gdb command line option -e or -exec usage

Hi,

I have invoked gdb with '-e' command line option on an executable, 
The gdb manual says '-e' is used to set the executable to run.
But I could not see the symbols read in by gdb when I use -e and could
not insert breakpoints.

What is the intent of having the command line option "-e" or "-exec"?

Thanks & Regards,
Ajay