Shloka 168

Agastya Arghya Rite and the Gaurī & Sārasvata Vows

with Origin Narratives and Merit Statements

Devanagari script

लक्ष्म्यर्थं विष्णुना चापि वारिधिर्मथितः पुरा । आज्ञाकरौ भवत्योश्च मा कुरुष्व भयं क्वचित्

Transliteration

lakṣmyarthaṃ viṣṇunā cāpi vāridhirmathitaḥ purā | ājñākarau bhavatyośca mā kuruṣva bhayaṃ kvacit

Translation

లక్ష్మీ కోసం విష్ణువు పూర్వం సముద్రాన్నికూడా మథించాడు. మీరు ఇద్దరూ ఆజ్ఞాపాలకులుగా ఉండండి; ఎప్పుడూ భయపడకండి.

Word by Word

• लक्ष्म्यर्थम्: for (the sake of) Lakṣmī
• लक्ष्म्यर्थम्: प्रयोजन/हेतु (प्रयोजनम्) / Purpose
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लक्ष्म्याः अर्थः = लक्ष्म्यर्थः) — Neuter, Accusative singular; Genitive Tatpurusha compound

• विष्णुना: by Viṣṇu
• विष्णुना: करण (करणम्) / Instrument
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन — Masculine, Instrumental singular

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (सम्बन्ध) / Conjunction
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction) — Coordinating particle

• अपि: also
• अपि: निपात (सम्बन्ध) / Particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अर्थः ‘also/even’ — Particle

• वारिधिः: the ocean
• वारिधिः: कर्ता (कर्तृ) / Subject
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारिधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative singular

• मथितः: was churned
• मथितः: कर्मणि-क्रिया (कर्मणि प्रयोग) / Passive predicate
• Type: Verb
• Root: मथ् (धातु) → मथित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थः — Past passive participle (kta), Masculine nominative singular

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: अधिकरण (कालाधिकरणम्) / Time-locative
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time) — Temporal adverb

• आज्ञाकरौ: obedient (ones), command-doers
• आज्ञाकरौ: कर्ता (कर्तृ) / Subject (predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आज्ञायाः करः = आज्ञाकरः) — Masculine, Nominative dual; Genitive Tatpurusha compound

• भवत्योः: of you two
• भवत्योः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी) / Genitive relation
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवती (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम-प्रयोग)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन — Feminine, Genitive dual (of you two ladies)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (सम्बन्ध) / Conjunction
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction) — Coordinating particle

• मा: do not
• मा: निषेध (सम्बन्ध) / Prohibition
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक निपात; लोट्/विधिलिङ्-आदेशे निषेधः — Prohibitive particle (don’t)

• कुरुष्व: do / make
• कुरुष्व: क्रिया (आज्ञा) / Verb (command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद — Imperative, 2nd person singular, Parasmaipada

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: कर्म (कर्म) / Object
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative singular

• क्वचित्: at any time / anywhere
• क्वचित्: अधिकरण (देश/काल) / Locative circumstance
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (indefinite adverb) — Indefinite adverb ‘ever/anywhere’

Speaker

Unspecified (context-dependent narrator/teacher voice within the Adhyaya)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: चापि = च + अपि; वारिधिर्मथितः = वारिधिः + मथितः; भवत्योश्च = भवत्योः + च

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmī
• Viṣṇu
• Vāridhi (Ocean)

FAQs

What episode is referenced by the churning of the ocean in this verse?

It alludes to Samudra-manthana (the churning of the cosmic ocean), where Lakṣmī emerges; the verse uses it as a reminder of Viṣṇu’s supreme agency and purpose.

How does this verse emphasize a Vaishnava theological message?

By centering Viṣṇu as the one who accomplishes cosmic acts (like churning the ocean) for dharmic ends, it frames devotion and compliance with His will as spiritually stabilizing.

What is the ethical or practical instruction conveyed here?

It teaches fearless steadiness grounded in duty: become ‘ājñā-kara’ (one who carries out rightful command) and abandon anxiety or fear.