Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 38

Aditi’s Lament and Kaśyapa’s Instruction of the Payo-vrata (Milk Vow) to Please Keśava

Devanagari script

एतैर्मन्त्रैर्हृषीकेशमावाहनपुरस्कृतम् । अर्चयेच्छ्रद्धया युक्त: पाद्योपस्पर्शनादिभि: ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

etair mantrair hṛṣīkeśam āvāhana-puraskṛtam arcayec chraddhayā yuktaḥ pādyopasparśanādibhiḥ

Translation

Kaśyapa Muni continued: By chanting all these mantras, welcoming the Supreme Personality of Godhead with faith and devotion, and offering Him items of worship [such as pādya and arghya], one should worship Keśava, Hṛṣīkeśa, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Synonyms

• etaiḥ: with these
• etaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun/adjectival, Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• mantraiḥ: with mantras
• mantraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• hṛṣīkeśam: Hṛṣīkeśa (Lord)
• hṛṣīkeśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛṣīkeśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• āvāhana-puraskṛtam: preceded by invocation
• āvāhana-puraskṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āvāhana (प्रातिपदिक) + puraskṛta (कृदन्त; पुरस्+कृ धातु, क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular agreeing with hṛṣīkeśam; Tatpuruṣa: āvāhanaṃ puraskṛtya = ‘having invocation as the preliminary’

• arcayet: should worship
• arcayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arc (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• śraddhayā: with faith
• śraddhayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śraddhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• yuktaḥ: being devoted/endowed
• yuktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yukta (कृदन्त; yuj धातु, क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; past passive participle used adjectivally: ‘endowed/engaged’

• pādya-upasparśana-ādibhiḥ: with foot-water, sipping/touching rites, etc.
• pādya-upasparśana-ādibhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pādya (प्रातिपदिक) + upasparśana (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter collective, Instrumental (3rd), Plural; Dvandva/itaretara with ādi: ‘with (offerings) such as water for feet, touching (water), etc.’

Characters & Entities

• Hṛṣīkeśa (Lord Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about invoking Lord Vishnu before worship (āvāhana)?

This verse instructs that worship should be preceded by āvāhana—invoking Lord Hṛṣīkeśa with the prescribed mantras—so the devotee consciously offers service to the personally present Lord.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe these worship steps in Canto 8 Chapter 16?

In the context of the Payo-vrata, Śukadeva explains the practical method of Vaiṣṇava worship—how to approach Viṣṇu with faith and proper offerings—to attain the vow’s spiritual result.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Begin any devotional practice with mindful invocation (remembering God’s presence) and offer simple, sincere acts of service with faith—even small rituals done attentively cultivate steady bhakti.