Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 19

Gajendra’s Prayers and the Appearance of Lord Hari

Gajendra-stuti and Hari-darśana

Devanagari script

यं धर्मकामार्थविमुक्तिकामा भजन्त इष्टां गतिमाप्नुवन्ति । किं चाशिषो रात्यपि देहमव्ययं करोतु मेऽदभ्रदयो विमोक्षणम् ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

yaṁ dharma-kāmārtha-vimukti-kāmā bhajanta iṣṭāṁ gatim āpnuvanti kiṁ cāśiṣo rāty api deham avyayaṁ karotu me ’dabhra-dayo vimokṣaṇam

Translation

Wer den Bhagavān verehrt und nach dharma, artha, kāma und mokṣa verlangt, empfängt von Ihm das ersehnte Ziel; was ist dann erst von anderen Gnaden zu sagen? Mitunter schenkt der Herr sogar einen unvergänglichen geistigen Leib. Möge jener grenzenlos barmherzige Bhagavān mir Befreiung aus dieser Gefahr und aus den Fesseln materialistischen Lebens gewähren.

Synonyms

• yam: whom
• yam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; relative pronoun

• dharma: dharma
• dharma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, stem-form in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• kāma: desire/pleasure
• kāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, stem-form in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• artha: wealth/aim
• artha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, stem-form in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• vimukti: liberation
• vimukti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vimukti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, stem-form in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• kāmāḥ: desirers (seekers)
• kāmāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; bahu-tatpurusha ‘dharma-kāma-artha-vimukti-kāmāḥ’ = those desiring (these)

• bhajantaḥ: worshipping
• bhajantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhaj (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; from लट्-प्रयोग sense

• iṣṭām: desired
• iṣṭām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: iṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; PPP from √iṣ)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies ‘gatim’

• gatim: goal/destination
• gatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āpnuvanti: attain
• āpnuvanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √āp (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, Present), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural

• kim: what (need)
• kim: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative particle (प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चय)

• āśiṣaḥ: boons
• āśiṣaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (Vedic/epic form; object of ‘rāti’)

• rāti: gives
• rāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √rā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, Present), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अपि = even/also)

• deham: body
• deham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• avyayam: imperishable
• avyayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies ‘deham’

• karotu: may he do/make
• karotu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्, Imperative/benedictive sense), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• me: for me/to me
• me: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी) or Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; enclitic

• adabhra-dayaḥ: of boundless compassion
• adabhra-dayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adabhra (प्रातिपदिक) + daya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; epithet of the Lord (‘whose compassion is immense’)

• vimokṣaṇam: liberation
• vimokṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vimokṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of ‘karotu’

Purport

Some men within this material world are akāmī, free from material desire, some are ambitious to get more and more material profit, and some desire fulfillment in religious life, economic development, sense gratification and finally liberation.

Characters & Entities

• Gajendra
• Lord Vishnu

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 8.3.19 teach about dharma, artha, kāma, and moksha?

It states that all these goals—religion, prosperity, enjoyment, and even liberation—are attainable by worshiping the Supreme Lord, who grants the devotee the desired destination.

Why does Gajendra mention boons like an imperishable body in this prayer?

Gajendra emphasizes the Lord’s unlimited power to grant even extraordinary benedictions, and then turns that recognition into a plea for the highest need at that moment—deliverance from bondage and danger.

How can this verse be applied in modern life for spiritual progress?

It encourages prioritizing devotion to God as the root practice, trusting that life’s necessities and even ultimate freedom are best fulfilled when one sincerely takes shelter of the Lord.