Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 16
Mohinī-mūrti Distributes Amṛta; Rāhu is Severed; Results Differ by Shelter
प्राङ्मुखेषूपविष्टेषु सुरेषु दितिजेषु च । धूपामोदितशालायां जुष्टायां माल्यदीपकै: ॥ १६ ॥ तस्यां नरेन्द्र करभोरुरुशद्दुकूल- श्रोणीतटालसगतिर्मदविह्वलाक्षी । सा कूजती कनकनूपुरशिञ्जितेन कुम्भस्तनी कलसपाणिरथाविवेश ॥ १७ ॥
prāṅ-mukheṣūpaviṣṭeṣu sureṣu ditijeṣu ca dhūpāmodita-śālāyāṁ juṣṭāyāṁ mālya-dīpakaiḥ
O King, as the demigods and demons sat facing east in an arena fully decorated with flower garlands and lamps and fragrant with the smoke of incense, that woman, dressed in a most beautiful sari, Her ankle bells tinkling, entered the arena, walking very slowly because of Her big, low hips. Her eyes were restless due to youthful pride, Her breasts were like water jugs, Her thighs resembled the trunks of elephants, and She carried a waterpot in Her hand.
FAQs
It sets the scene for the Lord’s appearance as Mohinī-mūrti, where both devas and daityas sit in an adorned assembly, soon to witness the Lord’s divine arrangement regarding amṛta.
After the churning of the ocean, both parties demanded a share of amṛta; this verse describes the formal assembly setting in which the Lord’s plan to protect the devas would unfold.
External order and ceremony do not guarantee fairness—one should seek divine guidance and dharmic discernment when competing interests gather in the same “assembly.”