Kachh Avatar (Sri Dasam Granth Sahib Ji)

 ਅਥ ਕਛ ਅਵਤਾਰ ਕਥਨੰ ॥ 

Now begins the description of Kachh (Tortoise) Incarnation:

ਭੁਜੰਗ ਪ੍ਰਯਾਤ ਛੰਦ ॥ 

Stanza of Bhujang

ਕਿਤੋ ਕਾਲ ਬੀਤਯੋ ਕਰਿਯੋ ਦੇਵ ਰਾਜੰ ॥ ਭਰੇ ਰਾਜ ਧਾਮੰ ਸੁਭੰ ਸਰਬ ਸਾਜੰ ॥ ਗਜੰ ਬਾਜ ਬੀਣੰ ਬਿਨਾ ਰਤਨ ਭੂਪੰ ॥ ਕਰਿਯੋ ਬਿਸਨ ਬੀਚਾਰ ਚਿਤੰ ਅਨੂਪੰ ॥੧॥

A long time had passed as Indra, the king of gods, ruled. All of the palaces were filled with immense treasures and comforts. The King’s armoury was lacking elephants, steeds, and jewels. Such was in the thoughts of Vishnu as he explored his mind one day. “Something should be done on this matter…” he contemplated.

ਸਬੈ ਦੇਵ ਏਕਤ੍ਰ ਕੀਨੇ ਪੁਰਿੰਦ੍ਰੰ ॥ ਸਸੰ ਸੂਰਜੰ ਆਦਿ ਲੈ ਕੈ ਉਪਿੰਦ੍ਰੰ ॥ ਹੁਤੇ ਦਈਤ ਜੇ ਲੋਕ ਮਧ੍ਰਯੰ ਹੰਕਾਰੀ ॥ ਭਏ ਏਕਠੇ ਭ੍ਰਾਤਿ ਭਾਵੰ ਬਿਚਾਰੀ ॥੨॥

Vishnu gathered all the gods in his court. From Chandra, Surya, to Upendra all were present at this calling. With the thought that this was a means to conspire against them, the proud demons attended this gathering as well.

ਬਦ੍ਯੋ ਅਰਧੁ ਅਰਧੰ ਦੁਹੂੰ ਬਾਟਿ ਲੀਬੋ ॥ ਸਬੋ ਬਾਤ ਮਾਨੀ ਯਹੇ ਕਾਮ ਕੀਬੋ ॥ ਕਰੋ ਮਥਨੀ ਕੂਟ ਮੰਦ੍ਰਾਚਲੇਯੰ ॥ ਤਕ੍ਰਯੋ ਛੀਰ ਸਾਮੁੰਦ੍ਰ ਦੇਅੰ ਅਦੇਯੰ ॥੩॥

The gods and demons came to the conclusion that whatever treasures and loot would be attained, it would be distributed amongst them equally. Both sides agreed to this and work began. The mountain of Mandrachal was used as a churning-stick as both parties settled on the task of churning the milk-ocean.

ਕਰੀ ਮਥਕਾ ਬਾਸਕੰ ਸਿੰਧ ਮਧੰ ॥ ਮਥੈ ਲਾਗ ਦੋਊ ਭਏ ਅਧੁ ਅਧੰ ॥ ਸਿਰੰ ਦੈਤ ਲਾਗੇ ਗਹੀ ਪੁਛ ਦੇਵੰ ॥ ਮਥ੍ਰਯੋ ਛੀਰ ਸਿੰਧੰ ਮਨੋ ਮਾਟਕੇਵੰ ॥੪॥

Serpent Vaska was used as rope for the churning-stick which was Mandrachal. The demons and gods went to the opposite sides of the rope and began churning. The head was pulled by the demons while the gods held the tail. They churned the ocean as if milk is being churned in a pot.

ਇਸੋ ਕਉਣ ਬੀਯੋ ਧਰੇ ਭਾਰੁ ਪਬੰ ॥ ਉਠੇ ਕਾਪ ਬੀਰੰ ਦਿਤ੍ਰਯਾਦਿਤ੍ਰਯ ਸਬੰ ॥ ਤਬੈ ਆਪ ਹੀ ਬਿਸਨ ਮੰਤ੍ਰੰ ਬਿਚਾਰਿਯੋ ॥ ਤਰੇ ਪਰਬਤੰ ਕਛਪੰ ਰੂਪ ਧਾਰਿਯੋ ॥੫॥

Both sides reflected on who could be the mighty hero, strong enough, to endure the weight of the mountain and lift it. Self proclaimed heroes from both sides came forward to accept this challenge. Then Vishnu himself thought about performing this great feat otherwise Mandrachal would sink into the ocean. By this thought he went underneath the mountain and took the form of a tortoise and lifted it above.

ਇਤਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਬਚਿਤ੍ਰ ਨਾਟਕ ਗ੍ਰੰਥੇ ਕਛੁ ਦੁਤੀਆ ਅਉਤਾਰ ਬਰਨਨੰ ਸੰਪੂਰਨਮ ਸਤੁ ਸੁਭਮ ਸਤੁ ॥੨॥ 

End of the description of the second Kachh (tortoise), incarnation in Bachittar Nattak.