Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 17

Kūrma Supports Mandara; Hālahala Appears; Śiva Becomes Nīlakaṇṭha

Devanagari script

मेघश्याम: कनकपरिधि: कर्णविद्योतविद्यु- न्मूर्ध्नि भ्राजद्विलुलितकच: स्रग्धरो रक्तनेत्र: । जैत्रैर्दोर्भिर्जगदभयदैर्दन्दशूकं गृहीत्वा मथ्नन् मथ्ना प्रतिगिरिरिवाशोभताथो धृताद्रि: ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

megha-śyāmaḥ kanaka-paridhiḥ karṇa-vidyota-vidyun mūrdhni bhrājad-vilulita-kacaḥ srag-dharo rakta-netraḥ jaitrair dorbhir jagad-abhaya-dair dandaśūkaṁ gṛhītvā mathnan mathnā pratigirir ivāśobhatātho dhṛtādriḥ

Translation

Tuhan tampak seperti awan gelap; berpakaian kuning keemasan; subang-Nya berkilau seperti kilat; rambut-Nya terurai di bahu; memakai kalungan bunga dan mata-Nya kemerah-merahan. Dengan lengan-Nya yang gagah dan mulia, pemberi keberanian kepada alam semesta, Dia memegang Vāsuki lalu mula mengacau lautan dengan Gunung Mandara sebagai batang pengacau; ketika itu Dia tampak indah seperti gunung Indranīla.

Synonyms

• megha-śyāmaḥ: dark like a cloud
• megha-śyāmaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: megha (प्रातिपदिक) + śyāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘धृताद्रिः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• kanaka-paridhiḥ: with a golden border/band
• kanaka-paridhiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kanaka (प्रातिपदिक) + paridhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• karṇa-vidyota-vidyun: like lightning flashing at the ears
• karṇa-vidyota-vidyun: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vidyota (प्रातिपदिक) + vidyut (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-रूपेण विशेषण; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘(विद्युत्) …’ इति उपमा-विशेषणम्

• mūrdhni: on (his) head
• mūrdhni: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• bhrājat: shining
• bhrājat: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √bhrāj (धातु) → bhrājat (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), विशेषण; समासे पूर्वपद

• vilulita-kacaḥ: with disheveled hair
• vilulita-kacaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vilulita (कृदन्त; √lul/√lulit) + kaca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• srak-dharaḥ: wearing a garland
• srak-dharaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: srak/sraj (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• rakta-netraḥ: red-eyed
• rakta-netraḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakta (प्रातिपदिक) + netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• jaitraiḥ: victorious
• jaitraiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jaitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘दोर्भिः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• dorbhiḥ: with (his) arms
• dorbhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dor (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• jagat-abhaya-daiḥ: granting fearlessness to the world
• jagat-abhaya-daiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + abhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘दोर्भिः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• dandaśūkam: the serpent
• dandaśūkam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dandaśūka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• gṛhītvā: having seized
• gṛhītvā: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √grah (धातु) → gṛhītvā (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• mathnan: churning
• mathnan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √math (धातु) → mathnan (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत्/कर्तृवाचकः

• mathnā: with the churning-rod
• mathnā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mathnā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• pratigiriḥ: a counter-mountain
• pratigiriḥ: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratigiri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• aśobhata: shone/appeared splendid
• aśobhata: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śubh (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• atho: then/indeed
• atho: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atho (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conj./emphatic particle)

• dhṛta-adriḥ: the mountain-bearer (Vishnu)
• dhṛta-adriḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhṛta (कृदन्त; √dhṛ) + adri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्ता

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Vāsuki

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Shiva’s role in Samudra Manthan?

In this verse, Śukadeva describes Śiva powerfully taking hold of Vāsuki and participating in the churning, appearing radiant and granting fearlessness to the world.

Why did Lord Shiva take Vāsuki during the churning of the ocean?

Śiva seized the serpent used as the churning rope, supporting the devas and asuras in the cosmic task and stabilizing the process with his victorious, protective strength.

Practical application: what does “jagad-abhaya-da” (giver of fearlessness) teach in modern life?

It highlights the devotional ideal of protecting others—steadying a difficult situation and reducing fear through courage, service, and spiritual responsibility.