Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 4

Lakṣmī’s Emergence, Dhanvantari, and the Advent of Mohinī-mūrti

Devanagari script

तत ऐरावतो नाम वारणेन्द्रो विनिर्गत: । दन्तैश्चतुर्भि: श्वेताद्रेर्हरन्भगवतो महिम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

tata airāvato nāma vāraṇendro vinirgataḥ dantaiś caturbhiḥ śvetādrer haran bhagavato mahim

Translation

Daraufhin entstand aus dem Quirlen des Ozeans der Elefantenkönig namens Airāvata. Er war weiß, und mit seinen vier Stoßzähnen schien er die Herrlichkeit des Berges Kailāsa, der strahlenden Wohnstatt des Herrn Śiva, herauszufordern.

Synonyms

• tataḥ: then/thereupon
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), temporal adverb (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• airāvataḥ: Airāvata
• airāvataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: airāvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• nāma: by name
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), particle indicating name (नाम-प्रयोग)

• vāraṇa-indraḥ: lord of elephants
• vāraṇa-indraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa: ‘elephant-lord’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), एकवचन

• vinirgataḥ: emerged/came forth
• vinirgataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-nir-√gam (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (Kridanta), भूतकालिक क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle, -ta), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; sense: ‘having come out/emerged’

• dantaiḥ: with (his) tusks
• dantaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: danta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• caturbhiḥ: with four
• caturbhiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण (Adjective), तृतीया (Instr/3rd), बहुवचन; agrees with ‘dantaiḥ’

• śveta-adreḥ: from the White Mountain
• śveta-adreḥ: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śveta (प्रातिपदिक) + adri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (Karmadhāraya: ‘white mountain’), पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• haran: carrying/bringing
• haran: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hṛ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with subject ‘airāvataḥ’

• bhagavataḥ: of the Lord
• bhagavataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• mahim: glory/majesty
• mahim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahimā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (usage), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Airāvata
• Bhagavān (the Supreme Lord)

FAQs

Who is Airavata in Srimad Bhagavatam?

Airāvata is the celestial king of elephants who emerges during the churning of the Milk Ocean (Samudra Manthana), described here as bearing the majesty and glory connected with the Supreme Lord.

What comes out of the Milk Ocean during Samudra Manthan in Bhagavata Purana?

This verse specifically mentions the emergence of Airāvata, the king of elephants, as one of the divine treasures produced during the churning.

What is the practical lesson from the appearance of Airavata during churning?

Great results arise from sustained, cooperative effort guided by dharma—yet the Bhagavatam reminds devotees to see all opulence as ultimately reflecting the Supreme Lord’s glory, not merely material prestige.