Shloka 13
The Churning of the Ocean
Samudra Manthana
सूत उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा ततो विष्णुर्ददौ चोद्दालकाय च । वेदवाक्यानुरूपेण ह्यलक्ष्मीं निर्जरैः सह
sūta uvāca | iti śrutvā tato viṣṇurdadau coddālakāya ca | vedavākyānurūpeṇa hyalakṣmīṃ nirjaraiḥ saha
സൂതൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഇതു കേട്ട വിഷ്ണു, വേദവാക്യങ്ങൾക്ക് അനുസരിച്ച്, അലക്ഷ്മിയെ ദേവന്മാരോടുകൂടെ ഉദ്ദാലകനും നൽകിക്കൊടുത്തു।
Sūta
Concept: Even the Lord’s arrangements are portrayed as consonant with Vedic speech (veda-vākya), affirming śāstra as the grammar of cosmic order.
Application: Let decisions—especially those affecting others—be guided by principled standards (scripture/ethics), not impulse; place negativity where it can do least harm.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Viṣṇu, serene and commanding, gestures as if issuing a cosmic decree; Uddālaka stands respectfully, receiving the arrangement with folded hands. In the background, devas gather in luminous ranks while Alakṣmī is symbolically led away—her form dissolving into a dim corridor beyond the radiant hall.","primary_figures":["Viṣṇu","Uddālaka","Devas","Alakṣmī"],"setting":"Celestial assembly hall with Vedic palm-leaf scroll motifs, sacrificial-fire symbolism, and orderly rows of gods.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["radiant gold","pearl white","deep indigo","vermillion","ash gray"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Viṣṇu enthroned with gold leaf aura, right hand in commanding gesture, Uddālaka as a saffron-robed sage receiving the decree, devas in symmetrical rows, Alakṣmī fading into an ash-gray archway; heavy ornamentation, embossed jewelry, rich reds/greens and gem-like highlights.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: refined court scene with Viṣṇu and Uddālaka in delicate profile, devas arranged like a painted chorus, subtle depiction of Alakṣmī receding into a shaded passage; cool blues, soft gold washes, fine textile patterns and gentle architectural lines.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: frontal Viṣṇu with bold outlines and large eyes, Uddālaka in ochre, devas in rhythmic repetition, Alakṣmī as a dark marginal figure being guided away; warm mural palette with decorative borders and temple-wall symmetry.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central Viṣṇu motif with ornate floral borders, sages and devas arranged in patterned bands, Alakṣmī represented as a dark cloud motif drifting outward; deep blue ground, gold detailing, lotus and kalasha symbols woven into the composition."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch shell","temple bells","low drone (tanpura)","soft fire-crackle (yajna ambience)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विष्णुर्ददौ = विष्णुः + ददौ (विसर्ग → र्). चोद्दालकाय = च + उद्दालकाय (च + उ → चो). ह्यलक्ष्मीम् = हि + अलक्ष्मीम् (इ + अ → य).
FAQs
The speaker is Sūta, who narrates the events to the listening sages, reporting what Viṣṇu did after hearing the preceding request or statement.
It emphasizes that Viṣṇu’s action is aligned with Vedic testimony, presenting the decision as grounded in śruti-authority rather than personal preference or mere narrative convenience.
By naming Alakṣmī (misfortune/inauspiciousness) and associating her handling with divine order, the verse suggests that prosperity and adversity are regulated within dharma, and that inauspicious forces are not ultimate but are placed under cosmic governance.