Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.6.17
एक एवेश्वरस्तस्मिन्सुरकार्ये सुरेश्वर: ।
विहर्तुकामस्तानाह समुद्रोन्मथनादिभि: ॥ १७ ॥
eka eveśvaras tasmin
[eka eveshvaras tasmin]
sura-kārye sureśvaraḥ
[sura-kaarye sureshvarah]
vihartu-kāmas tān āha
[vihartu-kaamas taan aaha]
samudronmathanādibhiḥ
[samudronmathanaadibhih]
Word-for-word
ekaḥ
—
alone
eva
—
indeed
īśvaraḥ
—
the Supreme Personality of Godhead
tasmin
—
in that
sura-kārye
—
the activities of the demigods
sura-īśvaraḥ
—
the Lord of the demigods, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
vihartu
—
to enjoy pastimes
kāmaḥ
—
desiring
tān
—
unto the demigods
āha
—
said
samudra-unmathana-ādibhiḥ
—
by activities of churning the ocean.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
eka eveśvaras tasmin
ekaḥ
alone
eva
indeed
īśvaraḥ
the Supreme Personality of Godhead
tasmin
in that
sura-kārye sureśvaraḥ
sura-kārye
the activities of the demigods
sura-īśvaraḥ
the Lord of the demigods, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
vihartu-kāmas tān āha
vihartu
to enjoy pastimes
kāmaḥ
desiring
tān
unto the demigods
āha
said
samudronmathanādibhiḥ
samudra-unmathana-ādibhiḥ
by activities of churning the ocean.
Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of the demigods, was capable of performing the activities of the demigods by Himself, He wanted to enjoy pastimes in churning the ocean. Therefore He spoke as follows.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Although the Supreme Lord, the master of the devatās, was capable of doing the activities of the devatās, he wanted to enjoy pastimes of churning the ocean, and therefore spoke as follows.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The Lord could have done everything Himself, but He chose to enjoy the līlā of churning together with the demigods. He gives us roles in His work not because He needs them, but because participation is the joy He shares.
Reflection Questions
- Do I serve as if the Lord needs me, or as if He is graciously letting me participate?
- What 'churning' is the Lord inviting me into that I have been treating as a burden?
My note
Source: vedabase.io