Shloka 31

Durvasa’s Curse, the Churning of the Ocean, and Lakshmi’s Manifestation

Chapter 4

Devanagari script

मंथानं मंदरं कृत्वा नेत्रं कृत्वा च वासुकिम् । मथ्यताममृतं देवाः सहाये मय्यवस्थिते

Transliteration

maṃthānaṃ maṃdaraṃ kṛtvā netraṃ kṛtvā ca vāsukim | mathyatāmamṛtaṃ devāḥ sahāye mayyavasthite

Translation

మందరాన్ని మథనదండంగా, వాసుకిని తాడుగా చేసుకొని, ఓ దేవులారా, అమృతాన్ని మథించండి; నేను ఇక్కడ సహాయకుడిగా నిలిచి ఉంటాను.

Word by Word

• मन्थानम्: the churning-stick
• मन्थानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• मन्दरम्: Mandara (mountain)
• मन्दरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): 'having made'

• नेत्रम्: the rope/cord (lit. leader)
• नेत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वासुकिम्: Vāsuki (serpent)
• वासुकिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुकि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• मथ्यताम्: let (it) be churned
• मथ्यताम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मथ् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ/Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive): 'let it be churned'

• अमृतम्: nectar (amṛta)
• अमृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र कर्म (object)

• देवाः: O gods
• देवाः: Sambodhana/Address (Vocative sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे (addressing)

• सहाये: when (I am) as helper / with help present
• सहाये: Adhikaraṇa (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; 'सहाये (स्थिते)'—locative absolute with following participle

• मयि: in me / when I
• मयि: Adhikaraṇa (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, त्रिलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• अवस्थिते: being present/standing
• अवस्थिते: Adhikaraṇa (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute): 'when (I) am stationed/present'

Speaker

Vishnu (as the divine helper in the Samudra-manthana episode)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: mountain

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: मथ्यताममृतम् = मथ्यताम् + अमृतम्; मय्यवस्थिते = मयि + अवस्थिते (य्-आदेश); सहाये मयि अवस्थिते—सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute) construction.

Characters & Entities

• Mandara
• Vasuki
• Devas
• Amrita
• Vishnu

FAQs

What mythic event is referenced in this verse?

It refers to the Samudra-manthana (churning of the ocean), where Mandara is used as the churning rod and Vāsuki as the rope to obtain amṛta (nectar of immortality).

What does “sahāye mayy avasthite” imply theologically?

It emphasizes divine support: the gods act, but success depends on the sustaining presence and assistance of Viṣṇu, aligning with a Vaishnava view of grace enabling cosmic order.

What ethical or practical lesson can be drawn from the verse?

Major undertakings require the right instruments (means), cooperation (shared effort), and dependable support (guidance/help), suggesting humility and reliance on higher principles rather than mere self-power.