Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 15

Kūrma Supports Mandara; Hālahala Appears; Śiva Becomes Nīlakaṇṭha

Devanagari script

देवांश्च तच्छ्‍वासशिखाहतप्रभान् धूम्राम्बरस्रग्वरकञ्चुकाननान् । समभ्यवर्षन्भगवद्वशा घना ववु: समुद्रोर्म्युपगूढवायव: ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

devāṁś ca tac-chvāsa-śikhā-hata-prabhān dhūmrāmbara-srag-vara-kañcukānanān samabhyavarṣan bhagavad-vaśā ghanā vavuḥ samudrormy-upagūḍha-vāyavaḥ

Translation

Sous l’effet du souffle brûlant de Vāsuki, l’éclat des devas s’affaiblit; leurs vêtements, guirlandes, armes et visages furent noircis par la fumée. Mais, par la grâce du Bhagavān, des nuées se levèrent au-dessus de la mer, déversant des pluies torrentielles, et des brises apportèrent des gouttelettes des vagues, soulageant les devas.

Synonyms

• devān: the gods
• devān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• tat: that
• tat: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण-रूपेण समासे पूर्वपद

• śvāsa: breath
• śvāsa: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śvāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; समासे पूर्वपद

• śikhā: flame
• śikhā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; समासे पूर्वपद

• hata: struck/afflicted
• hata: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: han (धातु) → hata (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषण; समासे पूर्वपद

• prabhān: splendors, radiances
• prabhān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; ‘देवान्’ इत्यस्य विशेष्य-विशेषणभावे विशेषणवत्

• dhūmra-ambara-srak-vara-kañcuka-ānanān: having smoky garments, garlands, excellent tunics, and faces (smoke-darkened)
• dhūmra-ambara-srak-vara-kañcuka-ānanān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhūmra (प्रातिपदिक) + ambara (प्रातिपदिक) + sraj/srak (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक) + kañcuka (प्रातिपदिक) + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; ‘देवान्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• samabhyavarṣan: they rained down upon
• samabhyavarṣan: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛṣ (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; उपसर्ग: सम्+अभि

• bhagavat-vaśāḥ: under the Lord’s control
• bhagavat-vaśāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक) + vaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘भगवतः वशाः’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘घनाः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• ghanāḥ: clouds
• ghanāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• vavuḥ: blew
• vavuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vā (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• samudra-ūrmi-upagūḍha-vāyavaḥ: winds enveloped by the ocean’s waves
• samudra-ūrmi-upagūḍha-vāyavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samudra (प्रातिपदिक) + ūrmi (प्रातिपदिक) + upagūḍha (कृदन्त; √guh/√gūh) + vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘ववुः’ इत्यस्य कर्ता

Characters & Entities

• Devāḥ (demigods)
• Bhagavān (the Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Bhagavān controlling nature during Samudra Manthana?

This verse states that the clouds and winds acted under Bhagavān’s control—raining and blowing to relieve the demigods—showing that natural forces serve the Supreme Lord.

Why were the demigods covered with smoke and losing their radiance in Canto 8 Chapter 7?

Because the poisonous, fiery effects (described here as scorching breath and flames) overwhelmed them, leaving their clothes, ornaments, armor, and faces darkened and their brilliance diminished.

How can a devotee apply the lesson of this shloka in modern life?

When overwhelmed by “poison-like” crises, remember that relief can come by divine arrangement; cultivate faith, prayerful dependence, and steadiness, trusting that the Lord can turn even nature and circumstances toward protection.