Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.7.18
निर्मथ्यमानादुदधेरभूद्विषं
महोल्बणं हालहलाह्वमग्रत: ।
सम्भ्रान्तमीनोन्मकराहिकच्छपात्
तिमिद्विपग्राहतिमिङ्गिलाकुलात् ॥ १८ ॥
nirmathyamānād udadher abhūd viṣaṁ
[nirmathyamaanaad udadher abhood visham]
maholbaṇaṁ hālahalāhvam agrataḥ
[maholbanam haalahalaahvam agratah]
sambhrānta-mīnonmakarāhi-kacchapāt
[sambhraanta-meenonmakaraahi-kachchapaat]
timi-dvipa-grāha-timiṅgilākulāt
[timi-dvipa-graaha-timingilaakulaat]
Word-for-word
nirmathyamānāt
—
while the activities of churning were going on
udadheḥ
—
from the ocean
abhūt
—
there was
viṣam
—
poison
mahā-ulbaṇam
—
very fierce
hālahala-āhvam
—
by the name hālahala
agrataḥ
—
at first
sambhrānta
—
agitated and going here and there
mīna
—
various kinds of fish
unmakara
—
sharks
ahi
—
different kinds of snakes
kacchapāt
—
and many kinds of tortoises
timi
—
whales
dvipa
—
water elephants
grāha
—
crocodiles
timiṅgila
—
whales that can swallow whales
ākulāt
—
being very much agitated.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
nirmathyamānād udadher abhūd viṣaṁ
nirmathyamānāt
while the activities of churning were going on
udadheḥ
from the ocean
abhūt
there was
viṣam
poison
maholbaṇaṁ hālahalāhvam agrataḥ
mahā-ulbaṇam
very fierce
hālahala-āhvam
by the name hālahala
agrataḥ
at first
sambhrānta-mīnonmakarāhi-kacchapāt
sambhrānta
agitated and going here and there
mīna
various kinds of fish
unmakara
sharks
ahi
different kinds of snakes
kacchapāt
and many kinds of tortoises
timi-dvipa-grāha-timiṅgilākulāt
timi
whales
dvipa
water elephants
grāha
crocodiles
timiṅgila
whales that can swallow whales
ākulāt
being very much agitated.
The fish, sharks, tortoises and snakes were most agitated and perturbed. The entire ocean became turbulent, and even the large aquatic animals like whales, water elephants, crocodiles and timiṅgila fish [large whales that can swallow small whales] came to the surface. While the ocean was being churned in this way, it first produced a fiercely dangerous poison called hālahala.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
From the churning of the ocean, which disturbed the fish, sharks, tortoises and snakes and afflicted even the whales, water elephants, crocodiles and timiṅgila fish, a fierce poison called hālahala first appeared.
Because the plants offered in the ocean had both poison and nectar in them, first the poison had to be drawn out. Dvirūpa-koṣa says that the word can be written hālahala, hālāhala or halāhala. The fish became disturbed, wondering what disaster was occurring. Unmakara is a big makara. Timi and timiṅgala are types of fish.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Whales and timiṅgila came to the surface as the ocean was churned, and the first product was hālahala — a fierce poison. Deep churning surfaces the deepest darkness first. Do not be surprised when sincere practice initially produces toxicity, not bliss.
Reflection Questions
- What 'poison' has my spiritual practice surfaced lately that I have mistaken for failure?
- Am I prepared for ugly things to come up before nectar, and ready not to flinch?
My note
Source: vedabase.io