Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 12

Kūrma Supports Mandara; Hālahala Appears; Śiva Becomes Nīlakaṇṭha

Devanagari script

उपर्यगेन्द्रं गिरिराडिवान्य आक्रम्य हस्तेन सहस्रबाहु: । तस्थौ दिवि ब्रह्मभवेन्द्रमुख्यै- रभिष्टुवद्भ‍ि: सुमनोऽभिवृष्ट: ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

upary agendraṁ giri-rāḍ ivānya ākramya hastena sahasra-bāhuḥ tasthau divi brahma-bhavendra-mukhyair abhiṣṭuvadbhiḥ sumano-’bhivṛṣṭaḥ

Translation

随后，主以千手之相显现在曼陀罗山顶，宛如另一座巍峨大山，并以一手扶持曼陀罗山。在上界，梵天、湿婆与天帝因陀罗等诸神赞颂祂，并向祂洒下花雨。

Synonyms

• उपरि: above
• उपरि: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/preposition)

• अगेन्द्रम्: the king of mountains (Mandara)
• अगेन्द्रम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—अगानाम् इन्द्रः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• गिरि-राट्: the mountain-king
• गिरि-राट्: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि + राज्/राट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—गिरिः एव राट् (mountain-king)

• इव: like
• इव: उपमानसूचक (Simile marker/उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (upamā particle)

• अन्यः: another (one)
• अन्यः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आक्रम्य: having stepped/pressed upon
• आक्रम्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• हस्तेन: with (his) hand
• हस्तेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• सहस्र-बाहुः: the thousand-armed one
• सहस्र-बाहुः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्यान्ते बाहवः सहस्रं (one who has a thousand arms)

• तस्थौ: stood
• तस्थौ: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दिवि: in the sky
• दिवि: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative, 7th), एकवचन

• ब्रह्म-भव-इन्द्र-मुख्यैः: by the chief ones—Brahmā, Bhava (Śiva), Indra, etc.
• ब्रह्म-भव-इन्द्र-मुख्यैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + भव + इन्द्र + मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः—ब्रह्मा च भवः (शिवः) च इन्द्रः च (तेषां) मुख्याः

• अभिष्टुवद्भिः: by those praising
• अभिष्टुवद्भिः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√स्तु (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘praising’

• सुमनः-अभिवृष्टः: showered with flowers
• सुमनः-अभिवृष्टः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुमनस् + अभि-√वृष् (कृदन्त; √वृष् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle) ‘अभिवृष्ट’; समासः—सुमनसा (पुष्पैः) अभिवृष्टः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

Purport

To balance Mandara Mountain while it was being pulled from both sides, the Lord Himself appeared on its summit like another great mountain. Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and King Indra then expanded themselves and showered flowers on the Lord.

Characters & Entities

• Supreme Lord (Viṣṇu)
• Mandara Mountain
• Brahmā
• Śiva (Bhava)
• Indra

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Vishnu supporting Mandara Mountain?

In this verse (8.7.12), Lord Viṣṇu, described as thousand-armed, rises above Mandara and firmly holds/presses it with His hand, showing that the churning succeeds only by His direct support.

Why did Brahma, Shiva, and Indra praise Lord Vishnu during Samudra Manthan?

Because Viṣṇu’s intervention stabilized Mandara Mountain and protected the entire endeavor; seeing His effortless supremacy, the chief devas glorified Him and honored Him with showers of flowers.

How can this verse be applied in modern life?

It teaches that great efforts become fruitful when grounded in divine shelter—do your duty sincerely, but rely on God’s support rather than pride in personal strength.