During a bygone period, viz., that connected with the Self-born
Manu,[1859] it is said that Narayana had seized Rudra by the throat and
hence did Rudra's throat become blue. On the occasion of churning the
Ocean for raising the amrita, Vrihaspati of Angiras race sat on the
shores of the Ocean for performing the rite of Puruscharana. When he took
up a little water for the purpose of the initial achamana, the water
seemed to him to be very muddy. At this Vrihaspati became angry and
cursed the Ocean, saying,--Since thou continuest to be so dirty
regardless of the fact of my having come to thee for touching thee, since
thou hast not become clear and transparent, therefore from this day thou
shalt be tainted with fishes and sharks and tortoises and other aquatic
animals. From that time, the waters of the ocean have become infested
with diverse kinds of sea-animals and monsters. Viswarupa, the son of
Tashtri, formerly became the priest of the deities. He was, on his
mother's side, related to the Asuras, for his mother was the daughter of
an Asura. While publicly offering unto the deities their shares of
sacrificial offerings, he privately offered shares thereof unto the
Asuras. The Asuras, with their chief Hiranyakasipu at their head, then
repaired to their sister, the mother of Viswarupa, and solicited a boon
from her, saying,--The son Viswarupa by Tashtri, otherwise called
Trisiras, is now the priest of the deities. While he gives unto the
deities their shares of sacrificial offerings publicly, he gives us our
shares of the same privately.
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