Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 12

Ātmā’s Unborn Nature and Fearlessness at Death

Parīkṣit’s Final Instruction

Devanagari script

अहं ब्रह्म परं धाम ब्रह्माहं परमं पदम् । एवं समीक्ष्य चात्मानमात्मन्याधाय निष्कले ॥ ११ ॥ दशन्तं तक्षकं पादे लेलिहानं विषाननै: । न द्रक्ष्यसि शरीरं च विश्वं च पृथगात्मन: ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

ahaṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma brahmāhaṁ paramaṁ padam evaṁ samīkṣya cātmānam ātmany ādhāya niṣkale

Translation

“ମୁଁ ହିଁ ବ୍ରହ୍ମ, ପରମ ଧାମ; ଏହି ବ୍ରହ୍ମ ହିଁ ପରମ ପଦ—ମୋଠାରୁ ଅଭିନ୍ନ”—ଏଭଳି ଆତ୍ମଚିନ୍ତନ କରି ନିଷ୍କଳ ପରମାତ୍ମାରେ ନିଜକୁ ନିବେଶ କଲେ, ବିଷଦଂଷ୍ଟ୍ର ତକ୍ଷକ ପାଦକୁ ଦଂଶିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ତୁମେ ତାକୁ ଦେଖିବ ନାହିଁ; ନ ମରୁଥିବା ଶରୀରକୁ, ନ ଜଗତକୁ—କାରଣ ତୁମେ ନିଜକୁ ସେମାନଙ୍କଠାରୁ ପୃଥକ ଜାଣିବ।

Synonyms

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• brahma: Brahman
• brahma: Karta (कर्ता/predicative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• param: supreme
• param: Karta (कर्ता/predicative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• dhāma: abode/splendor
• dhāma: Karta (कर्ता/predicative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• brahma: Brahman
• brahma: Karta (कर्ता/predicative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Karta (कर्ता/predicative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• padam: state/position
• padam: Karta (कर्ता/predicative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय

• samīkṣya: having examined
• samīkṣya: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय (gerund); धातुः—ईक्ष्, उपसर्ग-सम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• ātmānam: the self
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ātmani: in the Self
• ātmani: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• ādhāya: having placed
• ādhāya: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-dhā (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय (gerund); धातुः—धा, उपसर्ग-आ

• niṣkale: O partless one
• niṣkale: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣkala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about realizing Brahman in Canto 12?

This verse teaches inward contemplation—recognizing the Self as Brahman and fixing the mind in the partless Absolute as a direct means toward liberation.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī speak about Brahman realization to King Parīkṣit?

Because Parīkṣit was preparing to leave the body imminently, Śukadeva instructed the most direct, fear-transcending realization—identity with the imperishable Self.

Practical application of fixing the mind in the Self today?

Practice steady remembrance and self-observation: withdraw attention from panic and bodily fear, and anchor awareness in the changeless witness within.