Shloka 17
Lakṣmī’s Emergence, Dhanvantari, and the Advent of Mohinī-mūrti
तत: कृतस्वस्त्ययनोत्पलस्रजं नदद्द्विरेफां परिगृह्य पाणिना । चचाल वक्त्रं सुकपोलकुण्डलं सव्रीडहासं दधती सुशोभनम् ॥ १७ ॥
tataḥ kṛta-svastyayanotpala-srajaṁ nadad-dvirephāṁ parigṛhya pāṇinā cacāla vaktraṁ sukapola-kuṇḍalaṁ savrīḍa-hāsaṁ dadhatī suśobhanam
Thereafter, honored by the auspicious svastyayana rite, Mother Lakṣmī began to move about, holding a lotus garland alive with the hum of bees. Smiling shyly, her cheeks adorned with earrings, her face appeared supremely beautiful.
The goddess of fortune, mother Lakṣmījī, accepted the Ocean of Milk as her father, but she perpetually rests on the bosom of Nārāyaṇa. She offers benedictions even to Lord Brahmā and other living entities in this material world, yet she is transcendental to all material qualities. Although she appeared to have been born of the Ocean of Milk, she immediately resorted to her eternal place on the bosom of Nārāyaṇa.
FAQs
This verse describes Mohinī-mūrti’s captivating, auspicious beauty—holding a lotus garland with humming bees and approaching with a shy smile—setting the scene for how the Lord would enchant the asuras.
In this episode, Viṣṇu takes the Mohinī form to bewilder the asuras so the nectar of immortality can be distributed to the devas, protecting cosmic order (dharma).
It reminds seekers that the Divine can act through wondrous, unexpected forms; cultivate humility and discernment rather than being led by mere outward charm.