Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 20

Kūrma Supports Mandara; Hālahala Appears; Śiva Becomes Nīlakaṇṭha

Devanagari script

विलोक्य तं देववरं त्रिलोक्या भवाय देव्याभिमतं मुनीनाम् । आसीनमद्रावपवर्गहेतो- स्तपो जुषाणं स्तुतिभि: प्रणेमु: ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

vilokya taṁ deva-varaṁ tri-lokyā bhavāya devyābhimataṁ munīnām āsīnam adrāv apavarga-hetos tapo juṣāṇaṁ stutibhiḥ praṇemuḥ

Translation

رأى الآلهةُ الإلهَ الأعظم مهاديڤا جالسًا على قمة جبل كايلاسا مع بهافاني، لخير العوالم الثلاثة وبركتها. وكان الحكماءُ الراغبون في الموكشا يعبدونه؛ فقدم الآلهةُ له السجودَ والصلواتِ والتسابيح بكل إجلال.

Synonyms

• vilokya: having seen
• vilokya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√lok (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from vi√lok; indeclinable verbal form (क्रियाविशेषण)

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• deva-varam: best of the gods
• deva-varam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘देवानां वरः’

• tri-lokyāḥ: of the three worlds
• tri-lokyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri + lokī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; द्विगु-समास: ‘त्रयाणां लोकानां (समाहारः)’

• bhavāya: for Bhava (Śiva)
• bhavāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• devyā-abhimatam: desired by the goddess
• devyā-abhimatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: devī + abhimata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘देव्याः अभिमतम्’

• munīnām: of the sages
• munīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• āsīnam: sitting
• āsīnam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ās (धातु) + īna (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Present participle (शतृ/वर्तमान-कृदन्त) in accusative singular masculine; ‘sitting’

• adrāu: on the mountain
• adrāu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• apavarga-hetoḥ: of the cause of liberation
• apavarga-hetoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apavarga + hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘अपवर्गस्य हेतुः’

• tapaḥ: austerity
• tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• juṣāṇam: practising
• juṣāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √juṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present participle Ātmanepada (शानच्/वर्तमान-कृदन्त), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular, Masculine; ‘enjoying/practising’

• stutibhiḥ: with hymns
• stutibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stuti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• praṇemuḥ: they bowed down
• praṇemuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√nam (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada

Characters & Entities

• Lord Śiva (Bhava)
• Devī Pārvatī

FAQs

Why do the demigods offer prayers to Lord Shiva in Bhagavatam Canto 8 Chapter 7?

Because they recognize Śiva as the exalted deva revered across the three worlds, dear to sages and Devī, and they approach him with stuti and pranāma while he is engaged in tapasya for liberation.

What does 'apavarga-hetoḥ' mean in this Srimad Bhagavatam verse?

'Apavarga-hetoḥ' means “for the purpose of liberation (mokṣa),” indicating that Lord Śiva is absorbed in austerity aimed at spiritual freedom.

How can this verse be applied in modern devotional life?

It teaches respectful approach to saintly and divine personalities—seeking shelter with humility, offering sincere prayers, and valuing tapasya (disciplined spiritual practice) as a path toward inner freedom.