Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 3

Kriyā-yoga, the Virāṭ-Puruṣa Mapping, and the Sun-God’s Monthly Expansions

Devanagari script

तान्त्रिका: परिचर्यायां केवलस्य श्रिय: पते: । अङ्गोपाङ्गायुधाकल्पं कल्पयन्ति यथा च यै: ॥ २ ॥ तन्नो वर्णय भद्रं ते क्रियायोगं बुभुत्सताम् । येन क्रियानैपुणेन मर्त्यो यायादमर्त्यताम् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

tāntrikāḥ paricaryāyāṁ kevalasya śriyaḥ pateḥ aṅgopāṅgāyudhākalpaṁ kalpayanti yathā ca yaiḥ

Translation

All good fortune to you! Please explain to us, who are very eager to learn, the process of kriyā-yoga practiced through regulated worship of the transcendental Lord, the husband of the goddess of fortune. Please also explain how the Lord’s devotees conceive of His limbs, associates, weapons and ornaments in terms of particular material representations. By expertly worshiping the Supreme Lord, a mortal can attain immortality.

Synonyms

• tāntrikāḥ: Tantric practitioners
• tāntrikāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāntrika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• paricaryāyām: in worship/service
• paricaryāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paricaryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• kevalasya: of the sole (Lord)
• kevalasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kevala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• śriyaḥ: of Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• śriyaḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• pateḥ: of the Lord
• pateḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• aṅga-upāṅga-āyudha-ākalpam: arrangement of limbs, sub-limbs and weapons
• aṅga-upāṅga-āyudha-ākalpam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅga + upāṅga + āyudha + ākalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kalpayanti: they arrange
• kalpayanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kḷp (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• yathā: as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb/conjunction

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• yaiḥ: by which
• yaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• naḥ: to us
• naḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive/Dative (षष्ठी/चतुर्थी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• varṇaya: describe
• varṇaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: varṇ (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhadram: auspiciousness
• bhadram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• te: to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative/Genitive (चतुर्थी/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• kriyā-yogam: ritual method
• kriyā-yogam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā + yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• bubhutsatām: of those wishing to know
• bubhutsatām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bubhutsat (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); desiderative participle from √budh

• yena: by which
• yena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kriyā-naipuṇena: by ritual skill
• kriyā-naipuṇena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā + naipuṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• martyaḥ: mortal
• martyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: martya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• yāyāt: may attain
• yāyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• amartyatām: immortality
• amartyatām: Gati-karman (गति-कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amartyatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• Śriyaḥ-pati (Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about kriyā-yoga (regulated worship)?

This verse presents kriyā-yoga as a knowable, methodical discipline of worship of the Lord (Śriyaḥ-pati), and says that proficiency in such devotional practice can elevate a mortal toward immortality (liberation).

Why did King Parīkṣit ask Śukadeva Gosvāmī to explain deity worship methods?

Parīkṣit wanted a clear description of the prescribed procedures used by worshipers (including tantric practitioners) so that sincere seekers could understand the practical path of worship leading to the highest goal.

How can this teaching be applied in modern devotional life?

Approach worship as a disciplined practice—learn authentic methods from a bona fide tradition, serve with attention to details and devotion, and let consistent practice refine the heart toward freedom from fear and death.