Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 30

Hari’s Special Mercy, Śiva’s Quick Boons, and the Deliverance from Vṛkāsura

Devanagari script

यदि न: श्रवणायालं युष्मद्‌व्यवसितं विभो । भण्यतां प्रायश: पुम्भिर्धृतै: स्वार्थान् समीहते ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

yadi naḥ śravaṇāyālaṁ yuṣmad-vyavasitaṁ vibho bhaṇyatāṁ prāyaśaḥ pumbhir dhṛtaiḥ svārthān samīhate

Translation

大能者啊，若我们堪当聆听，请说出你的意图。通常人们借助他人之力来成就自己的目的。

Synonyms

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional particle (शर्त-निबन्धन-अव्यय)

• naḥ: for us / of us
• naḥ: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (षष्ठी/6) or Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Plural (बहुवचन); enclitic form

• śravaṇāya: for hearing
• śravaṇāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śravaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन); प्रयोजन (purpose)

• alam: enough; suitable
• alam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: alam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle of sufficiency/fitness (पर्याप्ति/योग्यता)

• yuṣmad-vyavasitam: your resolve/undertaking
• yuṣmad-vyavasitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (प्रातिपदिक) + vyavasita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1) or Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (your + decision/undertaking)

• vibho: O mighty one
• vibho: Sambodhana (संबोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (संबोधन/8), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhaṇyatām: let it be spoken
• bhaṇyatām: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhaṇ (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Passive voice (कर्मणि प्रयोगः); ‘let it be told’

• prāyaśaḥ: generally; for the most part
• prāyaśaḥ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prāyaśas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• pumbhiḥ: by men
• pumbhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pumān (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dhṛtaiḥ: held; maintained; adopted
• dhṛtaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhṛta (प्रातिपदिक; क्त from √dhṛ)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन); विशेषणम् (qualifying pumbhiḥ)

• svārthān: one’s own aims/interests
• svārthān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मपदम्

• samīhate: strives for
• samīhate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-īh (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

Purport

Even an envious demon will not refuse the help of a brāhmaṇa’s potency to gain his ends.

Characters & Entities

• Lord Śiva (Śaṅkara)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about why people chase worldly goals (svārtha)?

This verse notes that most people strive for the aims they have adopted as their own—implying that without higher guidance, determination is often directed toward self-interest rather than devotion.

Why did the sages say this to Lord Shiva in Bhagavatam 10.88?

They respectfully request Śiva to reveal his intention/decision, acknowledging that people act according to their chosen aims and wanting to hear the divine purpose behind his actions.

How can I apply this verse in modern life?

Choose your “svārtha” consciously: adopt hearing and learning about God (śravaṇa) as a primary aim, so your determination naturally moves toward spiritual growth rather than only personal gain.