Shloka 14

Lakṣmī’s Emergence, Dhanvantari, and the Advent of Mohinī-mūrti

Devanagari script

ततोऽभिषिषिचुर्देवीं श्रियं पद्मकरां सतीम् । दिगिभा: पूर्णकलशै: सूक्तवाक्यैर्द्विजेरितै: ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

tato ’bhiṣiṣicur devīṁ śriyaṁ padma-karāṁ satīm digibhāḥ pūrṇa-kalaśaiḥ sūkta-vākyair dvijeritaiḥ

Translation

ततः दिग्गजाः पूर्णकलशैर्गङ्गाजलैः श्रियं पद्मकरां सतीम् अभिषिषिचुः। द्विजैः सूक्तवाक्यैर्वेदमन्त्रैश्च सम्यगुदीरितैः सा परमसुन्दरी बभौ, एकनिष्ठा च भगवति नारायणे।

Synonyms

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb); अर्थे—अनन्तरम् (thereafter)

• abhiṣiṣicuḥ: they anointed
• abhiṣiṣicuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√sic (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

• devīm: the goddess
• devīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• śriyam: Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• śriyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• padma-karām: lotus-handed
• padma-karām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa: padma-kara ‘lotus-hand’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचन

• satīm: chaste/virtuous
• satīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचन; गुणवाचक (qualificative)

• digibhāḥ: the directional elephants
• digibhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dig-ibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa: dig ‘direction’ + ibha ‘elephant’ = ‘elephants of the quarters’); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन

• pūrṇa-kalaśaiḥ: with full pitchers
• pūrṇa-kalaśaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + kalaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (Karmadhāraya: ‘full pots’); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr.), बहुवचन

• sūkta-vākyaiḥ: with sacred utterances
• sūkta-vākyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūkta (प्रातिपदिक) + vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa: ‘Vedic-hymn utterances/benedictions’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr.), बहुवचन

• dvija-īritaiḥ: uttered by the twice-born
• dvija-īritaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + īrita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa: ‘uttered by brāhmaṇas’); īrita = √īr (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr.), बहुवचन (agreeing with vākyaiḥ)

Purport

The goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī, is described in this verse as śriyam, which means that she has six opulences — wealth, strength, influence, beauty, knowledge and renunciation. These opulences are received from the goddess of fortune. Lakṣmī is addressed here as devī, the goddess, because in Vaikuṇṭha she supplies all opulences to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His devotees, who in this way enjoy natural life in the Vaikuṇṭha planets. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is pleased with His consort, the goddess of fortune, who carries a lotus flower in her hand. Mother Lakṣmī is described in this verse as satī, the supremely chaste, because she never diverts her attention from the Supreme Personality of Godhead to anyone else.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• Dik-gaja (elephants of the directions)
• Dvija (brāhmaṇas)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the appearance of Goddess Lakshmi during Samudra Manthan?

This verse describes Śrī (Lakṣmī) being honored immediately after her appearance, receiving a ceremonial abhiṣeka performed by the guardian elephants of the directions, accompanied by Vedic benedictions recited by brāhmaṇas.

Why were the elephants of the directions (dikgajas) bathing Lakshmi with full pots?

The dikgajas represent cosmic guardianship and royal auspiciousness; their pouring water from full vessels signifies a universal, prosperous consecration of Śrī as the embodiment of fortune and grace.

Practical application of Lakshmi’s abhiṣeka scene in modern life?

It highlights honoring divine grace with purity, gratitude, and sacred sound—cultivating prosperity through dharma, reverence, and auspicious remembrance rather than mere material striving.