Srimad Bhagavatam — Prathama Skandha, Shloka 17

Avatāra-kathā — The Puruṣa, the Many Incarnations, and Kṛṣṇa as Svayam Bhagavān

Devanagari script

धान्वन्तरं द्वादशमं त्रयोदशममेव च । अपाययत्सुरानन्यान्मोहिन्या मोहयन् स्त्रिया ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

dhānvantaraṁ dvādaśamaṁ trayodaśamam eva ca apāyayat surān anyān mohinyā mohayan striyā

Translation

主は第十二の化身としてダンヴァンタリとなって現れ、第十三の化身では麗しきモーヒニーの女姿でアスラを惑わし、神々に甘露（アムリタ）を飲ませた。

Synonyms

• धान्वन्तरम्: Dhanvantari
• धान्वन्तरम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धान्वन्तरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular (name)

• द्वादशम्: twelfth
• द्वादशम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular; ordinal sense ‘twelfth’

• त्रयोदशम्: thirteenth
• त्रयोदशम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रयोदश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular; ordinal sense ‘thirteenth’

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (अवधारण) — particle of emphasis

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात — conjunction

• अपाययत्: made (them) drink
• अपाययत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप + पा (धातु, णिजन्त)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative) — Imperfect, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada, causative ‘caused to drink’

• सुरान्: the gods
• सुरान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अन्यान्: others (i.e., not the demons)
• अन्यान्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• मोहिन्या: by Mohinī
• मोहिन्या: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• मोहयन्: deluding
• मोहयन्: कर्ता (Agent as participle/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुह् (धातु) → मोहयत् (शतृ-कृदन्त; णिजन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Present active participle, Masculine, Nominative, Singular; causative ‘deluding’

• स्त्रिया: as/with a woman (female form)
• स्त्रिया: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

Characters & Entities

• Dhanvantari
• Mohini
• Suras (demigods)
• Asuras (demons)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Mohini avatar and the nectar (amrita)?

This verse says the Lord became Mohinī, enchanted the demons with a female form, and arranged that only the demigods drank the nectar of immortality.

Why did Suta Gosvami describe Dhanvantari and Mohini in the list of avatars?

In Canto 1 Chapter 3, Suta Gosvami summarizes prominent incarnations to show the Lord’s many forms and purposes—here, healing as Dhanvantari and protecting the devas through Mohinī’s divine enchantment.

Practical application of Mohini’s lesson in modern life?

The verse highlights that divine intelligence can overcome brute force; cultivate discernment and devotion so you are not misled by mere appearances, and align choices with dharma.