Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 13

Mohinī-mūrti Distributes Amṛta; Rāhu is Severed; Results Differ by Shelter

Devanagari script

इत्यभिव्याहृतं तस्या आकर्ण्यासुरपुङ्गवा: । अप्रमाणविदस्तस्यास्तत् तथेत्यन्वमंसत ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

ity abhivyāhṛtaṁ tasyā ākarṇyāsura-puṅgavāḥ apramāṇa-vidas tasyās tat tathety anvamaṁsata

Translation

The chiefs of the demons were not very expert in deciding things. Upon hearing the sweet words of Mohinī-mūrti, they immediately assented. “Yes,” they answered. “What You have said is all right.” Thus the demons agreed to accept Her decision.

Synonyms

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotation particle (इति-प्रयोग), indeclinable (अव्यय)

• अभिव्याहृतम्: uttered/spoken
• अभिव्याहृतम्: Karma (कर्म/that which was uttered)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-आ-√हृ (धातु) → अभिव्याहृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/PPP), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; from √हृ with prefixes अभि+आ; used predicatively ‘having been uttered’

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; pronoun

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Kriya-hetu (क्रियाहेतु/preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√कर्ण्/√कृ (धातु) → आकर्ण्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having heard’; from √कर्ण् (to hear) with prefix आ-

• असुरपुङ्गवाः: the foremost of the asuras
• असुरपुङ्गवाः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक) + पुङ्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘asurāṇāṁ puṅgavāḥ’ = leaders among the asuras

• अप्रमाणविदः: not knowing the proper measure (uncritical)
• अप्रमाणविदः: Karta (कर्ता/apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; compound ‘apramāṇaṁ vidanti’/‘apramāṇa-vidaḥ’ = those who do not know proper measure/authority

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; pronoun

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• तथा: so/indeed
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण), indeclinable (अव्यय)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotation particle (इति-प्रयोग), indeclinable (अव्यय)

• अन्वमंसत: they assented/approved
• अन्वमंसत: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-√मन् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); parasmaipada; from √मन् ‘to think/approve’ with prefix अनु-; meaning ‘they assented/approved’

Characters & Entities

• Mohinī-mūrti
• Asuras (Daityas/Dānavas)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Mohini-murti deluding the demons?

This verse shows the asuras readily agreeing to Mohinī’s words, indicating how divine māyā can bewilder those lacking discernment of proper authority (pramāṇa).

Why did the asuras accept Mohini-murti’s proposal so easily?

Because they were “apramāṇa-vidaḥ”—unable to judge what is truly reliable or righteous—so they simply assented to her arrangement, setting the stage for their deception.

Practical application of pramana (proper authority) in modern life?

Cultivate discernment by relying on trustworthy sources, wise guidance, and dharmic principles—otherwise persuasive appearances can lead to harmful choices.