Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 12

Raivata and Cākṣuṣa Manvantaras; Brahmā’s Prayers at Śvetadvīpa

Prelude to Samudra-manthana

Devanagari script

श्रीराजोवाच यथा भगवता ब्रह्मन्मथित: क्षीरसागर: । यदर्थं वा यतश्चाद्रिं दधाराम्बुचरात्मना ॥ ११ ॥ यथामृतं सुरै: प्राप्तं किं चान्यदभवत् तत: । एतद् भगवत: कर्म वदस्व परमाद्भ‍ुतम् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-rājovāca yathā bhagavatā brahman mathitaḥ kṣīra-sāgaraḥ yad-arthaṁ vā yataś cādriṁ dadhārāmbucarātmanā

Translation

Le roi Parīkṣit demanda : Ô grand brāhmaṇa, comment et dans quel but le Seigneur baratta-t-Il l’Océan de Lait ? Pourquoi demeura-t-Il dans l’eau sous forme de tortue et soutint-Il la montagne Mandara ? Comment les devas obtinrent-ils le nectar, et quelles autres choses surgirent du barattage ? Je t’en prie, décris ces actes suprêmement merveilleux du Seigneur.

Synonyms

• यथा: how
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable) — प्रकारे (in what manner)

• अमृतम्: nectar
• अमृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (sg)

• सुरैः: by the gods
• सुरैः: Karta (कर्ता—agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया विभक्ति (instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (pl)

• प्राप्तम्: was obtained
• प्राप्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया—result state)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राप्त (प्राप् धातु + क्त, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (nom./acc.), एकवचन (sg); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (nom./acc.), एकवचन (sg); प्रश्नवाचक (interrogative)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable conjunction) — समुच्चय (and)

• अन्यत्: other (thing)
• अन्यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (nom./acc.), एकवचन (sg)

• अभवत्: happened/occurred
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् लकार (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg), परस्मैपद

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Apadana/Time (अपादान/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable) — तस्मात्/अनन्तरम् (thereafter/from that)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (sg)

• भगवतः: of the Lord
• भगवतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी विभक्ति (genitive/6th), एकवचन (sg)

• कर्म: deed/act
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (sg)

• वदस्व: tell (me)
• वदस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् लकार (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन (sg), परस्मैपद

• परम-अद्भुतम्: supremely wonderful
• परम-अद्भुतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (sg); कर्मधारयः—परमं च तत् अद्भुतम् (supremely wonderful)

Characters & Entities

• King Parīkṣit
• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Bhagavān (the Supreme Lord)
• Kurma (the Tortoise incarnation)
• Mandara Mountain
• Devas (Suras/Demigods)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Samudra Manthan (churning of the Milk Ocean)?

In this verse, King Parīkṣit asks Śukadeva Gosvāmī to explain how the Lord arranged the churning of the Milk Ocean, why it was done, and what occurred after the devas obtained amṛta—highlighting it as a supremely wondrous divine act.

Why does King Parikshit ask about Kurma Avatar holding the mountain?

Because the churning required Mandara Mountain to be supported; Parīkṣit specifically wants to hear how the Lord assumed a water-dwelling form (Kurma) to bear the mountain and make the divine plan succeed.

Practical application: what can devotees learn from this shloka today?

Approach sacred history with sincere inquiry—like Parīkṣit—seeking the Lord’s purpose and presence behind events; this cultivates śraddhā (faith) and bhakti by seeing divine guidance even in complex struggles.