Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 6

Brahmā Worships Vāmana; the Demons Attack; Bali is Bound and Questioned About the Third Step

Devanagari script

तोयै: समर्हणै: स्रग्भिर्दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनै: । धूपैर्दीपै: सुरभिभिर्लाजाक्षतफलाङ्कुरै: ॥ ६ ॥ स्तवनैर्जयशब्दैश्च तद्वीर्यमहिमाङ्कितै: । नृत्यवादित्रगीतैश्च शङ्खदुन्दुभिनि:स्वनै: ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

toyaiḥ samarhaṇaiḥ sragbhir divya-gandhānulepanaiḥ dhūpair dīpaiḥ surabhibhir lājākṣata-phalāṅkuraiḥ

Translation

They worshiped the Lord by offering fragrant flowers, water, pādya and arghya, sandalwood pulp and aguru pulp, incense, lamps, fused rice, unbroken grains, fruits, roots and sprouts. While so doing, they offered prayers indicating the glorious activities of the Lord and shouted “Jaya! Jaya!” They also danced, played instruments, sang, sounded conchshells and beat kettledrums, in this way worshiping the Lord.

Synonyms

• तोयैः: with waters
• तोयैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• समर्हणैः: with offerings of honor
• समर्हणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर्हण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अर्थः—पूजा/अर्हण-द्रव्यैः

• स्रग्भिः: with garlands
• स्रग्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्रज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; रूपम्—स्रज् → स्रग्भिः (ज्→ग् before भि)

• दिव्य-गन्ध-अनुलेपनैः: with divine fragrant unguents
• दिव्य-गन्ध-अनुलेपनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुलेपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (दिव्यः गन्धः यस्य तत् अनुलेपनम्)

• धूपैः: with incense
• धूपैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दीपैः: with lamps
• दीपैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सुरभिभिः: with fragrant (items)
• सुरभिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुरभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सामान्यतः विशेषण-प्रयोगः), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘सुगन्धिभिः’

• लाजा-अक्षत-फल-अङ्कुरैः: with parched grains, unbroken rice, fruits, and sprouts
• लाजा-अक्षत-फल-अङ्कुरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाजा (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षत (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्कुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (लाजाश्च अक्षताश्च फलानि च अङ्कुराश्च)

• स्तवनैः: with hymns
• स्तवनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• जय-शब्दैः: with cries of victory
• जय-शब्दैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय (प्रातिपदिक) + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (जयस्य शब्दाः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्-वीर्य-महिमा-अङ्कितैः: marked with his valor and greatness
• तत्-वीर्य-महिमा-अङ्कितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + महिमा (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्कित (अङ्क् धातु + क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (करण-बहुवचन-विशेषण), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः; ‘तस्य वीर्य-महिम्ना अङ्कितैः’ (marked/characterized)

• नृत्य-वादित्र-गीतैः: with dances, instruments, and songs
• नृत्य-वादित्र-गीतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वादित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + गीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (नृत्यं च वादित्रं च गीतं च)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शङ्ख-दुन्दुभि-निःस्वनैः: with the sounds of conches and kettledrums
• शङ्ख-दुन्दुभि-निःस्वनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + दुन्दुभि (प्रातिपदिक) + निःस्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शङ्ख-दुन्दुभ्योः निःस्वनाः)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about proper worship offerings like incense, lamps, and garlands?

This verse describes devotional worship using traditional upacāras—water, garlands, fragrant ointments, incense, lamps, and auspicious food items—showing that loving, respectful offerings are central to bhakti.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe these specific items of worship in Canto 8?

He is narrating how the Lord was honored with reverence and devotion; the detailed list emphasizes complete, heartfelt reception of the Lord through recognized Vedic worship elements.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life if I cannot perform elaborate puja?

Offer what you can with sincerity—clean water, a lamp, a flower, and prayerful remembrance—keeping the mood of respectful devotion that the verse highlights.