Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 45

Lord Śiva Bewildered by Mohinī

Viṣṇu’s Yoga-māyā and the Limits of Ascetic Power

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच इति तेऽभिहितस्तात विक्रम: शार्ङ्गधन्वन: । सिन्धोर्निर्मथने येन धृत: पृष्ठे महाचल: ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca iti te ’bhihitas tāta vikramaḥ śārṅga-dhanvanaḥ sindhor nirmathane yena dhṛtaḥ pṛṣṭhe mahācalaḥ

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear King, the person who bore the great mountain on His back for the churning of the Ocean of Milk is the same Supreme Personality of Godhead, known as Śārṅga-dhanvā. I have now described to you His prowess.

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Śrī Śuka
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (श्रीशुकः = श्रीमान् शुकः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: वच् (to speak)

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• te: to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन

• abhihitaḥ: was told/declared
• abhihitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√dhā/√hā? (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अभि + √धि/√धा (to state/tell) — अर्थतः ‘कथितः’

• tāta: dear one/son
• tāta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन

• vikramaḥ: the prowess/stride
• vikramaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• śārṅga-dhanvanaḥ: of the wielder of the Śārṅga bow (Viṣṇu)
• śārṅga-dhanvanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śārṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + dhanvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: शार्ङ्गं धनुः यस्य), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• sindhoḥ: of the ocean
• sindhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sindhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• nirmathane: in the churning
• nirmathane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirmathana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘मथन’ (churning)

• yena: by whom/whereby
• yena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• dhṛtaḥ: was held/supported
• dhṛtaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; धातु: धृ (to hold/support)

• pṛṣṭhe: on (his) back
• pṛṣṭhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• mahācalaḥ: the great mountain (Mandara)
• mahācalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + acala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महाचलः = महान् अचलः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Parīkṣit Mahārāja
• Lord Viṣṇu (Śārṅga-dhanvā)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan)?

This verse recalls that during Samudra Manthan the Supreme Lord supported the great mountain (Mandara) on His back, highlighting His divine power and protective role.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī address Parīkṣit Mahārāja as 'tāta'?

Śukadeva speaks affectionately and instructively to Parīkṣit, calling him 'tāta' (“dear child”), indicating a compassionate teacher-disciple mood in the narration.

Practical application of remembering Viṣṇu’s pastimes in modern life?

Regularly hearing and recalling the Lord’s līlās builds faith and steadiness, helping one face life’s burdens with devotion, humility, and reliance on divine support.