Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 11

Raivata and Cākṣuṣa Manvantaras; Brahmā’s Prayers at Śvetadvīpa

Prelude to Samudra-manthana

Devanagari script

श्रीराजोवाच यथा भगवता ब्रह्मन्मथित: क्षीरसागर: । यदर्थं वा यतश्चाद्रिं दधाराम्बुचरात्मना ॥ ११ ॥ यथामृतं सुरै: प्राप्तं किं चान्यदभवत् तत: । एतद् भगवत: कर्म वदस्व परमाद्भ‍ुतम् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-rājovāca yathā bhagavatā brahman mathitaḥ kṣīra-sāgaraḥ yad-arthaṁ vā yataś cādriṁ dadhārāmbucarātmanā

Translation

帕利克希特王问道：大婆罗门啊，主为何、又如何搅动乳海？他为何以水中神龟之身托举曼陀罗山？诸天如何得甘露，搅海又生出哪些珍奇？愿你为我详述主那至为奇妙的圣行。

Synonyms

• श्री-राजा: the illustrious king
• श्री-राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + राजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative/1st), एकवचन (sg); कर्मधारयः—श्रीमान् राजा (the illustrious king)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg), परस्मैपद

• यथा: how/as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable) — अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (how/as)

• भगवता: by the Lord
• भगवता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया विभक्ति (instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (sg)

• ब्रह्मन्: O brāhmaṇa (sage)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन (sg)

• मथितः: was churned
• मथितः: Karta (कर्ता—विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मथित (मथ् धातु + क्त, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative/1st), एकवचन (sg); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• क्षीर-सागरः: the Milk Ocean
• क्षीर-सागरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक) + सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative/1st), एकवचन (sg); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—क्षीरस्य सागरः (ocean of milk)

• यत्-अर्थम्: for what purpose
• यत्-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत्—यस्य अर्थः (for what purpose/why)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable particle) — विकल्प (or)

• यतः: from what cause/why
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable) — हेत्वर्थे (ablatival adverb: from which cause/why)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable conjunction) — समुच्चय (and)

• अद्रिम्: the mountain
• अद्रिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (sg)

• दधार: held/supported
• दधार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg), परस्मैपद

• अम्बुचर-आत्मना: by (His) form as a water-dwelling being
• अम्बुचर-आत्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बुचर (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया विभक्ति (instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (sg); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—अम्बुचरस्य आत्मा/स्वरूपम् (by the self/form as a water-dweller)

Characters & Entities

• King Parīkṣit
• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Bhagavān (Supreme Lord)
• Mandara Mountain

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the purpose of churning the Ocean of Milk?

In this verse, King Parīkṣit asks Śukadeva Gosvāmī to explain the Lord’s purpose in churning the Milk Ocean—indicating that the event is a deliberate divine līlā meant to fulfill cosmic aims and benefit the devas and the world.

Why did King Parīkṣit ask this question to Śukadeva Gosvāmī?

Because Śukadeva is narrating divine history, and Parīkṣit—eager to hear the Lord’s wondrous deeds—asks for the inner reasons (purpose and method) behind the Samudra Manthana and the Lord’s support of Mandara.

Practical application: what can devotees learn from the Lord supporting Mandara Mountain?

When a sacred goal feels impossible to sustain, the verse reminds devotees that the Lord can uphold the endeavor from within—encouraging steady effort, prayerful dependence, and trust in divine support.