Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 11

Devotion in Kimpuruṣa-varṣa and the Glory of Bhārata-varṣa

Rāmacandra & Nara-Nārāyaṇa; Rivers, Varṇāśrama, and Liberation

Devanagari script

ॐ नमो भगवते उपशमशीलायोपरतानात्म्याय नमोऽकिञ्चनवित्ताय ऋषिऋषभाय नरनारायणाय परमहंसपरमगुरवे आत्मारामाधिपतये नमो नम इति ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

oṁ namo bhagavate upaśama-śīlāyoparatānātmyāya namo ’kiñcana-vittāya ṛṣi-ṛṣabhāya nara-nārāyaṇāya paramahaṁsa-parama-gurave ātmārāmādhipataye namo nama iti.

Translation

Oṁ, j’offre sans cesse mes hommages à Bhagavān Nara-Nārāyaṇa : paisible et maître de Lui-même, pleinement réalisé, sans orgueil; trésor des démunis; le plus grand des ṛṣis, le maître suprême des paramahaṁsas et le seigneur des ātmārāmas. Namo namah.

Synonyms

• oṁ: Om
• oṁ: Sambandha (मङ्गलाचरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: oṁ (अव्यय/प्रणव)
• Form: Sacred syllable (प्रणव), indeclinable

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बोधन/नमस्कार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya used as salutation; governs dative (चतुर्थी)

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

• upaśama-śīlāya: to him whose nature is tranquility
• upaśama-śīlāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upaśama (प्रातिपदिक) + śīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; ‘upaśama-śīla’ = having tranquility as nature

• uparata-anātmyāya: to him who has withdrawn from the non-self
• uparata-anātmyāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uparata (कृदन्त; upa + √ram (रम्) + क्त, ‘ceased/withdrawn’) + anātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; ‘anātmyāt uparataḥ’ / ‘withdrawn from non-self’ (sense: free from identification with non-self)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (नमस्कार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Salutation-avyaya

• akiñcana-vittāya: to the one whose wealth is nothing (possessing nothing)
• akiñcana-vittāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a (नञ्) + kiñcana (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + vitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; ‘akiñcana’ = having nothing; ‘akiñcana-vitta’ = whose wealth is nothing (i.e., without possessions)

• ṛṣi-ṛṣabhāya: to the bull (best) among sages
• ṛṣi-ṛṣabhāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; ‘ṛṣīṇām ṛṣabhaḥ’ (श्रेष्ठ)

• nara-nārāyaṇāya: to Nara-Nārāyaṇa
• nara-nārāyaṇāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; समाहार/नामद्वन्द्व (proper-name dvandva)

• paramahaṁsa-parama-gurave: to the supreme guru of the paramahaṁsas
• paramahaṁsa-parama-gurave: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paramahaṁsa (प्रातिपदिक) + parama (प्रातिपदिक) + guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; ‘paramahaṁsānām paramaḥ guruḥ’

• ātmārāma-adhipataye: to the lord of the self-delighted sages
• ātmārāma-adhipataye: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātmārāma (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; ‘ātmārāmāṇām adhipatiḥ’

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (नमस्कार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Salutation-avyaya

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (नमस्कार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Repetition for emphasis; salutation-avyaya

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (उद्धरण-चिह्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

Characters & Entities

• Nara-Nārāyaṇa
• Bhagavān (Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the qualities of a truly renounced devotee?

This verse praises the Lord as “akiñcana-vittāya”—one whose real wealth is nothing material—highlighting that genuine spiritual richness is renunciation, tranquility, and freedom from worldly identification.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī offer obeisances to Nara-Nārāyaṇa in Canto 5 Chapter 19?

In describing Bhārata-varṣa and its sacred worship, Śukadeva invokes Nara-Nārāyaṇa as the ideal of austerity, devotion, and liberated guidance—“paramahaṁsa-parama-guru”—the supreme teacher for those seeking liberation.

How can the teaching of upaśama (inner calm) be applied in modern life?

Practice reducing agitation by simplifying desires, cultivating self-control, and regularly turning the mind toward the Lord through prayer and remembrance—making spiritual steadiness your “wealth,” as this verse emphasizes.