Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

एवं विमृश्याव्यभिचारिसद्गुणै- र्वरं निजैकाश्रयतयागुणाश्रयम् । वव्रे वरं सर्वगुणैरपेक्षितं रमा मुकुन्दं निरपेक्षमीप्सितम् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ vimṛśyāvyabhicāri-sad-guṇair varaṁ nijaikāśrayatayāguṇāśrayam vavre varaṁ sarva-guṇair apekṣitaṁ ramā mukundaṁ nirapekṣam īpsitam

Translation

Vì thế, sau khi suy xét trọn vẹn, Ramā (Lakṣmī) đã chọn bậc phu quân có các đức hạnh thanh tịnh không hề sai lệch, tự tại nơi chính mình và là chỗ nương của mọi phẩm tính. Nàng đã nhận Mukunda làm chồng—Đấng độc lập, chẳng cần đến Lakṣmī, nhưng lại đáng khát cầu nhất vì đầy đủ mọi phẩm chất siêu việt và quyền năng nhiệm mầu.

Synonyms

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (thus)

• vimṛśya: having considered
• vimṛśya: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√mṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive), ‘having deliberated/considered’

• avyabhicāri-sad-guṇaiḥ: by (those) unwavering good qualities
• avyabhicāri-sad-guṇaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avyabhicārin + sat + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः; करणत्वेन (by means of/considering these qualities)

• varam: a bridegroom / the best choice
• varam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• nija-eka-āśrayatayā: by (his) being the sole refuge
• nija-eka-āśrayatayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nija + eka + āśrayatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; āśrayatā = āśraya + tā (भाववाचक); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (nija-eka-āśraya-tā = the state of being one’s own sole refuge)

• aguṇa-āśrayam: not dependent on material qualities
• aguṇa-āśrayam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a + guṇa + āśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः; ‘a-’ नञ्-प्रत्यय (negation): not dependent on guṇas

• vavre: she chose
• vavre: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम (to choose)

• varam: as the best (bridegroom)
• varam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• sarva-guṇaiḥ: with all qualities
• sarva-guṇaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (sarve guṇāḥ)

• apekṣitam: desired
• apekṣitam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apa√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: apekṣita = apa√īkṣ (धातु) क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘desired/expected’

• ramā: Ramā (Lakṣmī)
• ramā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ramā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• mukundam: Mukunda (Viṣṇu)
• mukundam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukunda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• nirapekṣam: independent, needing nothing
• nirapekṣam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirapekṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• īpsitam: wished for
• īpsitam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √āp (धातु)
• Form: īpsita = √āp (धातु) सन्-इच्छार्थ-प्रत्ययजन्य (desiderative sense) + क्त (PPP) रूप; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘wished-for’

Purport

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Mukunda, is self-sufficient. Since He is fully independent, He was not in want of the support or association of Lakṣmīdevī. Nonetheless, Lakṣmīdevī, the goddess of fortune, accepted Him as her husband.

Characters & Entities

• Ramā (Lakṣmī)
• Mukunda (Viṣṇu)

FAQs

Why did Lakshmi choose Mukunda in Srimad Bhagavatam 8.8?

Because, after reflection, she recognized Him as the unfailing, desireless Supreme Lord—the unique shelter of all and the source of all virtues—making Him the most fitting and eternal choice.

What does “nirapeksha” (desireless) mean for Vishnu in this verse?

It means the Lord does not seek anything for His own fulfillment; though everyone desires Him, He remains self-satisfied and grants boons out of grace, not need.

How can this shloka be applied in modern life?

Choose your ultimate refuge carefully: seek a shelter that is steady, selfless, and uplifting—devotion to the desireless Lord cultivates clarity, detachment, and lasting inner security.