Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 16

Gajendra’s Prayers and the Appearance of Lord Hari

Gajendra-stuti and Hari-darśana

Devanagari script

गुणारणिच्छन्नचिदुष्मपाय तत्क्षोभविस्फूर्जितमानसाय । नैष्कर्म्यभावेन विवर्जितागम- स्वयंप्रकाशाय नमस्करोमि ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

guṇāraṇi-cchanna-cid-uṣmapāya tat-kṣobha-visphūrjita-mānasāya naiṣkarmya-bhāvena vivarjitāgama- svayaṁ-prakāśāya namas karomi

Translation

My Lord, as the fire in araṇi wood is covered, You and Your unlimited knowledge are covered by the material modes of nature. Your mind, however, is not attentive to the activities of the modes of nature. Those who are advanced in spiritual knowledge are not subject to the regulative principles directed in the Vedic literatures. Because such advanced souls are transcendental, You personally appear in their pure minds. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

Synonyms

• गुणारणिच्छन्नचिदुष्मपाय: to him whose heat of consciousness is covered by the fire-sticks of the guṇas
• गुणारणिच्छन्नचिदुष्मपाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुणारणिच्छन्नचिदुष्मप (प्रातिपदिक; गुण + अरणि + छन्न + चित् + उष्म + प)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (गुण-अरणिभिः छन्नः चित्-उष्मः यस्मिन् सः)

• तत्क्षोभविस्फूर्जितमानसाय: to him whose mind is stirred by that agitation
• तत्क्षोभविस्फूर्जितमानसाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्क्षोभविस्फूर्जितमानस (प्रातिपदिक; तत् + क्षोभ + विस्फूर्जित + मानस)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (तत्-क्षोभेण विस्फूर्जितं मानसः यस्य)

• नैष्कर्म्यभावेन: by the state of actionlessness (non-doership)
• नैष्कर्म्यभावेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैष्कर्म्यभाव (प्रातिपदिक; नैष्कर्म्य + भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (नैष्कर्म्यस्य भावः)

• विवर्जितागम: to him who is free from (mere) scriptural/ritual injunctions
• विवर्जितागम: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विवर्जितागम (प्रातिपदिक; वि + वर्जित + आगम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (वर्ज्/वृज् धातु) + उपसर्ग; तत्पुरुष (आगमेन विवर्जितः/आगमात् विवर्जितः)

• स्वयम्: by oneself
• स्वयम्: विशेषण (Adverbial/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/रीति-अव्यय (adverb: by oneself)

• प्रकाशाय: to the luminous one
• प्रकाशाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: सम्बोधन/उद्गार (Interjection/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• करोमि: I make / I offer
• करोमि: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Purport

In Bhagavad-gītā (10.11) it is said:

Characters & Entities

• Gajendra
• Lord Vishnu (Narayana)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Lord being self-effulgent (svayaṁprakāśa)?

This verse praises the Lord as svayaṁprakāśa—self-manifest and self-luminous—known not merely by external rites, but revealed when consciousness is purified and devotion becomes free from fruitive motives.

Why does Gajendra emphasize naiṣkarmya (freedom from karma) in his prayer?

Gajendra highlights that the Lord is ultimately approached through naiṣkarmya—devotion and surrender not driven by worldly gain—because such actionless, motive-free bhakti transcends the limitations of ritualistic, reward-oriented religion.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Shift spiritual practice from “results-based” religion to sincere inner transformation—cultivate remembrance of God, reduce ego-driven goals, and let devotion become an offering rather than a transaction.