Shloka 27
Atithi’s Direction to the Nāga-sage Padma at Naimiṣa (अतिथ्युपदेशः—नैमिषे पद्मनागोपाख्यानप्रस्तावः)
अमृतोत्पादने पुरश्षरणतामुपगतस्याड्रिससो बृहस्यतेरुपस्पृशतो न ॒प्रसादं गतवत्य: किलाप:, अथ बृहस्पतिरपां चुक्रोध यस्मान्ममोपस्पृशत: कलुषीभूता न च प्रसादमुपगतास्तस्मादद्यप्रभति झषमकरकच्छप-जन्तुभि:कलुषीभवतेति, तदा प्रभृत्यापो यादोभि: संकीर्णा: सम्प्रवृत्ता:,अंगिराके पुत्र बृहस्पतिने अमृत उत्पन्न करनेके समय पुरश्षरण आरम्भ किया। उस समय जब वे आचमन करने लगे, तब जल स्वच्छ नहीं हुआ। इससे बृहस्पति जलके प्रति कुपित हो उठे और बोले--“मेरे आचमन करते समय भी तुम स्वच्छ न हुए, मैले ही बने रह गये; इसलिये आजसे मत्स्य, मकर और कछुए आदि जन्तुओंद्वारा तुम कलुषित होते रहो।' तभीसे सारे जलाशय जल-जन्तुओंसे भरे रहने लगे
arjunā uvāca | amṛtotpādane puraḥsaraṇatām upagatasya aṅgirasaḥ putro bṛhaspatiḥ teṣām apām upaspṛśato na prasādaṃ gatavatyāḥ kila āpaḥ | atha bṛhaspatir apāṃ cukrodha | yasmān mama upaspṛśataḥ kaluṣībhūtā na ca prasādam upagatās tasmād adyaprabhṛti jhaṣa-makara-kacchapa-jantubhiḥ kaluṣībhavateti | tadāprabhṛty āpo yādobhiḥ saṃkīrṇāḥ sampravṛttāḥ ||
Arjuna said: “When the nectar (amṛta) was being produced, Bṛhaspati—the son of Aṅgiras—had taken up the office of foremost officiant. As he went to sip water for purification (ācamana), the waters, it is said, did not become clear. Then Bṛhaspati grew angry with the waters and declared: ‘Since even when I touch you for sipping you remain turbid and do not attain purity, therefore from this day onward you shall be made impure by aquatic creatures—fish, makaras, turtles, and the like.’ From that time, waters everywhere came to be filled and mingled with water-dwelling beings.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage uses a mythic cause-and-effect: disrespecting or failing to meet the standard of ritual purity before a revered priestly authority results in a lasting condition (waters becoming ‘impure’ through aquatic life). It underscores the cultural weight given to purity norms and the potency of a brahminical pronouncement.
During the production of amṛta, Bṛhaspati attempts ritual sipping of water, but the waters do not become clear. He becomes angry and pronounces that henceforth waters will be made turbid by fish, makaras, turtles, and other aquatic beings; from then on, bodies of water are said to be filled with such creatures.