Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 39
Lakṣmī’s Emergence, Dhanvantari, and the Advent of Mohinī-mūrti
देवा: स्वं भागमर्हन्ति ये तुल्यायासहेतव: । सत्रयाग इवैतस्मिन्नेष धर्म: सनातन: ॥ ३९ ॥ इति स्वान्प्रत्यषेधन्वै दैतेया जातमत्सरा: । दुर्बला: प्रबलान् राजन्गृहीतकलसान् मुहु: ॥ ४० ॥
devāḥ svaṁ bhāgam arhanti ye tulyāyāsa-hetavaḥ satra-yāga ivaitasminn eṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ
一些阿修罗说：“诸天也同样参与了乳海搅拌，付出了同等的劳苦；因此，如同公共祭祀的萨特拉祭（satra-yajña），依永恒之法，他们理当分得甘露的一份。”大王啊，于是较弱的阿修罗屡次阻止那些手持甘露罐的强大阿修罗取饮甘露。
Desiring to take the nectar, those among the demons who were less strong spoke in favor of the demigods. The weaker Daityas naturally pleaded on behalf of the demigods to stop the stronger Daityas from drinking the nectar without sharing it. In this way, disagreement and trouble arose as they forbade one another to drink the nectar.
FAQs
In this verse, the devas state that those who have contributed equally deserve their rightful portion, calling it an eternal dharma—like the fair distribution in a satra-sacrifice.
Because the churning was a joint effort, the devas invoked the timeless rule of dharma: equal labor warrants an equal claim—seeking to prevent conflict over the results.
In families, workplaces, and communities, share results and credit according to genuine contribution—this sustains harmony and reflects sanātana-dharma.