Shloka 16

Preparations for the Churning of the Ocean

Prelude to Samudra Manthana

Devanagari script

विष्णुं भवोदधेः पोतं वनमालाविभूषितम् । श्रीवत्सकौस्तुभोरस्कमानंदाश्रुपरिप्लुताः

Transliteration

viṣṇuṃ bhavodadheḥ potaṃ vanamālāvibhūṣitam | śrīvatsakaustubhoraskamānaṃdāśrupariplutāḥ

Translation

భవసాగరాన్ని దాటించు నావాస్వరూపుడైన విష్ణువును, వనమాలతో అలంకృతుడై, వక్షస్థలమున శ్రీवत్స-కౌస్తుభమణి ధరించినవాడిగా చూచి వారు ఆనందాశ్రువులతో తడిసిరి।

Word by Word

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भवोदधेः: of the ocean of worldly existence
• भवोदधेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक) + उदधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भवः एव उदधिः)

• पोतम्: boat
• पोतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पोत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वनमालाविभूषितम्: adorned with a forest-garland
• वनमालाविभूषितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वनमाला (प्रातिपदिक) + विभूषित (कृदन्त, √भूष् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वनमालया विभूषितः)

• श्रीवत्सकौस्तुभोरस्कम्: having Śrīvatsa and Kaustubha on his chest
• श्रीवत्सकौस्तुभोरस्कम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीवत्स (प्रातिपदिक) + कौस्तुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + उरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + क (तद्धित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (श्रीवत्स-कौस्तुभौ यस्य उरसि/उरःस्थे)

• आनंदाश्रुपरिप्लुताः: overwhelmed with tears of joy
• आनंदाश्रुपरिप्लुताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + अश्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + परि+प्लुत (कृदन्त, √प्लु धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (आनन्दाश्रुभिः परिप्लुताः = overwhelmed/filled with tears of joy)

Speaker

Narrative voice (contextual speaker not specified in the provided excerpt)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu is the boat that carries beings across saṃsāra; blissful tears mark the softening of ego into surrender.

Application: In distress, practice refuge: repeat a Viṣṇu-name, visualize the ‘boat’ metaphor, and act with steadiness—let emotion become devotion rather than despair.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Viṣṇu stands radiant, vanamālā cascading like a living forest over His chest where Śrīvatsa glows and the Kaustubha gem burns like a small sun. Before Him, the devas’ faces melt into devotion—eyes brimming, tears catching the light as if each drop were a pearl of liberation.","primary_figures":["Viṣṇu (with vanamālā, Śrīvatsa, Kaustubha)","Devas weeping in bliss"],"setting":"Celestial threshold that visually hints at a vast cosmic ocean below—waves of cloud and mist like saṃsāra","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["forest green","sun-gold","deep indigo","lotus pink","pearl silver"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Viṣṇu with thick gold leaf halo, vanamālā rendered as layered green-gold garlands, Śrīvatsa mark highlighted, Kaustubha as a large gem with embossed shine; devas below with tearful eyes, pearl-like drops, ornate arch and rich crimson backdrop, gold embossing on jewelry and garment borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: poetic scene with misty ‘ocean of becoming’ suggested by layered cloud-waves, Viṣṇu calm and luminous, garland painted with fine botanical detail, devas in soft pastels wiping tears, delicate highlights on Kaustubha, serene Himalayan-like sky gradients.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized vanamālā as rhythmic leaf patterns, Kaustubha as a bright circular jewel, devas with expressive eyes and visible tear lines, warm yellow-red background fields, temple mural symmetry.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central Viṣṇu framed by lotus borders; below, a stylized wave-band representing bhava-sāgara; tears as tiny white pearls; intricate floral filigree, deep blue ground with gold accents, devotional textile symmetry."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["soft tanpura drone","distant conch","gentle wind","silence","faint water-like ambience"]}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: भव + उदधेः → भवोदधेः (सवर्णदीर्घ). श्रीवत्स + कौस्तुभ + उरस्कम् → श्रीवत्सकौस्तुभोरस्कम् (समास-संयोग; उरस् + क → उरस्क).

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shrivatsa
• Kaustubha

FAQs

What does it mean that Viṣṇu is the “boat” (pota) in the ocean of bhava?

It presents Viṣṇu as the saving refuge who carries devotees across saṃsāra (the cycle of birth and death), emphasizing surrender and divine grace.

Why are Śrīvatsa and Kaustubha mentioned in this verse?

They are classic identifying emblems of Viṣṇu: Śrīvatsa signifies auspiciousness and Śrī (Lakṣmī), and Kaustubha signifies divine splendor—together marking the vision as unmistakably Nārāyaṇa.

What spiritual mood is highlighted by “tears of bliss”?

It depicts sāttvika-bhāvas—spontaneous devotional emotions—showing that true encounter with the divine naturally culminates in overwhelming joy and devotion.