Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 27

Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship

Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed

Devanagari script

सुदर्शनं पाञ्चजन्यं गदासीषुधनुर्हलान् । मुषलं कौस्तुभं मालां श्रीवत्सं चानुपूजयेत् ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

sudarśanaṁ pāñcajanyaṁ gadāsīṣu-dhanur-halān muṣalaṁ kaustubhaṁ mālāṁ śrīvatsaṁ cānupūjayet

Translation

One should worship, in order, the Lord’s Sudarśana disc, His Pāñcajanya conchshell, His club, sword, bow, arrows and plow, His muṣala weapon, His Kaustubha gem, His flower garland and the Śrīvatsa curl of hair on His chest.

Synonyms

• सुदर्शनम्: Sudarśana (discus)
• सुदर्शनम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुदर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘beautiful/auspicious + sight’), विष्णोः आयुध-नाम

• पाञ्चजन्यम्: Pāñcajanya (conch)
• पाञ्चजन्यम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाञ्चजन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; शङ्ख-नाम

• गदा: mace
• गदा: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (समाहार-द्वन्द्वाङ्गत्वेन)

• असि: sword
• असि: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासाङ्गत्वेन)

• इषु: arrows
• इषु: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इषु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (समासाङ्गत्वेन)

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासाङ्गत्वेन)

• हलान्: ploughs (plough-weapon)
• हलान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; (पूर्वपदानि गदा-असि-इषु-धनुः-हल) समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व-समुच्चयार्थ

• मुषलम्: club/pestle
• मुषलम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुषल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कौस्तुभम्: Kaustubha (jewel)
• कौस्तुभम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौस्तुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; मणि-नाम

• मालाम्: garland
• मालाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• श्रीवत्सम्: Śrīvatsa mark
• श्रीवत्सम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीवत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (श्रीः + वत्सः), चिह्न-नाम

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अनुपूजयेत्: should worship in due order
• अनुपूजयेत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• Sudarśana
• Pāñcajanya
• Kaustubha
• Śrīvatsa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about worshiping Vishnu’s weapons and ornaments?

In 11.27.27, Śukadeva teaches that one should worship the Lord’s divine insignia—like Sudarśana, Pāñcajanya, Kaustubha, and Śrīvatsa—in proper sequence as part of devotional Deity worship (arcana).

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe these items to King Parīkṣit?

Because this chapter outlines kriyā-yoga/arcana—practical devotional worship—so Parīkṣit can understand how devotees honor the Lord not only as a form, but also through His sacred symbols, weapons, and ornaments.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

Keep devotion orderly and reverent: when worshiping (at home or temple), remember the meanings of the Lord’s symbols—protection, purity, and divine beauty—and offer respect with attention, cleanliness, and steady remembrance.