Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 5

Mohinī-mūrti Distributes Amṛta; Rāhu is Severed; Results Differ by Shelter

Devanagari script

नूनं त्वं विधिना सुभ्रू: प्रेषितासि शरीरिणाम् । सर्वेन्द्रियमन:प्रीतिं विधातुं सघृणेन किम् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

nūnaṁ tvaṁ vidhinā subhrūḥ preṣitāsi śarīriṇām sarvendriya-manaḥ-prītiṁ vidhātuṁ saghṛṇena kim

Translation

噢，秀眉佳人，必是天命之主以无因慈悲遣你而来，为使一切有身众生的诸根与心意得欢喜；难道不是如此吗？

Synonyms

• नूनम्: surely
• नूनम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नूनम् (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (certainly)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विधिना: by destiny / by Brahmā
• विधिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘by fate/ordinance (Brahmā)’

• सुभ्रूः: O fair-browed lady
• सुभ्रूः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुभ्रू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• प्रेषिता: sent
• प्रेषिता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-इष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate with असि

• असि: are
• असि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• शरीरिणाम्: of embodied beings
• शरीरिणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीरिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• सर्व-इन्द्रिय-मनः-प्रीतिम्: pleasure of all senses and the mind
• सर्व-इन्द्रिय-मनः-प्रीतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—सर्वेषाम् इन्द्रियाणाम् मनसश्च प्रीतिः (pleasure of all senses and mind)

• विधातुम्: to bestow / to create
• विधातुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्यय (Infinitive/तुमन्त), ‘to arrange/produce’

• स-घृणेन: by the compassionate one
• स-घृणेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय-उपसर्ग/सह) + घृण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—घृणया सह (with compassion/merciful)

• किम्: why / for what purpose
• किम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभूतं किम्; प्रश्नार्थक-निपात (why?/what for?)

Characters & Entities

• Mohinī-mūrti
• Viṣṇu
• Daityas (Asuras)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Mohinī-mūrti and illusion (māyā)?

This verse shows how the Lord’s Mohinī form captivates the senses and mind of embodied beings, illustrating how divine māyā can bewilder those driven by desire.

Why did the demons say this to Mohinī?

After Mohinī appeared to distribute the nectar, the demons—enchanted by her beauty—praised her as destiny’s arrangement, yet doubted her ability to “do what they wanted” because she seemed compassionate.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Sense-attraction can override judgment; this verse encourages vigilance and devotion-centered discernment rather than being led by fascination and desire.