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Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 21

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

दैत्यान्गृहीतकलसो वञ्चयन्नुपसञ्चरै: । दूरस्थान् पाययामास जरामृत्युहरां सुधाम् ॥ २१ ॥

daityān gṛhīta-kalaso vañcayann upasañcaraiḥ dūra-sthān pāyayām āsa jarā-mṛtyu-harāṁ sudhām

Com o vaso de amṛta nas mãos, Ela primeiro se aproximou dos daityas, satisfez-lhes com palavras doces e assim os enganou, privando-os de sua parte. Depois fez os devas, sentados ao longe, beberem o néctar que remove doença, velhice e morte.

दैत्यान्the Daityas (demons)
दैत्यान्:
कर्म (Karma/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootदैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्
गृहीत-कलसःholding the pitcher
गृहीत-कलसः:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
TypeAdjective
Rootगृहीत (√ग्रह् क्त-प्रत्यय) + कलस (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः (यस्य कलसः गृहीतः)
वञ्चयन्deceiving
वञ्चयन्:
कर्ता-विशेषणम् (Participial qualifier of subject)
TypeVerb
Rootवञ्च् (धातु)
Formशतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; ‘deceiving’
उपसञ्चरैःby (her) attendants/approaches
उपसञ्चरैः:
करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootउप + सञ्चर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘by means of attendants/approaches’
दूर-स्थान्those standing far away
दूर-स्थान्:
विशेषणम् (Adjectival to कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootदूर + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (दूरे स्थिताः)
पाययाम्made (them) drink
पाययाम्:
क्रिया (Main verb component)
TypeVerb
Rootपा (धातु)
Formणिच्-प्रयोगः (Causative ‘to make drink’); periphrastic with ‘आस’; कृदन्त-आमन्तम् (causative base)
आसdid/was (auxiliary)
आस:
क्रिया (Auxiliary)
TypeVerb
Rootअस् (धातु)
Formलिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; सहायक-क्रिया
जरा-मृत्यु-हराम्removing old age and death
जरा-मृत्यु-हराम्:
विशेषणम् (Adjectival to सुधाम्)
TypeAdjective
Rootजरा + मृत्यु + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (जरां मृत्युञ्च हरति इति)
सुधाम्nectar
सुधाम्:
कर्म (Karma/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootसुधा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

Mohinī-mūrti, the Personality of Godhead, gave the demigods seats at a distance. Then She approached the demons and spoke with them very graciously, so that they thought themselves very fortunate to talk with Her. Since Mohinī-mūrti had seated the demigods at a distant place, the demons thought that the demigods would get only a little of the nectar and that Mohinī-mūrti was so pleased with the demons that She would give the demons all the nectar. The words vañcayann upasañcaraiḥ indicate that the Lord’s whole policy was to cheat the demons simply by speaking sweet words. The Lord’s intention was to distribute the nectar only to the demigods.

M
Mohinī-mūrti
D
Daityas
D
Devas (demigods)

FAQs

This verse says Mohinī-mūrti held the nectar-pot, deceived the Daityas through captivating approach, and ensured the devas—seated apart—drank the nectar that removes old age and death.

In the narrative of Samudra Manthana, the Daityas tried to claim the nectar; the Lord, as Mohinī, used divine strategy to protect the rightful order and deliver the amṛta to the devas.

It teaches discernment: spiritual benefit (amṛta) should be received through dharmic guidance, and one should not be misled by mere charm or entitlement when pursuing what is truly life-giving.