Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 15

Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Meets Lord Śiva: Devotee as Living Tīrtha and the Lord’s Māyā

Devanagari script

तस्मै सपर्यां व्यदधात् सगणाय सहोमया । स्वागतासनपाद्यार्घ्यगन्धस्रग्धूपदीपकै: ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

tasmai saparyāṁ vyadadhāt sa-gaṇāya sahomayā svāgatāsana-pādyārghya- gandha-srag-dhūpa-dīpakaiḥ

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya worshiped Lord Śiva, along with Umā and Śiva’s associates, by offering them words of welcome, sitting places, water for washing their feet, scented drinking water, fragrant oils, flower garlands and ārati lamps.

Synonyms

• आह: said
• आह: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; अर्थः—‘said’

• तु: indeed, but
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वय (but/indeed)

• आत्मानुभावेन: by your own power
• आत्मानुभावेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष: ‘आत्मनः अनुभावः’ (power/majesty of the self); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• पूर्णकामस्य: of the fully satisfied one
• पूर्णकामस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—कर्मधारय: ‘पूर्णः कामः यस्य’ / ‘पूर्णकामः’ (fully satisfied/whose desires are fulfilled); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• ते: your
• ते: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; ‘your’

• विभो: O Lord
• विभो: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• करवाम: shall we two do
• करवाम: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), द्विवचन (Dual), परस्मैपद; अर्थः—‘we two do/shall do’

• किम्: what
• किम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Interrogative pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• ईशान: O Īśāna
• ईशान: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• येन: by which
• येन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Relative pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; अर्थः—‘by which’

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Demonstrative pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• निर्वृतम्: is at peace, satisfied
• निर्वृतम्: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + वृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः—‘appeased/at peace/blessed’

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about welcoming a revered guest (atithi-sevā)?

This verse highlights traditional devotional hospitality—welcoming the guest and offering a seat, foot-washing water (pādya), arghya, fragrance, garlands, incense, and lamps—treating reception itself as worship.

Why are items like pādya, arghya, dhūpa, and dīpa offered in Bhagavata worship?

They express honor and devotion through tangible service: cleanliness and respect (pādya/arghya) and reverent worship (gandha, flowers, incense, lamps), making the encounter sacred.

How can this teaching be applied in modern devotional life?

Welcome saints, elders, and guests respectfully; offer a clean place to sit, water, and sincere attention, and in home worship include simple offerings like fragrance, a flower, incense, and a lamp with devotion.