Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 42

Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship

Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed

Devanagari script

अभ्यर्च्याथ नमस्कृत्य पार्षदेभ्यो बलिं हरेत् । मूलमन्त्रं जपेद् ब्रह्म स्मरन्नारायणात्मकम् ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

abhyarcyātha namaskṛtya pārṣadebhyo baliṁ haret mūla-mantraṁ japed brahma smaran nārāyaṇātmakam

Translation

Having thus worshiped the Lord in the sacrificial fire, the devotee should offer his obeisances to the Lord’s personal associates by bowing down and should then present offerings to them. He should then chant quietly the mūla-mantra of the Deity of the Lord, remembering the Absolute Truth as the Supreme Personality, Nārāyaṇa.

Synonyms

• abhyarcya: having worshipped
• abhyarcya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√arc (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; ल्यप्) = ‘having worshipped’

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Sequential particle/adverb (अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय) = ‘then/thereupon’

• namaskṛtya: having offered obeisance
• namaskṛtya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: namas-√kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा; ल्यप्) = ‘having bowed/paid obeisance’

• pārṣadebhyaḥ: to the attendants (parṣadas)
• pārṣadebhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārṣada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Plural; ‘to the attendants’

• balim: offering, oblation
• balim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• haret: should offer
• haret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hṛ (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; ‘should offer/should take away (as offering)’

• mūla-mantram: the root mantra
• mūla-mantram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla (प्रातिपदिक) + mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; ‘the root-mantra’ (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष)

• japet: should chant
• japet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jap (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular; ‘should recite/mutter’

• brahma: O brāhmaṇa / the priest
• brahma: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन) / Karta (कर्ता) (contextual)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; here as vocative-like address or apposition to the officiant (‘O brāhmaṇa’/‘the priest’)—form is identical in neuter; contextually ‘brāhmaṇa’ is expected

• smaran: remembering
• smaran: Karta (कर्ता) (agent’s accompanying action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; agreeing with implied agent ‘he’

• nārāyaṇa-ātmakam: whose essence is Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇa-ātmakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of mūla-mantram
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifying mūla-mantram: ‘having the nature of Nārāyaṇa / consisting of Nārāyaṇa’ (तत्पुरुष)

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about chanting the mula-mantra during deity worship?

In this verse, the Bhagavatam instructs that after worship and offering respects, one should chant the root mantra while remembering the Supreme Brahman as Nārāyaṇa.

Why does Krishna instruct Uddhava to offer bali to the Lord’s attendants (parshadas)?

Because proper arcana includes honoring the Lord’s associates and the devotional environment around the Deity; it reflects completeness of worship and reverence for the Lord’s retinue.

How can I apply this verse in modern spiritual practice?

When doing puja, include respectful offerings and gratitude to all who serve the Lord (teachers, devotees, sacred space), and chant your main mantra with focused remembrance of Nārāyaṇa as the Supreme Reality.