Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 40

Kūrma Supports Mandara; Hālahala Appears; Śiva Becomes Nīlakaṇṭha

Devanagari script

पुंस: कृपयतो भद्रे सर्वात्मा प्रीयते हरि: । प्रीते हरौ भगवति प्रीयेऽहं सचराचर: । तस्मादिदं गरं भुञ्जे प्रजानां स्वस्तिरस्तु मे ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

puṁsaḥ kṛpayato bhadre sarvātmā prīyate hariḥ prīte harau bhagavati prīye ’haṁ sacarācaraḥ tasmād idaṁ garaṁ bhuñje prajānāṁ svastir astu me

Translation

My gentle Bhavānī, by benevolent deeds done for the good of others, Hari—the Supreme Lord dwelling in all hearts—is greatly pleased. When the Bhagavān Hari is pleased, I too am pleased, along with all beings, moving and unmoving. Therefore I shall drink this poison for the welfare of all creatures; may auspiciousness be mine as well.

Synonyms

• puṁsaḥ: of a person
• puṁsaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pumān (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• kṛpayataḥ: of one who shows compassion
• kṛpayataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛpayat (कृदन्त; √kṛp (धातु))
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमानकृदन्त/शतृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying puṁsaḥ

• bhadre: O auspicious lady
• bhadre: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarvātmā: the Self of all
• sarvātmā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa sense: ‘of all’ + ‘self’ → ‘self of all’

• prīyate: is pleased
• prīyate: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √prī (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); passive/intransitive sense ‘is pleased’

• hariḥ: Hari
• hariḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to sarvātmā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• prīte: when pleased
• prīte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative circumstance)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prīta (कृदन्त; √prī (धातु))
• Form: Past passive participle (भूतकृदन्त/क्त), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); used absolutely: ‘when (he is) pleased’

• harau: in/when Hari
• harau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhagavati: in the Lord
• bhagavati: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); epithet of Hari

• prīye: I am pleased
• prīye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prī (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aham (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sa-carācarāḥ: together with all moving and non-moving beings
• sa-carācarāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + cara + acara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘with the moving and the non-moving’; used predicatively with aham

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु/Reason marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tasmāt (अव्यय; pronominal base tad)
• Form: Indeclinable (अव्यय), ablatival adverb ‘therefore/from that’

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• garam: poison
• garam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhuñje: I consume
• bhuñje: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhuj (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• prajānām: of the creatures/subjects
• prajānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• svastiḥ: well-being
• svastiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of astu)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svasti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• astu: may it be
• astu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• me: for me
• me: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Lord Śiva
• Pārvatī

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about compassion pleasing Lord Hari?

This verse states that Hari, the Supersoul of all, becomes pleased when a person acts with compassion; mercy is presented as a direct way to please the Supreme Lord.

Why did Lord Śiva say this to Pārvatī in Canto 8 Chapter 7?

In the context of the ocean-churning, deadly poison appeared; Lord Śiva reassures Pārvatī that compassion pleases Hari and, for the welfare of all beings, he will personally consume the poison.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Practice compassion and service for the well-being of others; the Bhagavatam links such mercy with pleasing God and bringing auspiciousness to society.