Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 18

Lord Śiva Instructs the Pracetās (Śiva-stuti and the Path of Bhakti)

Devanagari script

आत्मारामोऽपि यस्त्वस्य लोककल्पस्य राधसे । शक्त्या युक्तो विचरति घोरया भगवान् भव: ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

ātmārāmo ’pi yas tv asya loka-kalpasya rādhase śaktyā yukto vicarati ghorayā bhagavān bhavaḥ

Translation

భగవాన్ భవుడు (శివుడు) ఆత్మారాముడు; అయినా లోకహితార్థం కాళీ, దుర్గ వంటి ఘోర శక్తులతో యుక్తుడై సర్వత్ర నిత్యం విచరిస్తాడు।

Synonyms

• आत्मारामः: self-satisfied one
• आत्मारामः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आत्मनः रामः)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपवादार्थक (also/even)

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• अस्य: of this/of him
• अस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• लोककल्पस्य: of the world-creation/order
• लोककल्पस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लोकस्य कल्पः)

• राधसे: for the welfare/prosperity
• राधसे: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Dative purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राधस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• शक्त्या: by (his) power
• शक्त्या: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• युक्तः: endowed/connected
• युक्तः: कर्तृविशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) → युक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (connected/endowed)

• विचरति: moves about/acts
• विचरति: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• घोरया: by terrible (energy)
• घोरया: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण (terrible)

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

• भवः: Bhava (Śiva)
• भवः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; शिवनाम

Purport

Lord Śiva is known as the greatest devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is known as the best of all types of Vaiṣṇavas ( vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhuḥ ). Consequently, Lord Śiva has a Vaiṣṇava sampradāya, the disciplic succession known as the Rudra sampradāya. Just as there is a Brahma sampradāya coming directly from Lord Brahmā, the Rudra sampradāya comes directly from Lord Śiva. Lord Śiva is one of the twelve great personalities, as stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (6.3.20):

Characters & Entities

• Lord Śiva (Bhava)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Shiva being ātmārāma (self-satisfied)?

This verse states that Lord Śiva is ātmārāma—complete in himself—yet he still engages in activity for the world’s arrangement, showing that divine action can be performed without personal need.

Why is Lord Shiva described as acting with a formidable (ghorā) energy in Bhagavatam 4.24?

Because his role in cosmic order involves intense, awe-inspiring power—his śakti—through which he moves and functions for universal administration while remaining internally self-satisfied.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Perform duties for the welfare of others without egoistic craving—act responsibly and powerfully when needed, while cultivating inner contentment and spiritual steadiness.