Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 47

Lord Śiva Bewildered by Mohinī

Viṣṇu’s Yoga-māyā and the Limits of Ascetic Power

Devanagari script

असदविषयमङ्‍‍घ्रिं भावगम्यं प्रपन्ना- नमृतममरवर्यानाशयत् सिन्धुमथ्यम् । कपटयुवतिवेषो मोहयन्य: सुरारीं- स्तमहमुपसृतानां कामपूरं नतोऽस्मि ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

asad-aviṣayam aṅghriṁ bhāva-gamyaṁ prapannān amṛtam amara-varyān āśayat sindhu-mathyam kapaṭa-yuvati-veṣo mohayan yaḥ surārīṁs tam aham upasṛtānāṁ kāma-pūraṁ nato ’smi

Translation

至上人格神化作妙龄女子，使阿修罗迷惑；并将乳海搅拌所生的甘露分赐给祂的奉献者——诸天神。向那位主致敬：祂的莲足超越虚妄境界，唯以虔爱之情可达；凡来归依者，祂皆满其所愿。

Synonyms

• asad-aviṣayam: not an object for the wicked
• asad-aviṣayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asad (प्रातिपदिक) + aviṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नञ्/निषेधार्थ: असद्-विषयः = असतां विषयः न), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of aṅghrim)

• aṅghrim: (his) foot
• aṅghrim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅghri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• bhāva-gamyam: attainable through devotion (bhāva)
• bhāva-gamyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक) + gamya (प्रातिपदिक from √gam)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (करण/उपायार्थ: भावेन गम्यः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of aṅghrim)

• prapannān: those who have surrendered
• prapannān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prapanna (प्रातिपदिक from pra-√pad)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used as noun), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘शरणागत’

• amṛtam: nectar/immortality
• amṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• amara-varyān: the best of the immortals (gods)
• amara-varyān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amara (प्रातिपदिक) + varya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (अमरवर्याः = श्रेष्ठा अमराः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• āśayat: he made (them) sit/placed
• āśayat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√śī (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: आ + शी (to cause to lie/seat; to place)

• sindhu-mathyam: produced by churning the ocean
• sindhu-mathyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sindhu (प्रातिपदिक) + mathya (प्रातिपदिक from √math)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सिन्धोः मथ्यम् = churnable/churned of the ocean), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of amṛtam)

• kapaṭa-yuvati-veṣaḥ: (he) whose guise was a deceptive young woman
• kapaṭa-yuvati-veṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapaṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + yuvati (प्रातिपदिक) + veṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कपटेन युवति-वेṣः = deceptive female guise), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• mohayan: deluding
• mohayan: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muh (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; धातु: मुह् (to delude)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• surārīn: the enemies of the gods (asuras)
• surārīn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + ari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: सुराणाम् अरयः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• upasṛtānām: of those who have approached
• upasṛtānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upa-√sṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used as noun), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; उपसृत = approached

• kāma-pūram: the fulfiller of desires
• kāma-pūram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + pūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/उपपद-तत्पुरुष: कामान् पूरयति इति), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• nataḥ: bowed down
• nataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nam (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘नतः’ = bowed

• asmi: I am
• asmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: अस् (to be)

Purport

The instruction of this narration concerning the churning of the Milk Ocean is clearly manifested by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although He is equal to everyone, because of natural affection He favors His devotees. The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.29) :

Characters & Entities

• Lord Śiva
• Mohinī-mūrti (Lord Viṣṇu)
• Devas (Amarāḥ)
• Asuras (Sura-arayaḥ)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about reaching God beyond the senses?

This verse states that the Lord’s feet are beyond material sense-objects (asad-aviṣaya) but can be attained through bhāva—pure devotional devotion—showing bhakti as the true means of approach.

Why does Lord Shiva offer prayers here to Mohini-murti (Vishnu)?

In the narrative of Canto 8, Chapter 12, Śiva witnesses Viṣṇu’s Mohinī-līlā and glorifies Him as the giver of amṛta to the devas and the bewilderer of the asuras, acknowledging Viṣṇu’s supreme, inconceivable power.

How can this shloka be applied in modern life?

It teaches that lasting fulfillment comes by approaching the Lord through sincere surrender and devotion rather than chasing sense-pleasures, trusting that the Lord rightly fulfills the needs of those who take shelter.