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
吉祥天女拉克什米行走于乾闼婆、夜叉、阿修罗、悉达、查罗那及诸天众之间，细致审察众人；却未能找到一位天性无瑕、安住不移、具足不退善德者。人人皆有过失，因此她不依止任何一位。
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 In other words, Nārāyaṇa, the natural husband of Lakṣmī, cannot be superseded by anyone in this material world.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.