Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 18

Kūrma Supports Mandara; Hālahala Appears; Śiva Becomes Nīlakaṇṭha

Devanagari script

निर्मथ्यमानादुदधेरभूद्विषं महोल्बणं हालहलाह्वमग्रत: । सम्भ्रान्तमीनोन्मकराहिकच्छपात् तिमिद्विपग्राहतिमिङ्गिलाकुलात् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

nirmathyamānād udadher abhūd viṣaṁ maholbaṇaṁ hālahalāhvam agrataḥ sambhrānta-mīnonmakarāhi-kacchapāt timi-dvipa-grāha-timiṅgilākulāt

Translation

സമുദ്രം മഥിക്കപ്പെടുമ്പോൾ ആദ്യം അത്യന്തം ഭീകരമായ ‘ഹാലാഹല’ എന്ന വിഷം ഉദിച്ചു. അതിനാൽ മീനുകൾ, മകരങ്ങൾ, പാമ്പുകൾ, ആമകൾ അതിയായി കലങ്ങി; സമുദ്രം ഉഗ്രമായി കുലുങ്ങി, തിമി, ജലഹസ്തികൾ, ഗ്രാഹങ്ങൾ, തിമിംഗിലം പോലുള്ള മഹാജലചരങ്ങളും മേലോട്ടുയർന്നു വന്നു.

Synonyms

• nirmathyamānāt: from being churned
• nirmathyamānāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √math (धातु) → nirmathyamāna (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; उपसर्ग: निर्

• udadheḥ: from the ocean
• udadheḥ: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udadhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Gen/Abl), एकवचन; अर्थतः अपादान-सम्बन्धः

• abhūt: arose/appeared
• abhūt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• viṣam: poison
• viṣam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; ‘अभूत्’ इत्यस्य कर्तृ/फलरूपम्

• maholbaṇam: very terrible
• maholbaṇam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ulbaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘विषम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• hālahala-āhvam: named Hālahala
• hālahala-āhvam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hālahala (प्रातिपदिक) + āhva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘विषम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• agrataḥ: first; in front
• agrataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: agrataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘in front/first’)

• sambhrānta-mīna-unmakara-ahi-kacchapāt: from (the ocean) full of agitated fish, sharks, snakes, and turtles
• sambhrānta-mīna-unmakara-ahi-kacchapāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sambhrānta (कृदन्त; √bhram) + mīna (प्रातिपदिक) + unmakara (प्रातिपदिक) + ahi (प्रातिपदिक) + kacchapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; ‘उदधेः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणवत् अपादान-निर्देशः

• timi-dvipa-grāha-timiṅgila-ākulāt: from (the ocean) teeming with timi fish, elephants, crocodiles, and timiṅgila whales
• timi-dvipa-grāha-timiṅgila-ākulāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: timi (प्रातिपदिक) + dvipa (प्रातिपदिक) + grāha (प्रातिपदिक) + timiṅgila (प्रातिपदिक) + ākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; अपादान-निर्देशः

Characters & Entities

• Hālahala

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Hālahala poison during Samudra Manthan?

In Bhagavatam 8.7.18, Śukadeva explains that when the ocean was churned, a terrifying poison named Hālahala arose first from the violently agitated sea.

Why did poison come out first in the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan)?

This verse indicates that the churning initially produced a dangerous, unwanted result—Hālahala—showing that great endeavors may first bring hardship before auspicious outcomes like nectar appear.

Practical application of this Bhagavatam teaching in modern life?

The shloka reminds seekers that early difficulties can precede higher rewards; steadiness, faith, and taking shelter of the Lord and His devotees helps one endure the “poison first” phase of life’s churnings.