Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 52

Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship

Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed

Devanagari script

प्रतिष्ठया सार्वभौमं सद्मना भुवनत्रयम् । पूजादिना ब्रह्मलोकं त्रिभिर्मत्साम्यतामियात् ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

pratiṣṭhayā sārvabhaumaṁ sadmanā bhuvana-trayam pūjādinā brahma-lokaṁ tribhir mat-sāmyatām iyāt

Translation

By installing the Deity of the Lord one becomes king of the entire earth, by building a temple for the Lord one becomes ruler of the three worlds, by worshiping and serving the Deity one goes to the planet of Lord Brahmā, and by performing all three of these activities one achieves a transcendental form like My own.

Synonyms

• pratiṣṭhayā: by (proper) installation/consecration
• pratiṣṭhayā: Karaṇa (करण; means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratiṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sārvabhaumam: universal sovereignty
• sārvabhaumam: Karma (कर्म; object attained)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sārvabhauma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• sadmanā: by (building) a residence/temple
• sadmanā: Karaṇa (करण; means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sadman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• bhuvana-trayam: the three worlds
• bhuvana-trayam: Karma (कर्म; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhuvana (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvigu (numerical compound: ‘three worlds’); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (collective)

• pūjādinā: by worship and related services
• pūjādinā: Karaṇa (करण; means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjā (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (ādi: ‘by worship etc.’); Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• brahma-lokam: Brahmā’s world (Brahmaloka)
• brahma-lokam: Karma (कर्म; object attained)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी: ‘world of Brahmā’); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tribhiḥ: by the three (means)
• tribhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण; means; ‘by these three’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral; Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mat-sāmyatām: equality with me
• mat-sāmyatām: Karma (कर्म; object attained)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक) + sāmyatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (ṣaṣṭhī: ‘equality with me’); Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• iyāt: should attain
• iyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया; main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: i (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava
• Brahmā

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the benefits of installing a Deity and building a temple?

This verse states that installing the Lord’s Deity grants earthly sovereignty, building a temple grants the three worlds, and worship grants Brahmaloka; doing all three together leads to attaining the Lord’s sameness (mat-sāmyatā).

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in Canto 11, Chapter 27?

In the Uddhava-gītā section, Kṛṣṇa teaches Uddhava the path of devotional practice, including arcana (Deity worship), and here He explains the spiritual results of establishing, housing, and worshiping the Lord.

Practical application of Deity worship and temple service in modern life?

One can support or participate in Deity installation, temple building/maintenance, and daily worship (or assisting worship) with devotion—seeing these acts as direct service to Kṛṣṇa rather than mere ritual or charity.