2000
King Uttanpad, Manu and Shatarupa's son, becomes beguiled by his ambitious younger wife Suruchi and neglects his elder queen Suniti and her five-year-old son Dhruv. Suruchi throws Dhruv off his father's lap and Uttanpad fails to intervene. Suruchi tells the unhappy boy that no one but Lord Shri Vishnu the supreme god can grant him the power to sit on his father's lap now.
2000
Dhruv leaves the palace in search of Lord Shri Vishnu. Goddess Lakshmi pleads with Lord Shri Vishnu to protect Dhruv, and takes matters into her own hands by manifesting as a snake to save the child from a gang of dacoits. Manu gives Uttanpad a talking to and Uttanpad and Suniti reconcile and search for their son. Sage Narada, sent by Vishnu, guides Dhruv to the forest and gives him a mantra to chant.
2000
The Goddess Parvati, at Goddess Lakshmi's request, protects Dhruv by sending her Lion to guard the child from wild beasts. Dhruv asks Narada for further guidance and on his advice, gives up eating and drinking. Lord Shri Vishnu tells Goddess Lakshmi, however, that he cannot come down to the world for just one person. Meanwhile, the king of the devas, Indra, fears Dhruv may ask Lord Shri Vishnu for Indra's throne. Indra sends the apsara Rakshita disguised as Dhruv's mother, but Dhruv does not even notice her.
2000
Dhruv asks Lord Shri Vishnu why his father didn't let him sit on his lap. Lord Vishnu takes Dhruv on his own lap and heals his burns and hunger. Dhruv's questions disappear; he feels completely blissful. Lord Shri Vishnu instructs Dhruv to return to his people and be an example of an enlightened king. Dhruv returns home and forgives Suruchi, because if not for her he would never have found Lord Vishnu.
2000
Lord Shri Vishnu entrusts the four scriptures, the Vedas, to Brahma, to be passed on to mankind. Hayagriva, a son of Danu, feels this is unfair to demons and determines to keep the Vedas away from humanity. Brahma is worried that mankind is too evil to receive the Vedas, and goes to consult Shiva about purifying the earth first. While Brahma is away, Hayagriva kidnaps the Vedas (who are in the form of four small boys) and imprisons them in his underwater lair.
2000
Lord Shiva agrees to flood the earth to destroy all evil life and purify it; Brahma can then create humanity anew and give them the Vedas. While Manu is bathing, a tiny fish swims into his hands and begs for protection. Manu takes it home, but it grows to giant size in a single night and he releases it into the ocean, where he realizes the fish is none other than Lord Vishnu. As Matsya, the fish, Vishnu warns Manu of the coming flood and asks him to save anything important in a boat.
2000
Hayagriva decides to destroy the Vedas but Matsya appears first and kills Hayagriva. Manu and Shatarupa gather plants and animals, deciding to save everything rather than having the pride to think they know what is valuable and what is not. At the last minute, Manu thinks of bringing the seven primordial sages, the Saptarishis. The deluge. Manu's boat is tossed by the storm but Matsya tows it to safety. After the flood, Lord Vishnu gives the Vedas again to the nine survivors.
2000
Shukracharya, the danava guru, chides his followers for attacking without a plan. He forms a plan of his own: to ask Lord Shiva for the Sanjeevani Mantra - a mantra that enables one to bring the dead back to life. Lord Indra goes to Lord Shiva to prevent this, but Shukracharya attracts Lord Shiva's attention first and earns the right to attempt Shiva's penance to obtain the mantra: to hang upside down from a tree, without eating, drinking or speaking, and breathing only the smoke of burning leaves, for one year.
2000
Jayanti throws chili peppers into the leaf fire and Shukracharya is in agony. However, he does not break his penance. Angry at the sabotage, Shiva ends the trial and grants Shukracharya the Sanjeevani Mantra on the spot. Guilt-stricken, Jayanti offers to marry Shukracharya and serve him to atone for causing him such suffering. He accepts.
2000
The danavas attack the devas and with Shukracharya bringing each dead danava back to life, the devas can't win. They flee and ask Lord Vishnu to help them. Lord Vishnu tells Lord Indra he must churn the ocean to extract amrita, the nectar of immortality. This will make the devas and danava even. The catch is, the devas are not strong enough alone to churn the ocean. Lord Indra must obtain the cooperation of the danava.
2000
Lord Indra points out to Shukracharya that when he dies, he won't be able to use the Sanjeevani Mantra on himself and the danava advantage will be lost. Concerned, Shukracharya agrees to help churn the ocean. Both sides agree to share equally whatever they obtain from the ocean, but Shukracharya privately asks the danava Swarbhanu to make sure the danavas get the amrita. The churning rope will be the serpent Vasuki; Sage Narada tricks the danavas into getting the head end while the devas grasp the tail.
2000
Lord Vishnu incarnates as Kurma, the divine turtle, and supports the churn - Mount Mandara - on his back. The first thing to emerge from the ocean is a lethal poison. Lord Shiva drinks it to save the world, earning the nickname Nilkanth. Second, Goddess Lakshmi emerges from the ocean. The danavas and devas fight over her until Lord Brahma protects her and decrees the eternal right for a woman to choose her own husband.
2000
Lord Brahma holds a Swayamvara ceremony for Goddess Lakshmi to choose her husband. She chooses Lord Vishnu. The churning of the ocean continues and the amrita emerges and is promptly stolen by Swarbhanu. Lord Vishnu appears as Mohini, a beautiful woman, and dazzles the danavas into inviting the devas to watch them drink the amrita. She gives it to the devas first, however, and there is none left for the danavas. Swarbhanu disguises himself as a deva and receives some amrita, but Lord Vishnu then cuts off his head.
2000
While Virochan is travelling alone, Indra tricks him, drugs him, steals his crown and kills him. Bali, now grown, vows revenge on Indra and attacks heaven alone - and is brutally killed by Indra and the devas. Lord Shri Vishnu is furious with Indra and after making him return Bali's body, washes his hands of the devas forever.
2000
Aditi appeals to her sister Dhiti in vain for forgiveness for the devas. Lakshmi showers Bali with wealth after he worships her. When Bali hears that the devas are being worshipped on earth, he resolves to conquer earth; Shukracharya is thrilled. At Narada's request, Prahlad tries to convince Bali not to attack earth. Lakshmi also appeals to Bali in vain.