Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

अहो रूपमहो धाम अहो अस्या नवं वय: । इति ते तामभिद्रुत्य पप्रच्छुर्जातहृच्छया: ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

aho rūpam aho dhāma aho asyā navaṁ vayaḥ iti te tām abhidrutya papracchur jāta-hṛc-chayāḥ

Translation

Upon seeing the beautiful woman, the demons said, “Alas, how wonderful is Her beauty, how wonderful the luster of Her body, and how wonderful the beauty of Her youthful age!” Speaking in this way, they quickly approached Her, full of lusty desires to enjoy Her, and began to inquire from Her in many ways.

Synonyms

• aho: oh! / alas!
• aho: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aho (अव्यय)
• Form: Exclamation/particle (विस्मयादिबोधक अव्यय)

• rūpam: beauty/form
• rūpam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• aho: oh!
• aho: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aho (अव्यय)
• Form: Exclamation/particle (विस्मयादिबोधक अव्यय)

• dhāma: splendor/effulgence
• dhāma: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• aho: oh!
• aho: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aho (अव्यय)
• Form: Exclamation/particle (विस्मयादिबोधक अव्यय)

• asyāḥ: of her
• asyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• navam: new / fresh
• navam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying ‘vayaḥ’

• vayaḥ: youth/age
• vayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vayas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यचिह्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tām: her
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• abhidrutya: having rushed up
• abhidrutya: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: abhi + dru (धातु)
• Form: Gerund/absolutive (क्त्वान्त अव्यय), ‘having run up to’

• papracchuḥ: they asked
• papracchuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prach (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• jāta-hṛc-chayāḥ: with desire arisen in their hearts
• jāta-hṛc-chayāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jāta (√jan, क्त-प्रत्यय) + hṛt (प्रातिपदिक) + chāyā (प्रातिपदिक; here ‘desire/longing’ as chaya)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘whose heart-desire had arisen’ qualifying ‘te’

Characters & Entities

• Mohinī-mūrti
• Asuras (demons)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Mohini-murti’s beauty in Canto 8?

This verse describes how Mohinī-mūrti’s extraordinary beauty, radiance, and youthful charm immediately captivated the onlookers, stirring desire and drawing them to approach and question Her.

Why did the asuras rush toward Mohini-murti and speak like this?

Overpowered by attraction and bewildered by the Lord’s māyā in the form of Mohinī, the asuras became agitated by sudden lust and hurried to Her, praising Her appearance and then inquiring from Her.

What is the practical lesson of this shloka for modern life?

It warns that unchecked attraction to beauty and allure can quickly disturb the mind and decision-making; cultivating self-control and devotion helps one remain steady when confronted by powerful sense-objects.