23/12/2023
Very excited to begin translating The Samudra Manthana समुद्रमन्थन - or the ‘Churning of the Ocean of Milk’ next term. I don’t know much of this episode yet, only that it is central to the Vishnu Purana and involves gods, goddesses, demons and Śiva’s beautiful sea snake working together to plumb the ocean depths for amṛta - the elixir of immortality. What’s not to like! I have translated one verse so far:
‘The gods were without rest, and neither the desire for precious jewels nor fear of terrible poison prevented them from obtaining the nectar. Resolute ones do not cease in pursuit of their objectives’
~ I’ll take this thought as my New Year inspiration…
