Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 30

Bali Liberated, Prahlāda Blessed, and Vāmana Accepted as Universal Protector

Devanagari script

य इदं देवदेवस्य हरेरद्भ‍ुतकर्मण: । अवतारानुचरितं श‍ृण्वन् याति परां गतिम् ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

ya idaṁ deva-devasya harer adbhuta-karmaṇaḥ avatārānucaritaṁ śṛṇvan yāti parāṁ gatim

Translation

One who hears with devotion the wondrous deeds of Hari, the God of gods, and the accounts of His incarnations, surely attains the supreme destination.

Synonyms

• yaḥ: who (he who)
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun (सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• deva-devasya: of the God of gods
• deva-devasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: deva-deva = 'devasya devaḥ' (god of gods)

• hareḥ: of Hari
• hareḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular

• adbhuta-karmaṇaḥ: of (him) whose deeds are wondrous
• adbhuta-karmaṇaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adbhuta + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular; कर्मधारय: adbhutaṁ karma yasya (whose deeds are wondrous)

• avatāra-anucaritam: the narration of the incarnations
• avatāra-anucaritam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avatāra + anucarita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; anu-√car (धातु) + kta)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; तत्पुरुष: avatārāṇām anucaritam (account following the incarnations)

• śṛṇvan: hearing
• śṛṇvan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/वर्तमान-कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative Singular; agreeing with yaḥ

• yāti: goes/attains
• yāti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: Lat (लट्/Present), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• parām: supreme
• parām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; qualifying gatim

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

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vishnu

FAQs

How does the Srimad Bhagavatam describe the benefit of hearing Vishnu’s avatar pastimes?

This verse states that simply by hearing the accounts of Hari’s incarnations and wondrous deeds, one attains the supreme destination (parāṁ gatim).

Who says Bhagavatam 8.23.30 and to whom is it spoken?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this verse while narrating the Bhagavatam to King Parīkṣit, concluding the section by glorifying the fruit of hearing (śravaṇa).

What is a practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Make regular time to hear or study Bhagavatam narrations—especially the Lord’s avatāra-kathā—as a steady devotional practice that purifies consciousness and deepens spiritual direction.