ears shone with the light of jeweled earrings, and her nose resembled a parrot's beak. Her mirror-like cheeks gleamed, her face was an autumn moon, and she was graced by lovely slipping garments and a mass of locks.
Passage 5
खेलन्मरालकुलनायकचारुयाना चन्द्रोज्ज्वलस्मितरुचिर्मधुरावलोका। साकूतसुन्दरकटाक्षविसर्गकर्त्री देवासुरान् भृशममोहयदुत्सुकांस्तान्॥५॥
Her lovely gait rivaled the playful leader of a flock of swans. Her smile shone like the moon, her looks were sweet, and she cast beautiful, suggestive sidelong glances, utterly bewildering the eager gods and Asuras.
Passage 6
वञ्चनं कर्तुमिच्छन्ती दैत्यानाममृताशनात्। अकल्पयत्पृथक् पङ्क्तीर्देवेभ्यस्तद्धितैषिणी॥६॥
Seeking to keep the Daityas from consuming the nectar, she arranged separate rows for them and the gods, desiring the gods' welfare.
Passage 7
एकपङ्क्त्या सूपविष्टा देवानामभितोऽसुराः। साजात्याद्धेतुतस्तेषामासीत्पृथगवस्थितिः॥७॥
The Asuras sat comfortably in one row opposite the gods. Their difference of nature was the reason for their separate placement. Nectar Is Served to the Gods
Passage 8
असुरान् वञ्चयन्ती सा बहुमानप्रियैरितैः। आरात्संस्थापितान् देवान् पाययामास तां सुधाम्॥८॥
Deceiving the Asuras with affectionate, honoring words, she gave the nectar to the gods who had been seated nearby.
Passage 9
मोहिनीशक्तिरूपेण भृशं भगवता सुराः। पाय्यमानाः पपुः सर्वे कालभीतिहरां सुधाम्॥९॥
As the Lord in the form of the Mohinī power served them, all the gods drank the nectar that removes fear of Time.
Passage 10
स्नेहप्रदर्शनविधाकृतवञ्चनास्ते तस्या वचो हृदि विधाय कृतप्रतीक्षाः। तूष्णीं तदाननविलोकनदत्तनेत्रा नाज्ञासिषुस्तदमृतं नितरां निपीतम्॥१०॥
Deceived by her display of affection, the Asuras kept her words in their hearts and waited. Remaining silent with their eyes fixed upon her face, they did not realize that the nectar had been completely drunk.
Passage 11
तस्याः प्रणयपाशेन दृढं निबद्धचेतसः। नावोचन्त विमूढास्ते दैतेयाः साध्वसाधु वा॥११॥
Their minds tightly bound by her noose of affection, those bewildered sons of Diti said nothing, whether her conduct was right or wrong. Rāhu Drinks in Disguise
Passage 12
देवपङ्क्तौ देवलिङ्गप्रच्छन्नो राहुसंज्ञकः। असुरस्तत्र पीयूषमपिबत्कैतवग्रहः॥१२॥
The deceitful Asura named Rāhu concealed himself in the appearance of a god within the divine row and drank the nectar there.
Passage 13
हा हन्त हन्त हन्तेति चन्द्रार्काभ्यां स विष्णवे। बोधितश्चक्रमादाय निकृत्तस्तेन मूर्धनि॥१३॥
The moon and sun cried, “Alas! Look! Look!” and alerted Viṣṇu. Taking up his discus, Viṣṇu severed Rāhu at the neck.
Passage 14
असुरेष्वेष चाण्डालो राहुः पापपरीतधीः। अतः सुधां पिबन्मध्ये हरिणा स विभेदितः॥१४॥
Among the Asuras, this Rāhu was like an outcaste, his mind enveloped by sin. Therefore Hari cut him apart while he drank nectar in their midst.
Passage 15
तच्छिरोऽमृतसंस्पृष्टं जहार भगवान् हरिः। कबन्धो न्यपतद्भूमौ यो न स्पृष्टोऽमृतेन सः॥१५॥
Lord Hari took away the head that had been touched by nectar. The headless trunk, which the nectar had not touched, fell to the earth. Refuge and Opposition Bear Different Fruits
Passage 16
एवं सुरान् हितमतिः सुहितान् विधाय पीयूषपूरपरिपारणया स्वभक्तान्। सम्पश्यतामथ शनैरसुरेश्वराणामन्तर्दधे स भगवान् कृतभूरिमोहः॥१६॥
Thus the benevolent Lord fully satisfied his devotee gods with the abundant nectar. Having produced immense delusion, he slowly disappeared while the Asura chiefs looked on.
Passage 17
एवं सुराश्चाप्यसुरास्तुल्योपायकरा अपि। फलेन युयुजुर्भक्ता अभक्ता अफला ययुः॥१७॥
Although the gods and Asuras had employed equal means, the devotees attained the fruit, while the nondevotees departed fruitless.
Passage 18
समानेऽपि खलूद्योगे यद्विशेषः फलाफले। न तच्चित्रं स्फुटं विष्णोः संश्रयासंश्रयौ हि यत्॥१८॥
It is no wonder that equal effort produced such a difference between fruit and failure, for the distinction clearly lay in taking or not taking refuge in Viṣṇu.
Passage 19
यस्यांशवैभवमुपेत्य भवन्ति लोके ऊर्जस्विनः श्रियमिताश्च विभूतिमन्तः। तस्मिन् प्रभौ सकलसत्त्वनिधौ प्रतीपे भूरिप्रयासकरणेऽपि कुतः फलं स्यात्॥१९॥
By receiving the splendor of even a portion of him, beings in this world become powerful, richly prosperous, and glorious. If one opposes that Lord, the treasure-house of every power, how could even immense effort bear fruit?