Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 3

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

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

Devanagari script

ॐ नमो भगवते उत्तमश्लोकाय नम आर्यलक्षणशीलव्रताय नम उपशिक्षितात्मन उपासितलोकाय नम: साधुवादनिकषणाय नमो ब्रह्मण्यदेवाय महापुरुषाय महाराजाय नम इति ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

oṁ namo bhagavate uttamaślokāya nama ārya-lakṣaṇa-śīla-vratāya nama upaśikṣitātmana upāsita-lokāya namaḥ sādhu-vāda-nikaṣaṇāya namo brahmaṇya-devāya mahā-puruṣāya mahā-rājāya nama iti.

Translation

唵——礼敬至上人格神、至美颂者（Uttamaśloka）。礼敬你，具足圣贤（Ārya）之相、德行与誓戒的宝藏。礼敬你，自我调御、受教圆满，为世间所奉事的典范。礼敬你，如试金石般鉴定一切善德。礼敬你，护持婆罗门者（Brahmaṇya-deva）、大丈夫（Mahāpuruṣa）、万王之王（Mahārāja）。

Synonyms

• oṁ: Oṁ
• oṁ: Maṅgala (मङ्गल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: oṁ (अव्यय/प्रणव)
• Form: प्रणव (sacred syllable), अव्यय

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: नमस्कारार्थक-अव्यय

• bhagavate: to the Lord
• bhagavate: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन

• uttama-ślokāya: to the Lord of excellent hymns
• uttama-ślokāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक) + śloka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘he whose praise is supreme’)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: नमस्कारार्थक-अव्यय

• ārya-lakṣaṇa-śīla-vratāya: to Him of noble characteristics, conduct, and vows
• ārya-lakṣaṇa-śīla-vratāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārya (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + śīla (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (collective: noble marks, conduct, vows)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: नमस्कारार्थक-अव्यय

• upaśikṣita-ātmane: to Him whose self is well-disciplined
• upaśikṣita-ātmane: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upa-√śikṣ (धातु) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन; उपशिक्षित = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (‘well-trained’); तत्पुरुषः (‘whose self is well-trained’)

• upāsita-lokāya: to Him worshipped by the worlds
• upāsita-lokāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upa-√ās (धातु) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन; upāsita = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (‘worshipped/served’); तत्पुरुषः (‘worshipped by the worlds/people’)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: नमस्कारार्थक-अव्यय

• sādhu-vāda-nikaṣaṇāya: to the touchstone of saintly praise
• sādhu-vāda-nikaṣaṇāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhu (प्रातिपदिक) + vāda (प्रातिपदिक) + nikaṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘touchstone/criterion of saintly speech/praise’)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: नमस्कारार्थक-अव्यय

• brahmaṇya-devāya: to the Lord devoted to Brahman/brāhmaṇas
• brahmaṇya-devāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmaṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘the deity favorable to brāhmaṇas/veda’)

• mahā-puruṣāya: to the great Person
• mahā-puruṣāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘great person’)

• mahā-rājāya: to the great King
• mahā-rājāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘great king’)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: नमस्कारार्थक-अव्यय

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam mean by ‘Uttamaśloka’?

‘Uttamaśloka’ refers to the Supreme Lord who is glorified by the finest hymns and whose transcendental qualities inspire the best poetry and prayers.

Why is the Lord called ‘Brahmaṇya-deva’ in the Bhagavatam?

The verse praises the Lord as ‘brahmaṇya-deva’ because He protects brāhmaṇas, honors Vedic wisdom, and upholds dharma—making Him especially favorable to those devoted to spiritual knowledge.

How can this shloka be applied in modern life?

It teaches a practical bhakti habit: begin with humble obeisances, remember God’s divine qualities (discipline, righteousness, protection of dharma), and align one’s conduct and vows with those ideals.