Shloka 13
राहोः शिरच्छेदन-कारणकथनम् / The Account of Rāhu’s Beheading
Cause and Background
अथामृतार्थे सिंधोश्च मंथनं चक्रुरादरात् । विष्णोस्सहायिनस्ते हि सुरास्सर्वेऽसुरैस्सह
athāmṛtārthe siṃdhośca maṃthanaṃ cakrurādarāt | viṣṇossahāyinaste hi surāssarve'suraissaha
Then, to obtain amṛta—the nectar of immortality—they zealously and reverently undertook the churning of the Ocean. Indeed, all the Devas, aided by Viṣṇu, performed it together with the Asuras.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Cosmic Event: Samudra-manthana (churning of the ocean for amṛta)
FAQs
It shows how beings driven by desire—even for “immortality”—enter intense effort and alliance; from a Śaiva Siddhānta lens, such striving remains within saṃsāra unless it turns toward Pati (Śiva) for true liberation beyond mere longevity.
The verse sets up the Samudra Manthana episode, which in Śaiva narration culminates in crises (like poison) that require Śiva’s compassionate intervention—reminding devotees that worldly gains depend on Saguna Śiva’s grace and protection.
Adopt ādarāt (earnest reverence) in sādhana: begin efforts with Śiva-smaraṇa and japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering the fruits of action to Śiva to purify desire-driven striving.