Previous Verse

Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 47

Lord Śiva Bewildered by Mohinī

Viṣṇu’s Yoga-māyā and the Limits of Ascetic Power

असदविषयमङ्‍‍घ्रिं भावगम्यं प्रपन्ना- नमृतममरवर्यानाशयत् सिन्धुमथ्यम् । कपटयुवतिवेषो मोहयन्य: सुरारीं- स्तमहमुपसृतानां कामपूरं नतोऽस्मि ॥ ४७ ॥

asad-aviṣayam aṅghriṁ bhāva-gamyaṁ prapannān amṛtam amara-varyān āśayat sindhu-mathyam kapaṭa-yuvati-veṣo mohayan yaḥ surārīṁs tam aham upasṛtānāṁ kāma-pūraṁ nato ’smi

അസത് വിഷയങ്ങളെ അതീതമായതും ഭാവഭക്തിയാൽ മാത്രം പ്രാപ്യമുമായ തിരുവടികളിൽ ശരണം പ്രാപിച്ച ദേവന്മാരായ ഭക്തർക്കു, ക്ഷീരസമുദ്രമഥനത്തിൽ ജനിച്ച അമൃതം ഭഗവാൻ വിതരണം ചെയ്തു. കപടയുവതിയുടെ വേഷം ധരിച്ചു അസുരരെ മോഹിപ്പിച്ചും ശരണാഗതരുടെ ആഗ്രഹങ്ങൾ നിറവേറ്റിയും നിൽക്കുന്ന ആ പരമപുരുഷനോട് ഞാൻ നമസ്കരിക്കുന്നു।

asad-aviṣayamnot an object for the wicked
asad-aviṣayam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootasad (प्रातिपदिक) + aviṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास (नञ्/निषेधार्थ: असद्-विषयः = असतां विषयः न), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of aṅghrim)
aṅghrim(his) foot
aṅghrim:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootaṅghri (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
bhāva-gamyamattainable through devotion (bhāva)
bhāva-gamyam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootbhāva (प्रातिपदिक) + gamya (प्रातिपदिक from √gam)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास (करण/उपायार्थ: भावेन गम्यः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of aṅghrim)
prapannānthose who have surrendered
prapannān:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootprapanna (प्रातिपदिक from pra-√pad)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used as noun), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘शरणागत’
amṛtamnectar/immortality
amṛtam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootamṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
amara-varyānthe best of the immortals (gods)
amara-varyān:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootamara (प्रातिपदिक) + varya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formकर्मधारय-समास (अमरवर्याः = श्रेष्ठा अमराः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
āśayathe made (them) sit/placed
āśayat:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootā-√śī (धातु)
Formलङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: आ + शी (to cause to lie/seat; to place)
sindhu-mathyamproduced by churning the ocean
sindhu-mathyam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootsindhu (प्रातिपदिक) + mathya (प्रातिपदिक from √math)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास (सिन्धोः मथ्यम् = churnable/churned of the ocean), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of amṛtam)
kapaṭa-yuvati-veṣaḥ(he) whose guise was a deceptive young woman
kapaṭa-yuvati-veṣaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootkapaṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + yuvati (प्रातिपदिक) + veṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास (कपटेन युवति-वेṣः = deceptive female guise), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
mohayandeluding
mohayan:
Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootmuh (धातु)
Formशतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; धातु: मुह् (to delude)
yaḥwho
yaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
Formसर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
surārīnthe enemies of the gods (asuras)
surārīn:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootsura (प्रातिपदिक) + ari (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: सुराणाम् अरयः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
tamhim
tam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
Formसर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
ahamI
aham:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
Formसर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
upasṛtānāmof those who have approached
upasṛtānām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootupa-√sṛ (धातु)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used as noun), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; उपसृत = approached
kāma-pūramthe fulfiller of desires
kāma-pūram:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootkāma (प्रातिपदिक) + pūra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/उपपद-तत्पुरुष: कामान् पूरयति इति), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
nataḥbowed down
nataḥ:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootnam (धातु)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘नतः’ = bowed
asmiI am
asmi:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootas (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: अस् (to be)

The instruction of this narration concerning the churning of the Milk Ocean is clearly manifested by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although He is equal to everyone, because of natural affection He favors His devotees. The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.29) :

L
Lord Śiva
M
Mohinī-mūrti (Lord Viṣṇu)
D
Devas (Amarāḥ)
A
Asuras (Sura-arayaḥ)

FAQs

This verse states that the Lord’s feet are beyond material sense-objects (asad-aviṣaya) but can be attained through bhāva—pure devotional devotion—showing bhakti as the true means of approach.

In the narrative of Canto 8, Chapter 12, Śiva witnesses Viṣṇu’s Mohinī-līlā and glorifies Him as the giver of amṛta to the devas and the bewilderer of the asuras, acknowledging Viṣṇu’s supreme, inconceivable power.

It teaches that lasting fulfillment comes by approaching the Lord through sincere surrender and devotion rather than chasing sense-pleasures, trusting that the Lord rightly fulfills the needs of those who take shelter.