Tam Ishvaranam Paramam Mahesvaram (The Supreme Lord of Lords) — Word-by-Word Meaning
तमीश्वराणां परमं महेश्वरम्
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
तम्
tam
Him, That
ईश्वराणां परमम्
īśvarāṇāṁ paramam
The supreme among all rulers and controllers
महेश्वरम्
maheśvaram
The great Lord (Maheshvara), the highest Master
देवतानां परमम् दैवतम्
devatānāṁ paramam daivatam
The supreme Deity of all deities
पतिम् पतीनाम्
patiṁ patīnām
The Lord of all lords, master of masters
परमम्
paramam
Supreme, highest
परस्तात्
parastāt
Beyond (the unmanifest), transcendent
विदाम
vidāma
We know, may we know, let us realize
देवम्
devam
The radiant Divine, the shining One
भुवनेशम्
bhuvaneśam
The Lord of the worlds, ruler of the universe
ईड्यम्
īḍyam
The adorable, the worshipful, worthy of all praise
Complete Translation
Him we know to be the supreme Lord of lords, the great Master (Maheshvara), the supreme Deity of deities, the Lord of all lords, transcendent and beyond — the radiant God, ruler of the worlds, worthy of all worship.
Origin & History
Source: Shvetashvatara Upanishad, Verse 6.7
Author: Traditional (Upanishadic); attributed to the sage Shvetashvatara
Period: Vedic / Upanishadic
The Shvetashvatara Upanishad, named after the sage who is said to have realized and taught it, weaves together the philosophy of the one Brahman with heartfelt devotion to the supreme Lord. In its sixth chapter the seer rises in praise of the cause of all causes, who has no lord or master above Him. This verse stands at the summit of that adoration, declaring the supreme Lord as the Master of all masters, the God of all gods, transcendent and worthy of worship — the one whom the seeker prays to know.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Tam Ishvaranam Paramam Mahesvaram mean?▼
It means 'Him we know as the supreme Lord of lords, the great Master, the God of gods'. The verse exalts the one supreme Lord (Maheshvara) above all rulers, deities and powers as the transcendent and adorable ruler of the universe.
Where does this verse come from?▼
It is from the Shvetashvatara Upanishad (6.7), which belongs to the Krishna Yajur Veda. The Shvetashvatara is the most devotional of the principal Upanishads, presenting the one Brahman as the personal supreme Lord (Ishvara, Rudra, Maheshvara).
Is this verse about Shiva or about Brahman?▼
The Shvetashvatara Upanishad uses names such as Rudra and Maheshvara for the one supreme Reality, Brahman, conceived as the personal Lord. Devotees may worship this Lord through the form of Shiva, but the verse points to the one Supreme who transcends and underlies all deities and forms.
How is this verse used?▼
It is recited in worship and contemplation to affirm and adore the one supreme Lord. As a prayer beginning 'let us know', it is used to deepen both devotion and the aspiration to realize the Divine as the highest ruler and goal of the universe.
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