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Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 17

Raivata and Cākṣuṣa Manvantaras; Brahmā’s Prayers at Śvetadvīpa

Prelude to Samudra-manthana

निशाम्यैतत् सुरगणा महेन्द्रवरुणादय: । नाध्यगच्छन्स्वयं मन्त्रैर्मन्त्रयन्तो विनिश्चितम् ॥ १७ ॥ ततो ब्रह्मसभां जग्मुर्मेरोर्मूर्धनि सर्वश: । सर्वं विज्ञापयां चक्रु: प्रणता: परमेष्ठिने ॥ १८ ॥

niśāmyaitat sura-gaṇā mahendra-varuṇādayaḥ nādhyagacchan svayaṁ mantrair mantrayanto viniścitam

Lord Indra, Varuṇa and the other demigods, seeing their lives in such a state, consulted among themselves, but they could not find any solution. Then all the demigods assembled and went together to the peak of Sumeru Mountain. There, in the assembly of Lord Brahmā, they fell down to offer Lord Brahmā their obeisances, and then they informed him of all the incidents that had taken place.

निशाम्यhaving observed/heard
निशाम्य:
Kriya-hetu/Anubandha (क्रियानुबन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनि+शम्/शम् (धातु)
Formकृदन्त—ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund); अव्यय; ‘नि’ उपसर्ग; अर्थः ‘दृष्ट्वा/श्रुत्वा’
एतत्this
एतत्:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootएतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम
सुर-गणाःthe hosts of gods
सुर-गणाः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootसुर (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘सुराणां गणाः’
महेन्द्र-वरुण-आदयःMahendra, Varuṇa, and others
महेन्द्र-वरुण-आदयः:
Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootमहेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वरुण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व-प्रायः ‘महेन्द्रश्च वरुणश्च आदयश्च’
not
:
Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निषेध
अध्यगच्छन्understood / found out
अध्यगच्छन्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअधि+गम् (धातु)
Formलङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘अधि’ उपसर्ग
स्वयम्by themselves
स्वयम्:
Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootस्वयम् (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; आत्मवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: oneself)
मन्त्रैःby counsels / by mantras
मन्त्रैः:
Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootमन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन
मन्त्रयन्तःdeliberating
मन्त्रयन्तः:
Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootमन्त्रय् (धातु)
Formकृदन्त—शतृ (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘सुरगणाः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
विनिश्चितम्a definite conclusion
विनिश्चितम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootवि+नि+चित् (धातु)
Formकृदन्त—क्त (past participle) नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; भावे/वस्तुनि प्रयोगः ‘निर्णीतम्’
I
Indra (Mahendra)
V
Varuṇa
D
Demigods (Sura-gaṇa)

FAQs

Because the situation was beyond their independent capacity; even after deliberation, they could not reach certainty and thus needed higher guidance.

It teaches humility—when one’s own intelligence and group counsel fail, one should approach a higher, divinely guided authority rather than act impulsively.

Pause, avoid rash action, and seek clarity through śāstra, prayer, and guidance from a qualified teacher—aiming for a settled, dharmic decision.