Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 6

Kūrma Supports Mandara; Hālahala Appears; Śiva Becomes Nīlakaṇṭha

Devanagari script

मथ्यमानेऽर्णवे सोऽद्रिरनाधारो ह्यपोऽविशत् । ध्रियमाणोऽपि बलिभिर्गौरवात् पाण्डुनन्दन ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

mathyamāne ’rṇave so ’drir anādhāro hy apo ’viśat dhriyamāṇo ’pi balibhir gauravāt pāṇḍu-nandana

Translation

O Sohn der Pāṇḍus: Als der Mandara-Berg im Milchozean als Quirlstab diente, fehlte ihm jede Stütze; daher sank er, obwohl von den starken Händen der Devas und Asuras gehalten, aufgrund seines Gewichts ins Wasser.

Synonyms

• मथ्यमाने: while (it was) being churned
• मथ्यमाने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मथ् (धातु)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि/भावे शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present passive participle) ‘मथ्यमान’ = being churned; अधिकरणसप्तमी

• अर्णवे: in the ocean
• अर्णवे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• सः: that / he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अद्रिः: the mountain
• अद्रिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अनाधारः: without support
• अनाधारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनाधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• अपः: the waters
• अपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्/आपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (बहुवचन-प्रातिपदिक), द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; ‘waters’

• अविशत्: entered / sank into
• अविशत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ध्रियमाणः: being held
• ध्रियमाणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle) ‘ध्रियमाण’ = being held

• अपि: even though
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपवादार्थक निपात (even/also)

• बलिभिः: by the strong ones
• बलिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• गौरवात्: due to heaviness
• गौरवात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (cause/ablative of reason)

• पाण्डु-नन्दन: O son of Pāṇḍu
• पाण्डु-नन्दन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डु (प्रातिपदिक) + नन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—पाण्डोः नन्दनः

Characters & Entities

• Pāṇḍu
• King Parīkṣit
• Mandara Mountain

FAQs

Why did Mandara Mountain sink during Samudra Manthan in Srimad Bhagavatam?

Because it had no supporting base in the ocean; despite being held by strong beings, its immense weight made it sink.

Who is being addressed as 'Pāṇḍu-nandana' in Bhagavatam 8.7.6?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī addresses King Parīkṣit, the descendant of Pāṇḍu’s line, as 'Pāṇḍu-nandana.'

What is the practical lesson of Bhagavatam 8.7.6 for modern spiritual practice?

Effort alone may fail without proper support; spiritual endeavors succeed when grounded in right guidance, steady practice, and divine grace.