Shloka 9
उच्चैःश्रवसः वर्णविपणः तथा नागशापः
Uccaiḥśravas Color-Wager and the Nāga Curse
ततस्तेन सुरा: सार्ध समुद्रमुपतस्थिरे । तमूचुरमृतस्यार्थे निर्मथिष्पयामहे जलम्,तत्पश्चात् देवतालोग उस पर्वतके साथ समुद्रतटपर उपस्थित हुए और समुद्रसे बोले --'हम अमृतके लिये तुम्हारा मन््थन करेंगे।! यह सुनकर जलके स्वामी समुद्रने कहा --“यदि अमृतमें मेरा भी हिस्सा रहे तो मैं मन्दराचलको घुमानेसे जो भारी पीड़ा होगी, उसे सह लूँगा”
tatas tena surāḥ sārdhaṃ samudram upatasthire | tam ūcur amṛtasyārthe nirmathiṣyāmahe jalam |
Then the gods, together with him, approached the Ocean. They said to him, “For the sake of obtaining amṛta (the nectar of immortality), we will churn you, the waters.” The episode frames a moral negotiation: even a cosmic undertaking meant for the common good proceeds only through consent and a fair share for all parties who must bear the burden.
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a lofty goal (like obtaining amṛta) must be pursued through cooperation and fairness: those who are asked to endure hardship (here, the Ocean to be churned) deserve recognition, consent, and an equitable share in the outcome.
The devas approach the personified Ocean and declare their intention to churn the waters to obtain amṛta. This sets up the famous churning episode, where cosmic resources and participants must be coordinated to produce the nectar.