Shloka 1

Lord Rāmacandra’s Charity, Sītā’s Departure, and the Lord’s Return to Vaikuṇṭha

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच भगवानात्मनात्मानं राम उत्तमकल्पकै: । सर्वदेवमयं देवमीजेऽथाचार्यवान् मखै: ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca bhagavān ātmanātmānaṁ rāma uttama-kalpakaiḥ sarva-devamayaṁ devam īje ’thācāryavān makhaiḥ

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thereafter, Bhagavān Lord Rāmacandra accepted an ācārya and performed yajñas with splendid paraphernalia. Being the Supreme Lord of all devas, He thus worshiped Himself.

Synonyms

• श्री: venerable, revered
• श्री: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, अव्ययीभाववत् पूर्वपद (उपाधि/सम्मानसूचक); honorific prefix

• शुकः: Śuka
• शुकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative singular (1st)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Perfect, 3rd person singular, active

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative singular (1st)

• आत्मना: by himself
• आत्मना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन; Instrumental singular (3rd)

• आत्मानम्: himself (as the object of worship)
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative singular (2nd)

• रामः: Rāma
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative singular (1st)

• उत्तम: excellent, best
• उत्तम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी बहुवचन (समासपूर्वपद); first member in compound

• कल्पकैः: with excellent ritual arrangements/implements
• कल्पकैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्पक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; Instrumental plural (3rd)

• सर्व: all
• सर्व: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (समासपूर्वपद) सर्व-; indeclinable-like as first member

• देव: of the gods
• देव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचन (समासपूर्वपद); ‘of the gods’ as first member

• मयम्: consisting of, pervaded by
• मयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative singular (2nd), agreeing with देवम्

• देवम्: the Lord/God
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative singular (2nd)

• ईजे: worshipped/sacrificed to
• ईजे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √यज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Perfect, 3rd person singular, middle

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय; adverb ‘then/thereupon’

• आचार्यवान्: having (proper) priests/teacher
• आचार्यवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आचार्यवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; possessive adjective ‘having a teacher’; Nominative singular (1st)

• मखैः: with sacrifices
• मखैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; Instrumental plural (3rd)

Purport

Sarvārhaṇam acyutejyā. If Acyuta, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is worshiped, then everyone is worshiped. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (4.31.14) :

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Lord Rāmacandra

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Rama performing yajñas?

This verse says Lord Rāma performed excellent Vedic sacrifices with proper ācāryas, worshiping the Supreme Lord who is also present as the collective shelter of all demigods.

Why is the Lord described as worshiping the Lord within Himself (ātmanā ātmānam)?

Śukadeva highlights that Rāma is Bhagavān Himself; even so, He enacts ideal dharma by worshiping the Supreme Self, teaching proper conduct for rulers and householders.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Follow dharma with sincerity—honor sacred practices with proper guidance, and remember that all worship ultimately reaches the one Supreme Lord.