Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 13
Bhagavān’s Avatāras, Their Protections (Poṣaṇa), and the Limits of Knowing Him
क्षीरोदधावमरदानवयूथपाना- मुन्मथ्नताममृतलब्धय आदिदेव: । पृष्ठेन कच्छपवपुर्विदधार गोत्रं निद्राक्षणोऽद्रिपरिवर्तकषाणकण्डू: ॥ १३ ॥
kṣīrodadhāv amara-dānava-yūthapānām unmathnatām amṛta-labdhaya ādi-devaḥ pṛṣṭhena kacchapa-vapur vidadhāra gotraṁ nidrākṣaṇo ’dri-parivarta-kaṣāṇa-kaṇḍūḥ
Dans l’Océan de Lait, devas et asuras barattaient pour obtenir l’amṛta, prenant le mont Mandara pour bâton de barattage. Alors le Seigneur primordial prit l’incarnation de la Tortue et porta Mandara sur son dos comme pivot. Le mont allant et venant frottait son dos et y éveillait une démangeaison; même à demi endormi, le Seigneur goûtait la douceur de ce chatouillement.
Although it is not in our experience, there is a milk ocean within this universe. Even the modern scientist accepts that there are hundreds and hundreds of thousands of planets hovering over our heads, and each of them has different kinds of climatic conditions. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam gives much information which may not tally with our present experience. But as far as Indian sages are concerned, knowledge is received from the Vedic literatures, and the authorities accept without any hesitation that we should look through the pages of authentic books of knowledge ( śāstra-cakṣurvat ). So we cannot deny the existence of the Ocean of Milk as stated in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam unless and until we have experimentally seen all the planets hovering in space. Since such an experiment is not possible, naturally we have to accept the statement of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as it is because it is so accepted by spiritual leaders like Śrīdhara Svāmī, Jīva Gosvāmī, Viśvanātha Cakravartī and others. The Vedic process is to follow in the footsteps of great authorities, and that is the only process for knowing that which is beyond our imagination.
FAQs
This verse states that the primeval Lord took the form of a tortoise and supported Mandara Mountain on His back during the churning of the Milk Ocean, enabling the devas and daityas to obtain nectar.
Because the churning required a stable base; by becoming Kūrma and bearing the mountain, the Lord made the entire endeavor possible—showing that all success ultimately depends on His support.
Even great efforts need divine grounding: do your work with discipline, but rely on the Lord through prayer, devotion, and ethical action, recognizing Him as the unseen support behind results.