ਅਥ ਕੱਛ ਅਵਤਾਰ ਕਥਨੰ ॥

ath kachh avataar kathanan |

Now begins the description of Kachh (Tortoise) Incarnation:

ਭੁਜੰਗ ਪ੍ਰਯਾਤ ਛੰਦ ॥

bhujang prayaat chhand |

BHUJANG PRAYAAT STANZA

ਕਿਤੋ ਕਾਲ ਬੀਤ︁ਯੋ ਕਰੵੋ ਦੇਵ ਰਾਜੰ ॥

kito kaal beetayo karayo dev raajan |

ਭਰੇ ਰਾਜ ਧਾਮੰ ਸੁਭੰ ਸਰਬ ਸਾਜੰ ॥

bhare raaj dhaaman subhan sarab saajan |

Indra, the king of gods, ruled for a long time and his palaces were full of all materials of comfort

ਗਜੰ ਬਾਜ ਬੀਣੰ ਬਿਨਾ ਰਤਨ ਭੂਪੰ ॥

gajan baaj beenan binaa ratan bhoopan |

ਕਰ︁ਯੋ ਬਿਸਨ ਬੀਚਾਰ ਚਿੱਤੰ ਅਨੂਪੰ ॥੧॥

karayo bisan beechaar chitan anoopan |1|

But once Vishnu reflected upon a unique idea in his mind that this king is without elephants, horses and jewels (therefore something should be done in this direction).1.

ਸਬੈ ਦੇਵ ਏਕਤ੍ਰ ਕੀਨੇ ਪੁਰਿੰਦ੍ਰੰ ॥

sabai dev ekatr keene purindran |

ਸਸੰ ਸੂਰਜੰ ਆਦਿ ਲੈ ਕੈ ਉਪਿੰਦ੍ਰੰ ॥

sasan soorajan aad lai kai upindran |

Indra gathered together all the gods including Chandra. Surya and Upendra.

ਹੁਤੇ ਦਈਤ ਜੇ ਲੋਕ ਮੱਧਯੰ ਹੰਕਾਰੀ ॥

hute deet je lok madhayan hankaaree |

ਭਏ ਏਕਠੇ ਭ੍ਰਾਤਿ ਭਾਵੰ ਬਿਚਾਰੀ ॥੨॥

bhe ekatthe bhraat bhaavan bichaaree |2|

Considering this gathering as some stratagem against them, the proud demons also gathered together.2.

ਬਦ︁ਯੋ ਅਰਧ ਅਰਧੰ ਦੁਹੂ ਬਾਟਿ ਲੀਬੋ ॥

badayo aradh aradhan duhoo baatt leebo |

ਸਬੋ ਬਾਤ ਮਾਨੀ ਯਹੈ ਕਾਮ ਕੀਬੋ ॥

sabo baat maanee yahai kaam keebo |

Now both the groups decided that whatever shall be attained, the same shall be distributed equally. All of them agreed on this proposal and the work was begun

ਕਰੋ ਮੱਥਨੀ ਕੂਟ ਮੰਦ੍ਰਾਚਲੇਯੰ ॥

karo mathanee koott mandraachaleyan |

ਤਕ︁ਯੋ ਛੀਰ ਸਾਮੁੰਦ੍ਰੰ ਦੇਅੰ ਅਦੇ︁ਯੰ ॥੩॥

takayo chheer saamundran dean adeyan |3|

Both the gods and demons settled the programme of churning the milk-ocean, making churning-stick of the Mandrachal mountain.3.

ਕਰੀ ਮਥ ਕਾਬਾ ਸਕੰ ਸਿੰਧ ਮੱਧੰ ॥

karee math kaabaa sakan sindh madhan |

ਮਥੈ ਲਾਗ ਦੋਊ ਭਏ ਅੱਧੁ ਅੱਧੰ ॥

mathai laag doaoo bhe adh adhan |

The serpent Vasuki was made the rope of the churning-stick and dividing the participants equally, both the ends of the rope were held tighty.

ਸਿਰੰ ਦੈਤ ਲਾਗੇ ਗਹੀ ਪੂਛ ਦੇਵੰ ॥

siran dait laage gahee poochh devan |

ਮਥਯੋ ਛੀਰ ਸਿੰਧੈ ਮਨੋ ਮਾਟਕੇਵੰ ॥੪॥

mathayo chheer sindhai mano maattakevan |4|

The demons caught hold of the side of the head and the gods the tail, they began to churn like the curd in a vessel.4.

ਇਸੋ ਕਉਣ ਬੀਯੋ ਧਰੇ ਭਾਰੁ ਪੱਬੰ ॥

eiso kaun beeyo dhare bhaar paban |

ਉਠੇ ਕਾਂਪ ਬੀਰੰ ਦਿਤ︁ਯਾਦਿਤ︀︁ਯ ਸੱਬੰ ॥

autthe kaanp beeran ditayaaditay saban |

Now they reflected on this idea as to who can be the mighty hero, who can endure the load of the mountain (because a base was required for the purpose)? Hearing this Ditya, Aditya etc., the heroes shuddered, faltering in absurd prattle.

ਤਬੈ ਆਪ ਹੀ ਬਿਸਨ ਮੰਤ੍ਰੰ ਬਿਚਾਰ︁ਯੋ ॥

tabai aap hee bisan mantran bichaarayo |

ਤਰੇ ਪਰਬਤੰ ਕੱਛਪੰ ਰੂਪ ਧਾਰ︁ਯੋ ॥੫॥

tare parabatan kachhapan roop dhaarayo |5|

Then observing this difficulty of both the gods and demons, Vishnu himself thought about it and transforming himself in the form of Kachh (tortoise), seated himself at the base of the mountain.5.

ਇਤਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਬਚਿਤ੍ਰ ਨਾਟਕ ਗ੍ਰੰਥੇ ਦੁਤੀਆ ਅਉਤਾਰ ਸਪੂਰਨ ਮਸਤ ॥੨॥

eit sree bachitr naattak granthe duteea aautaar sapooran masat |2|

End of the description of the second Kachh (tortoise), incarnation in BACHITTAR NATAK.2.