Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 45, Shloka 41
विशालानगरीप्रवेशः
Entry toward Viśālā and the Indra–Kṣīrodamathana Legend
यदा क्षयं गतं सर्वं तदा विष्णुर्महाबल:।अमृतं सोऽहरत्त्तूर्णं मायामास्थाय मोहिनीम्।।।।
yadā kṣayaṃ gataṃ sarvaṃ tadā viṣṇur mahābalaḥ |
amṛtaṃ so 'harat tūrṇaṃ māyām āsthāya mohinīm ||
When all had fallen into ruin, then mighty Viṣṇu, taking up the delusive power of Māyā as Mohinī, swiftly carried off the amṛta, the nectar of immortality.
When everything was destroyed completely, the exceedingly powerful Visnu assuming the form of Mohini a charming woman (elusive form) with the power of illusion quickly stole away the nectar.
FAQs
Dharma is upheld by restoring rightful order when chaos prevails; the narrative frames divine strategy as a means to prevent adharma from seizing what would worsen imbalance.
As the conflict devastates all sides, Viṣṇu takes the form of Mohinī through Māyā and removes the amṛta from the battlefield.
Protective wisdom (rakṣaṇa-buddhi): power guided by discernment acts to preserve world-order rather than to dominate.