Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 17

The Lord Appears to the Devas and Instructs the Truce; Mandara Is Brought for Churning

Devanagari script

एक एवेश्वरस्तस्मिन्सुरकार्ये सुरेश्वर: । विहर्तुकामस्तानाह समुद्रोन्मथनादिभि: ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

eka eveśvaras tasmin sura-kārye sureśvaraḥ vihartu-kāmas tān āha samudronmathanādibhiḥ

Translation

แม้พระผู้เป็นเจ้าสูงสุด ผู้เป็นนายแห่งเทวะ จะทรงสามารถทำกิจของเทวะนั้นได้เพียงลำพัง แต่พระองค์ทรงประสงค์จะเสวยลีลาแห่งการกวนเกษียรสมุทรเป็นต้น จึงตรัสกับหมู่เทวะดังนี้

Synonyms

• एकः: one
• एकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• एव: alone / indeed
• एव: Nipāta (निपात/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphasis)

• ईश्वरः: the Lord
• ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• सुर-कार्ये: in the affair of the gods
• सुर-कार्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सुराणां कार्यम्)

• सुर-ईश्वरः: the Lord of the gods
• सुर-ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सुराणाम् ईश्वरः)

• विहर्तु-कामः: desiring to sport (to act)
• विहर्तु-कामः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-हृ (धातु) + तुमुन् (infinitive) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (विहर्तुं कामः = desirous to play/act)

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• आह: said
• आह: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु; ‘आह’ as perfect of √अह्/√ब्रू usage)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• समुद्र-उन्मथन-आदिभिः: by (means such as) churning the ocean, etc.
• समुद्र-उन्मथन-आदिभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उन्मथन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (समुद्रस्य उन्मथनम्) + ‘आदि’ (etc.)

Characters & Entities

• Īśvara (Supreme Lord)
• Suras (demigods)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about who truly controls the Samudra Manthan?

This verse states that the Supreme Lord alone is the real controller of the entire divine project, even though it appears to be carried out by the demigods.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī emphasize that the Lord was the only īśvara in this undertaking?

To show that the devas’ success does not come merely from their own power or planning; the churning begins and proceeds because the Lord wills it for His līlā and the welfare of the cosmos.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Do your duty sincerely, but remember outcomes are ultimately governed by the Supreme—this cultivates humility, steadiness, and devotion during both success and difficulty.