Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 19
Lakṣmī’s Emergence, Dhanvantari, and the Advent of Mohinī-mūrti
विलोकयन्ती निरवद्यमात्मन: पदं ध्रुवं चाव्यभिचारिसद्गुणम् । गन्धर्वसिद्धासुरयक्षचारण- त्रैपिष्टपेयादिषु नान्वविन्दत ॥ १९ ॥
vilokayantī niravadyam ātmanaḥ padaṁ dhruvaṁ cāvyabhicāri-sad-guṇam gandharva-siddhāsura-yakṣa-cāraṇa- traipiṣṭapeyādiṣu nānvavindata
Cheminant parmi les Gandharvas, les Siddhas, les Asuras, les Yakṣas, les Cāraṇas et les habitants des cieux, la déesse Lakṣmī les observa avec une attention pénétrante; mais elle ne trouva personne qui fût naturellement sans tache, stable et pourvu de vertus irréprochables. Tous portaient quelque défaut; aussi ne prit-elle refuge en aucun d’eux.
The goddess of fortune, Lakṣmīdevī, having been generated from the Ocean of Milk, was the daughter of the ocean. Thus she was allowed to select her own husband in a svayaṁvara ceremony. She examined every one of the candidates, but she could not find anyone suitably qualified to be her shelter. In other words, Nārāyaṇa, the natural husband of Lakṣmī, cannot be superseded by anyone in this material world.
FAQs
This verse highlights steadiness (dhruva-pada) and unwavering virtue (avyabhicāri sad-guṇa) as essential qualities—faultlessness in character, not merely status or power.
Because she could not find among them a fully faultless person whose position and good qualities were perfectly steady and non-deviating.
Cultivate consistent integrity and character—being steady in values and conduct across situations—rather than relying on external achievements or reputation.