Shloka 25

Mohinī-mūrti Distributes Amṛta; Rāhu is Severed; Results Differ by Shelter

Devanagari script

चक्रेण क्षुरधारेण जहार पिबत: शिर: । हरिस्तस्य कबन्धस्तु सुधयाप्लावितोऽपतत् ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

cakreṇa kṣura-dhāreṇa jahāra pibataḥ śiraḥ haris tasya kabandhas tu sudhayāplāvito ’patat

Translation

ഭഗവാൻ ഹരി തന്റെ മൂർച്ചയേറിയ സുദർശന ചക്രം കൊണ്ട് രാഹുവിന്റെ തല അറുത്തുമാറ്റി. അമൃത് സ്പർശിക്കാത്ത അവന്റെ ഉടൽ താഴെ വീണു.

Synonyms

• चक्रेण: with the discus
• चक्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• क्षुर-धारेण: with a razor-like edge
• क्षुर-धारेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुर (प्रातिपदिक) + धारा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (धारा), Instrumental, Singular; ‘with a razor-sharp edge’

• जहार: he cut off / took away
• जहार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada

• पिबतः: of the one who was drinking
• पिबतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पा (धातु) → पिबत् (शतृ; कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; present active participle used as genitive: ‘of (him) drinking’

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• हरिः: Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th), Singular

• कबन्धः: trunk (headless body)
• कबन्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कबन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: Adversative particle (विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय)

• सुधया: by nectar
• सुधया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• आप्लावितः: filled / drenched
• आप्लावितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + प्लु (धातु) → आप्लावित (क्त; कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; past passive participle: ‘flooded/filled’

• अपतत्: fell
• अपतत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada

Purport

When the Personality of Godhead, Mohinī-mūrti, severed Rāhu’s head from his body, the head remained alive although the body died. Rāhu had been drinking nectar through his mouth, and before the nectar entered his body, his head was cut off. Thus Rāhu’s head remained alive whereas the body died. This wonderful act performed by the Lord was meant to show that nectar is miraculous ambrosia.

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Viṣṇu)
• Rāhu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Rahu drinking amrita?

In Canto 8, Chapter 9, this verse states that as Rāhu drank the nectar, Lord Hari cut off his head with the razor-edged Sudarśana disc, yet the trunk—touched by amṛta—did not perish immediately.

Why did Lord Vishnu cut off Rahu’s head during the amrita distribution?

Rāhu had entered the line of devas in disguise to steal amṛta. When he was exposed, the Lord protected the rightful distribution by severing his head with Sudarśana.

What is a practical lesson from this shloka for modern life?

Spiritual gifts gained through deceit invite swift correction; divine order protects dharma, and integrity is essential when seeking sacred benefits.