Shloka 16

Devanagari script

मथ्यमानात् तथा सिन्धोर्देवासुरवरूथपै: । यदा सुधा न जायेत निर्ममन्थाजित: स्वयम् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

mathyamānāt tathā sindhor devāsura-varūtha-paiḥ yadā sudhā na jāyeta nirmamanthājitaḥ svayam

Translation

Apabila amerta tidak juga terbit dari Lautan Susu walaupun telah dikacau dengan usaha besar oleh pemimpin terbaik dewa dan asura, maka Ajita—Tuhan Yang Maha Agung—sendiri mula mengacau lautan itu.

Synonyms

• mathyamānāt: from (the ocean) being churned
• mathyamānāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √math (धातु) → mathyamāna (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्), पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; ‘सिन्धोः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• tathā: then/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• sindhoḥ: of the ocean
• sindhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sindhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• deva-asura-varūtha-paiḥ: by the leaders of the gods and demons
• deva-asura-varūtha-paiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक) + varūthapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• yadā: when
• yadā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• sudhā: nectar (amṛta)
• sudhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sudhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• jāyeta: would arise/be produced
• jāyeta: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jan (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• nirmamantha: churned thoroughly
• nirmamantha: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √manth (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: निर्

• ajitaḥ: Ajita (the unconquered Lord)
• ajitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ajita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphatic/reflexive adverb)

Characters & Entities

• Ajita (Lord Vishnu)
• Devas
• Asuras

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about why amrita did not appear during the churning?

This verse indicates that despite the devas and asuras churning the ocean, nectar did not manifest until Ajita (the Lord) personally took charge—showing that ultimate results depend on the Supreme Lord’s will.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe Ajita personally churning the ocean?

To emphasize that even massive collective effort by powerful beings can fail without divine sanction, and that the Lord directly intervenes to fulfill His cosmic purpose.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Put sincere effort, but remember outcomes are not fully in our control; cultivate devotion and humility, seeking the Lord’s guidance when results do not come despite hard work.