Bhagwat Puran Eighth Skandh: Gajendra Moksha, Samudra Manthan and Vamana

The eighth skandh tells of the Lord's avatars in various Manvantaras. Gajendra Moksha, the churning of the ocean and the Vamana avatar are the best known.

Chapter 1: the Manvantaras

Parikshit asked about the Manvantaras. Shukadeva described the fourteen Manus and the Lord's avatars in each.

Chapters 2 to 4: Gajendra Moksha

On Mount Trikuta lived a great elephant, Gajendra, with his mates and young. One day as he played in a lake, a mighty crocodile seized his leg. Gajendra struggled with all his strength, his family helped, but after a struggle traditionally said to have lasted a thousand years he grew exhausted and began to sink.

When every support was gone, Gajendra remembered the devotion of a former life. Lifting a lotus in his trunk, he praised the Lord: "I bow to the Lord who is the root cause of this world, in whom the world rests, the refuge of all." Lord Vishnu came at once on Garuda, tore open the crocodile's jaws with the Sudarshana chakra and saved Gajendra.

The crocodile had been the gandharva Huhu, cursed by the sage Devala; Gajendra had been King Indradyumna, cursed by Agastya for disrespect. Both were freed. The Gajendra Moksha hymn is still recited in times of crisis.

Chapters 5 to 10: the churning of the ocean

Through Durvasa's curse the gods lost their fortune and began losing to the asuras. The Lord said: make a truce with the asuras and churn the ocean. Mount Mandara was the rod and Vasuki the rope. When the mountain began to sink, the Lord took the Kurma (tortoise) avatar and held it on His back.

First came the halahala poison, whose flames began to burn the three worlds. All prayed to Shiva, who drank it for the good of the world and held it in his throat, which turned blue, and so he is Nilakantha. Then came in turn Kamadhenu, the horse Uchchaihshravas, the elephant Airavata, the Kaustubha jewel, the parijata tree, the apsaras, Lakshmi (who chose Vishnu), Varuni, and finally Dhanvantari with the pot of nectar.

The asuras seized the nectar. Then the Lord took the form of a woman of surpassing beauty, Mohini. Enchanted, the asuras let her distribute the nectar, and she gave it to the gods. Rahu disguised himself as a god and sat in their line; the sun and moon exposed him and the Lord cut off his head with the discus, but the nectar had reached his throat, so the head (Rahu) and body (Ketu) became immortal. The story of eclipses is linked to this. Gods and asuras fought, and the gods won.

Chapters 11 and 12: Shiva sees Mohini

Shiva wished to see the Mohini form. The Lord showed it, and even Shiva was enchanted for a moment before regaining himself, an episode showing the power of the Lord's maya.

Chapters 13 and 14: the coming Manvantaras

The future Manus, sages and avatars are described.

Chapters 15 to 23: the Vamana avatar and King Bali

King Bali, grandson of Prahlada, conquered heaven by the grace of his teacher Shukracharya. Aditi, mother of the gods, kept the Payovrata, and the Lord was born as her son Vamana, a dwarf Brahmin boy.

Bali was performing a horse sacrifice on the Narmada, at which whatever was asked had to be given. Vamana arrived. "Ask what you will," said Bali. Vamana asked only for three steps of land. Shukracharya recognised him and warned Bali: "This is Vishnu himself; he will take everything." Bali replied: "I am Prahlada's grandson; I will not break my word." Shukracharya cursed him, yet Bali poured the water of the pledge.

Vamana grew into the cosmic form: with one step He measured the earth, with the second heaven and all the worlds. No space remained for the third. Bali said: "Lord, place the third step on my head." The Lord did so. Prahlada came and praised the Lord. The Lord gave Bali the kingdom of Sutala, promised he would be Indra in the next Manvantara, and promised to stay as his gatekeeper. (Kerala's Onam celebrates Bali's yearly return to visit his people.)

Chapter 24: the Matsya avatar

At the end of the previous cycle King Satyavrata was offering water in a river when a tiny fish came into his cupped hands and begged, "Save me." He put it in his water pot, then a jar, then a pond, then the sea, and each time it grew. The king knew it was the Lord. Lord Matsya said: "On the seventh day the dissolution will come. A boat will arrive; board it with the seven sages, herbs and seeds, and tie it to my horn with Vasuki." In the deluge the Lord guarded the boat and taught Satyavrata, who became Vaivasvata Manu of this cycle. The Lord also recovered the Vedas from the asura Hayagriva.

What this skandh teaches

• When every support is gone, God's support arrives first (Gajendra).
• Great works are done together, and poison comes up first; one who bears it is Nilakantha.
• Giving and keeping one's word are the highest dharma; Bali gave everything and gained the Lord.
• The merit of protecting a small creature (the fish) reaches as far as protecting all creation.