Shloka 16

दुर्वासाशापः, क्षीरसागरमन्थनम्, श्रीः (लक्ष्मी) उद्भवः तथा श्रीस्तुतिः

Devanagari script

मद्दत्ता भवता यस्मात् क्षिप्ता माला महीतले तस्मात् प्रणष्टलक्ष्मीकं त्रैलोक्यं ते भविष्यति

Transliteration

maddattā bhavatā yasmāt kṣiptā mālā mahītale tasmāt praṇaṣṭalakṣmīkaṃ trailokyaṃ te bhaviṣyati

Translation

Because the garland I bestowed was cast by you upon the ground, therefore the three worlds under your sway shall become bereft of Śrī—stripped of fortune, splendor, and auspicious sovereignty.

Word by Word

• मत्-दत्ता: given by me
• मत्-दत्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक) + दत्त (दा धातु + क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘मया दत्ता’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• भवता: by you
• भवता: Kartr-karana (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• यस्मात्: since/because
• यस्मात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगवत्; हेत्वर्थे (ablative used as conjunction: 'since/because')

• क्षिप्ता: thrown/cast
• क्षिप्ता: Kriya (Action/result/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• माला: garland
• माला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• महीतले: on the ground
• महीतले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Sambandha (Logical connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (ablative used adverbially); तस्मात् = ‘therefore/from that’

• प्रणष्ट-लक्ष्मीकम्: deprived of fortune/splendor
• प्रणष्ट-लक्ष्मीकम्: Karma (Object complement/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणष्ट (प्र-नश् धातु + क्त) + लक्ष्मीक (लक्ष्मी + क प्रत्यय)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying trailokyam)

• त्रैलोक्यम्: the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रैलोक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ते: for you/to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन (Singular)

• भविष्यति: will be/will become
• भविष्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Sage Durvāsā (issuing a curse after his garland is disrespected)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Indra’s offense toward Durvāsā and its consequences

Teaching: Historical

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Disrespect toward sanctity causes withdrawal of Śrī (auspicious power), leading to the collapse of worldly sovereignty.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Treat blessings, symbols of grace, and sacred offerings with care; avoid entitlement in positions of power.

Vishishtadvaita: Śrī is inseparable from Nārāyaṇa’s governance; prosperity and legitimacy arise from alignment with divine order, not mere force.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Lakshmi Presence: Sri (fortune)

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmi
• Durvasa
• Indra
• Trailokya (three worlds)

FAQs

What is the significance of Lakṣmī’s departure in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames Lakṣmī as the very principle of auspicious sovereignty; when she is “lost,” the worlds lose splendor, stability, and rightful dominion, setting up the need for divine restoration.

How does the text explain the moral cause behind cosmic decline here?

Through Durvāsā’s curse: disrespect toward a sacred gift (the garland) becomes the immediate ethical trigger for the withdrawal of fortune, showing that cosmic order responds to dharma and humility.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when fortune withdraws due to adharma, Vishnu remains the supreme governing reality who later re-establishes balance—Lakṣmī’s loss and return ultimately serve his cosmic sovereignty.