Shloka 98

Devanagari script

ततः स्फुरत्कान्तिमती विकासिकमले स्थिता श्रीर् देवी पयसस् तस्माद् उत्थिता धृतपङ्कजा

Transliteration

tataḥ sphuratkāntimatī vikāsikamale sthitā śrīr devī payasas tasmād utthitā dhṛtapaṅkajā

Translation

Then, radiant with flashing splendor, the Goddess Śrī arose from that ocean of milk, standing upon a fully blossomed lotus—herself the lotus-bearer—manifesting as the sovereign auspiciousness that abides with the Supreme.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (Temporal/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषणम्) = thereafter

• स्फुरत्कान्तिमती: radiant
• स्फुरत्कान्तिमती: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sphurat + kāntimatī (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (स्फुरत् कान्तिः यस्याः सा) = ‘having flashing/brilliant radiance’

• विकासिकमले: on a blooming lotus
• विकासिकमले: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vikāsin + kamala (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (विकासि कमलम्) = ‘blooming lotus’; सप्तमी = ‘on/in’

• स्थितā: standing
• स्थितā: Kriya (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → sthita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘standing/placed’

• श्रीः: Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• श्रीः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• देवी: the goddess
• देवी: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समानाधिकरणम् (apposition to श्रीः)

• पयसः: from the milk (ocean)
• पयसः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: payas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; ‘from milk/waters’

• तस्मात्: from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; ‘from that’

• उत्थिता: arose
• उत्थिता: Kriya (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्+स्था (धातु) → utthita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘risen/emerged’

• धृतपङ्कजा: holding a lotus
• धृतपङ्कजा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhṛta + paṅkaja (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (धृतं पङ्कजं यया सा) = ‘holding a lotus’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Emergence of Śrī (Lakṣmī) from the Milk Ocean in the manthana sequence

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrī is the luminous auspicious power inseparable from Nārāyaṇa, through whom grace, prosperity, and divine order become manifest.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Approach the Lord with reverence for Śrī—cultivating gratitude, generosity, and purity as expressions of auspicious living.

Vishishtadvaita: Śrī (Lakṣmī) is eternally associated with the Supreme and mediates grace, affirming a personal, relational Absolute rather than an impersonal monism.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: shanta

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

Characters & Entities

• Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• Kṣīra-samudra (Ocean of Milk)
• Lotus (Padma)

FAQs

What is the significance of Śrī (Lakṣmī) arising from the Ocean of Milk in the Vishnu Purana?

It presents Śrī as cosmic auspiciousness and sovereign prosperity, manifesting for the re-ordering of the universe during the churning narrative—her emergence signals divine favor and restored balance.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the lotus imagery in this context?

By describing Śrī standing upon and bearing the lotus, the verse emphasizes purity untouched by the world, and the appearance of divine grace arising from the cosmic waters into manifest order.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu in this context even if not named in the verse?

Śrī’s manifestation is traditionally inseparable from Nārāyaṇa/Vishnu; her appearance implies the Supreme’s governance of cosmic processes, where divine power and auspiciousness accompany the Lord’s sustaining sovereignty.