Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 16

Bhāgavatam Mahimā — The Glory, Measure, Transmission, and Gift of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Devanagari script

निम्नगानां यथा गङ्गा देवानामच्युतो यथा । वैष्णवानां यथा शम्भु: पुराणानामिदं तथा ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

nimna-gānāṁ yathā gaṅgā devānām acyuto yathā vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhuḥ purāṇānām idam tathā

Translation

Just as the Gaṅgā is the greatest of all rivers, Lord Acyuta the supreme among deities and Lord Śambhu [Śiva] the greatest of Vaiṣṇavas, so Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the greatest of all Purāṇas.

Synonyms

• निम्नगानाम्: of the rivers (that flow downward)
• निम्नगानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निम्नगा (प्रातिपदिक) = निम्न + गा
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (निम्ना गा इति)

• यथा: as
• यथा: सम्बन्ध/उपमान (Upamā marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक-सम्बन्धबोधक (comparative particle: 'as/like')

• गङ्गा: Ganga
• गङ्गा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अच्युतः: Acyuta (the infallible Lord)
• अच्युतः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• यथा: as
• यथा: सम्बन्ध/उपमान (Upamā marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (comparative particle)

• वैष्णवानाम्: of the Vaiṣṇavas
• वैष्णवानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• यथा: as
• यथा: सम्बन्ध/उपमान (Upamā marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (comparative particle)

• शम्भुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पुराणानाम्: of the Purāṇas
• पुराणानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• तथा: so
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (correlative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तद्वत्/एवम्-अर्थे (correlative adverb: 'so/thus')

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Acyuta (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)
• Śambhu (Śiva)
• Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

FAQs

Why is Śrīmad Bhāgavatam called the best Purāṇa?

This verse ranks Bhāgavatam as foremost among Purāṇas, comparing its supremacy to Gaṅgā among rivers and Acyuta among the gods—indicating its unmatched power to awaken pure bhakti.

Does the Bhagavatam say Lord Śiva is a Vaiṣṇava?

Yes. This verse explicitly states that among Vaiṣṇavas, Śambhu (Lord Śiva) is foremost, honoring Śiva as the greatest devotee of Viṣṇu.

How can I apply the teaching of this shloka in modern life?

Give priority to hearing/reading Śrīmad Bhāgavatam regularly, and cultivate devotion to Acyuta with humility—taking guidance from exalted devotees like Śiva, who exemplifies pure Vaiṣṇava spirit.