Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 17

Viṣṇupadī Gaṅgā: Descent, Cosmic Pathways, and Śiva’s Praise of Saṅkarṣaṇa

Devanagari script

श्रीभगवानुवाच ॐ नमो भगवते महापुरुषाय सर्वगुणसङ्ख्यानायानन्तायाव्यक्ताय नम इति ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-bhagavān uvāca oṁ namo bhagavate mahā-puruṣāya sarva-guṇa-saṅkhyānāyānantāyāvyaktāya nama iti.

Translation

شری بھگوان نے فرمایا—ॐ، مہاپُرش بھگوان کو نمسکار؛ آپ تمام الوہی صفات کے خزانہ، اَننت اور غیر بھکتوں پر اَویَکت ہیں—آپ کو نمہ۔

Synonyms

• śrī-bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• śrī-bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī-bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (singular); sambodhana-artha as speaker tag

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect/past), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana (singular), parasmaipada

• oṁ: Om
• oṁ: Sambandha/Āmantraṇa (सम्बन्ध/आमन्त्रण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: oṁ (अव्यय/प्रणव)
• Form: Pranava (sacred syllable), avyaya

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nipāta used as indeclinable; governs Dative (caturthī) in usage

• bhagavate: to the Lord
• bhagavate: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Caturthī vibhakti (Dative/4th), Ekavacana

• mahā-puruṣāya: to the Supreme Person
• mahā-puruṣāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Caturthī (Dative/4th), Ekavacana

• sarva-guṇa-saṅkhyānāya: to the enumerator of all qualities
• sarva-guṇa-saṅkhyānāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + guṇa + saṅkhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga/napuṁsaka-prāya usage; Caturthī (Dative/4th), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: guṇānāṁ saṅkhyānam (enumeration of qualities) with sarva- (all)

• anantāya: to the Infinite
• anantāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ananta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Caturthī (Dative/4th), Ekavacana

• avyaktāya: to the Unmanifest
• avyaktāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avyakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Caturthī (Dative/4th), Ekavacana

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nipāta, avyaya; repetition for emphasis

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyānta/Quotation marker (इति-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (iti-nipāta), avyaya

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Bhagavān
• Mahā-puruṣa
• Ananta

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the meaning of “Om namo bhagavate”?

This verse presents it as a direct salutation to the Supreme Lord (Bhagavān)—the Mahā-puruṣa—acknowledging Him as the infinite source of all qualities and also as the unmanifest reality beyond material perception.

Why does the Lord describe Himself as both infinite (ananta) and unmanifest (avyakta)?

The verse highlights the Lord’s transcendence: He is limitless in potencies (ananta) and not confined to material visibility or form graspable by mundane senses (avyakta), yet still the personal Bhagavān worthy of devotion.

Practical application of this mantra in modern life?

Chanting or remembering this salutation cultivates humility and steadiness—placing one’s identity and anxieties under the shelter of the Supreme, and re-centering daily actions as offerings to the all-pervading Lord.