Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 40
Lakṣmī’s Emergence, Dhanvantari, and the Advent of Mohinī-mūrti
देवा: स्वं भागमर्हन्ति ये तुल्यायासहेतव: । सत्रयाग इवैतस्मिन्नेष धर्म: सनातन: ॥ ३९ ॥ इति स्वान्प्रत्यषेधन्वै दैतेया जातमत्सरा: । दुर्बला: प्रबलान् राजन्गृहीतकलसान् मुहु: ॥ ४० ॥
devāḥ svaṁ bhāgam arhanti ye tulyāyāsa-hetavaḥ satra-yāga ivaitasminn eṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ
Algunos daityas dijeron: «Los devas son copartícipes de un esfuerzo igual en el batido del Océano de Leche; por ello, como en un satra-yajña, según el dharma eterno, tienen derecho a su porción de amṛta». Oh Rey, así los daityas más débiles, llenos de envidia, detuvieron una y otra vez a los más fuertes que sostenían el cántaro.
Desiring to take the nectar, those among the demons who were less strong spoke in favor of the demigods. The weaker Daityas naturally pleaded on behalf of the demigods to stop the stronger Daityas from drinking the nectar without sharing it. In this way, disagreement and trouble arose as they forbade one another to drink the nectar.
FAQs
It states that those who have labored equally deserve an equal rightful share, and that this fairness is sanātana-dharma—an eternal principle—like the shared results in a satra sacrifice.
Because envy (matsara) arose in them; even though they were weaker, they repeatedly tried to take the amṛta pots from the stronger devas to claim the results for themselves.
It teaches fairness—reward should match effort—and warns that jealousy drives destructive behavior; cultivating gratitude and justice prevents needless quarrels within one’s own team.