Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 1

Raivata and Cākṣuṣa Manvantaras; Brahmā’s Prayers at Śvetadvīpa

Prelude to Samudra-manthana

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच राजन्नुदितमेतत् ते हरे: कर्माघनाशनम् । गजेन्द्रमोक्षणं पुण्यं रैवतं त्वन्तरं श‍ृणु ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca rājann uditam etat te hareḥ karmāgha-nāśanam gajendra-mokṣaṇaṁ puṇyaṁ raivataṁ tv antaraṁ śṛṇu

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: O King, I have described to you the pastime of Gajendra-mokṣaṇa, which is most pious to hear. By hearing of such activities of the Lord, one can be freed from all sinful reactions. Now please listen as I describe Raivata Manu.

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Śrī Śuka
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (श्रीमान् शुकः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु; वच्)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Voc/8th), एकवचन

• uditam: spoken/uttered
• uditam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udita (प्रातिपदिक; ud√i + क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here with etat (neut)

• etat: this (account)
• etat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), एकवचन

• te: to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; चतुर्थी (Dat/4th), एकवचन — ‘to you/for you’

• hareḥ: of Hari
• hareḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Gen/6th), एकवचन

• karmāgha-nāśanam: the destroyer of sins (from actions)
• karmāgha-nāśanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karma (प्रातिपदिक) + agha (प्रातिपदिक) + nāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्म + अघ; तथा ‘अघस्य नाशनम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• gajendra-mokṣaṇam: the liberation of Gajendra
• gajendra-mokṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gajendra (प्रातिपदिक) + mokṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘गजेन्द्रस्य मोक्षणम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• puṇyam: holy, meritorious
• puṇyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of gajendra-mokṣaṇam/etat

• raivatam: Raivata (named)
• raivatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raivata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण of antaraṁ (the Raivata period)

• tu: indeed, moreover
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); विरोध/अनुवाद (but/indeed)

• antaram: the manvantara/period
• antaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), एकवचन

• śṛṇu: hear, listen
• śṛṇu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु; श्रु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद; मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit Mahārāja
• Hari (Lord Viṣṇu)
• Gajendra
• Raivata

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the benefit of hearing the Gajendra Moksha story?

This verse states that Lord Hari’s deeds—especially Gajendra’s deliverance—are “aghā-nāśanam,” meaning they destroy sin when heard and remembered with faith.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī address Parīkṣit Mahārāja here and shift to the Raivata Manvantara?

Śukadeva concludes the narration of Gajendra’s liberation and then transitions the discourse to the next historical cycle (Manvantara), introducing Raivata’s period as the upcoming topic.

How can a modern reader apply the teaching of this shloka in daily life?

By regularly hearing and reflecting on Hari-kathā—such as Gajendra Mokṣa—one cultivates devotion and purification, replacing harmful habits with remembrance of the Lord’s saving grace.