10 χ = χ$_{0}$ + C T − θ$_{P}$ (5) the involvement of the populated CF levels of the first and the second exited multiplet. This is well documented by the extremely broad Schottky contribution to the specific heat (see Fig.2), and, in addition, a necessary impact on the magnetization (susceptibility) behavior at elevated temperatures would be expected. The temperature dependence of the inverse susceptibility B / M is strongly nonlinear for both field directions, i.e. it does not follow the Curie-Wiess law. The data in Fig.8, however, can be well fitted by the modified Curie-Weiss law $^{27}$between 15 and 150 K: where the temperature independent term χ$_{0}$ may be attributed to the temperature in- dependent van Vleck contribution which is due to the small energy difference between the ground state multiplet J = 5/2 and the first excited multiplet J = 7/2. The fit yields the values for the paramagnetic Curie temperature θ$_{p}$ = - 21.3 K and effective Sm moment µ$_{eff}$ = 0.87 µ$_{B}$ , which is in a good agreement with the value of 0.85 µ$_{B}$ expected for the Sm 3+ free ion; χ$_{0}$ = 1.15 · 10 $_{−}$8 m $^{3}$/mol. The considerable deviation from the fit line at higher temperatures can be attributed to population of the second excited multiplet. To see the impact of magnetism on electrical transport we measured also the temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity for current along c (see Fig.9). We have detected a clear cusp around 12.5 K, which is in good agreement to the onset of ferromagnetism at T$_{C}$ determined by other experiments discussed above and also with results presented in the literature 4 , $^{10}$. Another cusp-like anomaly is seen around 4 K which coincides with T$_{2}$ . First-principles and CF calculations The calculated GGA electronic density of states (DOS) of SmPd$_{2}$Al$_{3}$, using the exper- imentally determined lattice parameters, is shown in Fig.10(a). The occupied part of the DOS has a width of 9.5 eV. The first region, from -9.5 eV to -4.8 eV, consists mainly of the free electron-like states from the interstitial region and the Sm- 6s , Pd- 5s , Al- 3s and Al- 3p states from AS spheres (see Fig.10 b-d). The following band group from -4.8 eV to the Fermi level represents mainly the Pd- 4d states hybridizing with the Sm- 5d and Al- 3p states. The unoccupied states above the Fermi level have predominantly the Sm- 5d char- acter with an admixture of the Pd- 4d and Al- 3p states and the large contribution from the free electron-like interstitial region (Fig.10 b-d). The energy position of the localized Sm 4f 5 states is correctly below the Fermi level. We performed also the spin polarized LSDA