Kūrma Supports Mandara; Hālahala Appears; Śiva Becomes Nīlakaṇṭha
अहीन्द्रसाहस्रकठोरदृङ्मुख- श्वासाग्निधूमाहतवर्चसोऽसुरा: । पौलोमकालेयबलील्वलादयो दवाग्निदग्धा: सरला इवाभवन् ॥ १४ ॥
ahīndra-sāhasra-kaṭhora-dṛṅ-mukha- śvāsāgni-dhūmāhata-varcaso ’surāḥ pauloma-kāleya-balīlvalādayo davāgni-dagdhāḥ saralā ivābhavan
Vāsuki tinha milhares de olhos e bocas. De suas bocas ele exalou fumaça e fogo ardente, que atingiram os asuras, liderados por Pauloma, Kāleya, Bali e Ilvala. Assim, como árvores sarala queimadas por um incêndio florestal, eles foram ficando pouco a pouco sem forças.
He is Ananta (Śeṣa), the serpent-king and divine servant of the Lord, whose powerful breath and smoke scorch the asuras.
In the churning episode, the asuras are checked by superior divine power; here, Ananta’s fiery breath and smoke strike them, causing them to lose their radiance and strength.
Pride and aggression ultimately collapse before higher truth and divine order; cultivating humility, dharma, and devotion protects one from self-destructive tendencies.