Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 19

Lakṣmī’s Emergence, Dhanvantari, and the Advent of Mohinī-mūrti

Devanagari script

विलोकयन्ती निरवद्यमात्मन: पदं ध्रुवं चाव्यभिचारिसद्गुणम् । गन्धर्वसिद्धासुरयक्षचारण- त्रैपिष्टपेयादिषु नान्वविन्दत ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

vilokayantī niravadyam ātmanaḥ padaṁ dhruvaṁ cāvyabhicāri-sad-guṇam gandharva-siddhāsura-yakṣa-cāraṇa- traipiṣṭapeyādiṣu nānvavindata

Translation

Đi giữa các Gandharva, Yakṣa, asura, Siddha, Cāraṇa và cư dân cõi trời, Nữ thần Lakṣmī chăm chú quan sát từng vị; nhưng nàng không tìm thấy ai vốn tự nhiên vô tỳ vết, vững bền và đầy đủ các đức hạnh thuần nhất. Ai cũng có lỗi lầm, nên nàng không nương tựa vào bất kỳ ai.

Synonyms

• vilokayantī: looking around / observing
• vilokayantī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√lok (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी-प्रयोगार्थः

• niravadyam: faultless
• niravadyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niravadya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• ātmanaḥ: of herself
• ātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• padam: position/abode
• padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• dhruvam: fixed, permanent
• dhruvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• avyabhicāri-sad-guṇam: endowed with unwavering good qualities
• avyabhicāri-sad-guṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avyabhicārin + sat + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—कर्मधारयः (avyabhicāriṇo ye sadguṇāḥ तैः युक्तम्)

• gandharva-siddha-asura-yakṣa-cāraṇa-traipiṣṭapeya-ādiṣu: among Gandharvas, Siddhas, Asuras, Yakṣas, Cāraṇas, the Traipiṣṭapeyas, etc.
• gandharva-siddha-asura-yakṣa-cāraṇa-traipiṣṭapeya-ādiṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandharva + siddha + asura + yakṣa + cāraṇa + traipiṣṭapeya + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुवचन-समाहार/समुच्चयार्थ-समासः; सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; ‘ādi’ सहितः; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (सूची-समुच्चय)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थ-अव्यय (negation particle)

• anvavindata: she found
• anvavindata: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu√vid (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम

Purport

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.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī (Lakṣmī Devī)
• Gandharvas
• Siddhas
• Asuras
• Yakṣas
• Cāraṇas
• Devas (Tri-piṣṭapa)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about the qualities of an ideal person or spouse?

This verse highlights steadiness (dhruva-pada) and unwavering virtue (avyabhicāri sad-guṇa) as essential qualities—faultlessness in character, not merely status or power.

Why did Lakshmi (Śrī Devī) not choose anyone among the Gandharvas, Siddhas, Devas, or others?

Because she could not find among them a fully faultless person whose position and good qualities were perfectly steady and non-deviating.

How can I apply 'unwavering good qualities' in modern life according to this shloka?

Cultivate consistent integrity and character—being steady in values and conduct across situations—rather than relying on external achievements or reputation.