Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 32

Nābhāga’s Inheritance, Śiva’s Verdict, and the Rise of Ambarīṣa—Prelude to Durvāsā’s Offense

Devanagari script

महाभिषेकविधिना सर्वोपस्करसम्पदा । अभिषिच्याम्बराकल्पैर्गन्धमाल्यार्हणादिभि: ॥ ३१ ॥ तद्गतान्तरभावेन पूजयामास केशवम् । ब्राह्मणांश्च महाभागान् सिद्धार्थानपि भक्तित: ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

mahābhiṣeka-vidhinā sarvopaskara-sampadā abhiṣicyāmbarākalpair gandha-mālyārhaṇādibhiḥ

Translation

Following the regulative principles of mahābhiṣeka, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa performed the bathing ceremony for the Deity of Lord Kṛṣṇa with all paraphernalia, and then he dressed the Deity with fine clothing, ornaments, fragrant flower garlands and other paraphernalia for worship of the Lord. With attention and devotion, he worshiped Kṛṣṇa and all the greatly fortunate brāhmaṇas who were free from material desires.

Synonyms

• mahā-bhiṣeka-vidhinā: by the rite of the great abhiṣeka
• mahā-bhiṣeka-vidhinā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + abhiṣeka (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• sarva-upaskara-sampadā: with all paraphernalia
• sarva-upaskara-sampadā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + upaskara (प्रातिपदिक) + sampad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• abhiṣicya: having anointed/bathed
• abhiṣicya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: abhi-√sic (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृत्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त-अव्यय (gerund)

• ambara-ākalpaiḥ: with garments/attire
• ambara-ākalpaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambara (प्रातिपदिक) + ākalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• gandha-mālya-arhaṇa-ādibhiḥ: with perfumes, garlands, offerings, etc.
• gandha-mālya-arhaṇa-ādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + mālya (प्रातिपदिक) + arhaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• tad-gata-antara-bhāvena: with inner absorption in Him
• tad-gata-antara-bhāvena: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + gata (√gam + kta) + antara (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), एकवचनम्; ‘with inner feeling fixed on Him’

• pūjayāmāsa: he worshipped
• pūjayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pūj (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; periphrastic perfect (आमास)

• keśavam: Keśava
• keśavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: keśava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचनम्

• brāhmaṇān: brāhmaṇas
• brāhmaṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• mahā-bhāgān: greatly fortunate
• mahā-bhāgān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying brāhmaṇān)

• siddha-arthān: accomplished / successful in purpose
• siddha-arthān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: siddha (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying brāhmaṇān)

• api: also
• api: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अपि = ‘also/even’ (particle)

• bhaktitaḥ: out of devotion
• bhaktitaḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘from/through devotion’

Characters & Entities

• Keśava (Lord Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)
• Ambarīṣa Mahārāja
• Brāhmaṇas

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Deity worship (abhisheka) and devotion?

This verse shows that proper worship includes sincere offerings (bath, garments, fragrance, garlands) and, most importantly, inner absorption in the Lord—devotion is the life of the ritual.

Why did Ambarisha Maharaja honor the brāhmaṇas along with worshiping Keśava?

Because honoring saintly brāhmaṇas and spiritually perfected persons is part of Vaiṣṇava dharma and supports devotional worship; service to the Lord is naturally accompanied by respect to His devotees and the spiritually qualified.

How can I apply this Bhagavatam teaching in modern life?

Worship sincerely with whatever clean offerings you can, keep the mind absorbed in the Lord, and show practical respect—through service, charity, and humility—to spiritually serious people and teachers.