Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 68

Bhāgavata-Māhātmya and the Complete Summary of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Devanagari script

उपचितनवशक्तिभि: स्व आत्म- न्युपरचितस्थिरजङ्गमालयाय । भगवत उपलब्धिमात्रधाम्ने सुरऋषभाय नम: सनातनाय ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

upacita-nava-śaktibhiḥ sva ātmany uparacita-sthira-jaṅgamālayāya bhagavata upalabdhi-mātra-dhamne sura-ṛṣabhāya namaḥ sanātanāya

Translation

I offer my obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the eternal Lord and the leader of all other deities, who by evolving His nine material energies has arranged within Himself the abode of all moving and nonmoving creatures, and who is always situated in pure, transcendental consciousness.

Synonyms

• upacita-nava-śaktibhiḥ: with accumulated nine powers
• upacita-nava-śaktibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upacita (उप + √ci धातु, क्त) + nava + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मधारय within: ‘upacitāḥ navāḥ śaktayaḥ’

• sva: own
• sva: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter stem used adjectivally; here with ‘ātmani’: Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन) sense ‘in one’s own’ (agreeing in meaning)

• ātmani: in the Self
• ātmani: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

• uparacita-sthira-jaṅgama-ālayāya: to the abode of the immovable and movable (beings), manifested
• uparacita-sthira-jaṅgama-ālayāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uparacita (उप + √rac धातु, क्त) + sthira + jaṅgama + ālaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘sthira-jaṅgamayoḥ ālayaḥ’ with qualifier uparacita

• bhagavate: to the Lord
• bhagavate: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन)

• upalabdhi-mātra-dhamne: to him whose abode is pure awareness alone
• upalabdhi-mātra-dhamne: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upalabdhi + mātra + dhāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘upalabdhi-mātram dhāma’ (whose abode is mere consciousness/realization)

• sura-ṛṣabhāya: to the best of the gods
• sura-ṛṣabhāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘surāṇām ṛṣabhaḥ’

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/obeisance)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: Exclamatory indeclinable (नमः-शब्दः, प्रणामवाचक निपात); governs dative

• sanātanāya: to the eternal one
• sanātanāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sanātana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन); epithet of the Lord

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about realizing Bhagavan beyond speculation?

This verse teaches that Bhagavan is known as the supreme shelter through upalabdhi—direct spiritual realization—rather than mere intellectual or material methods.

Why does Suta Gosvami offer concluding obeisances in Canto 12 Chapter 12?

At the conclusion of the Bhagavatam’s narration, Suta Gosvami glorifies the eternal Lord as the ultimate refuge of all beings, sealing the text with devotional remembrance and surrender.

Practical application of seeing the Lord as the shelter of all beings in modern life?

Practice devotion and humility by recognizing all life as resting in the Supreme, reducing envy and anxiety while strengthening steady remembrance, prayer, and compassionate conduct.