Shloka 81

Devanagari script

नानौषधीः समानीय देवदैतेयदानवाः क्षिप्त्वा क्षीराब्धिपयसि शरदभ्रामलत्विषि

Transliteration

nānauṣadhīḥ samānīya devadaiteyadānavāḥ kṣiptvā kṣīrābdhipayasi śaradabhrāmalatviṣi

Translation

Gathering many kinds of healing herbs, the Devas, the Daityas, and the Dānavas cast them into the milky waters of the Ocean of Milk, whose sheen was like the bright, cloud-washed radiance of autumn.

Word by Word

• नाना: various
• नाना: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण of औषधीः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विविधार्थक-विशेषणार्थे (adverbial/indeclinable ‘various’)

• औषधीः: herbs; medicinal plants
• औषधीः: Karma (Object/कर्म of समानीय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: औषधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया बहुवचन (Accusative plural)

• समानीय: having brought together
• समानीय: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Prior action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-आ-नी (धातु) → समानीय (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष, absolutive)
• Form: अव्यय; ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerund/absolutive)

• देवदैतेयदानवाः: the gods, Daityas, and Dānavas
• देवदैतेयदानवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + दैतेय + दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व; पुल्लिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचन (Nominative plural)

• क्षिप्त्वा: having thrown
• क्षिप्त्वा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Prior action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु) → क्षिप्त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• क्षीराब्धिपयसि: in the waters of the Milk Ocean
• क्षीराब्धिपयसि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर + अब्धि + पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (क्षीरस्य अब्धिः ‘ocean of milk’) + तत्पुरुष (क्षीराब्धेः पयः ‘milk-ocean’s water’); नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचन (Locative singular)

• शरदभ्रामलत्विषि: in (that) clear-shining (water) like autumn clouds
• शरदभ्रामलत्विषि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण of क्षीराब्धिपयसि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरद् + अभ्र + आमल + त्विष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शरदि अभ्राणि; तेषां आमलत्विष् ‘clear lustre’ इव); नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचन (Locative singular; agreeing with पयसि)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The cosmos functions through ordered rites and materials—here, herbs as upakaraṇa—placed into the primordial ocean to precipitate transformative emergence.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Approach spiritual aims with proper preparation: gather supports (discipline, study, sādhana) before undertaking intense inner ‘churning’.

Vishishtadvaita: Matter and beings serve as real instruments within Viṣṇu’s governance, not illusory—supporting a qualified non-dual, purposive cosmos.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Daityas
• Dānavas
• Kṣīrābdhi (Ocean of Milk)

FAQs

What is the significance of adding herbs to the Ocean of Milk in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse shows the ritual-alchemical preparation of the cosmic ocean: the gathered auṣadhis are cast into the Kṣīrābdhi to potentiate the churning, foreshadowing the emergence of amṛta and other divine substances.

How does Sage Parāśara frame the Devas and Asuras working together here?

Parāśara presents Devas, Daityas, and Dānavas acting in concert at this stage, emphasizing that even rival powers become instruments within the larger cosmic process that ultimately unfolds according to divine order.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Though not named in this specific line, the episode belongs to Viṣṇu-centered cosmology where the churning’s outcomes (especially amṛta) arise within the supreme governance of Viṣṇu as the sustaining reality behind cosmic balance.