Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 28

Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship

Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed

Devanagari script

नन्दं सुनन्दं गरुडं प्रचण्डं चण्डमेव च । महाबलं बलं चैव कुमुदं कमुदेक्षणम् ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

nandaṁ sunandaṁ garuḍaṁ pracaṇḍaṁ caṇḍam eva ca mahābalaṁ balaṁ caiva kumudaṁ kumudekṣaṇam

Translation

Man soll auch die Gefährten des Herrn verehren: Nanda und Sunanda, Garuḍa, Pracaṇḍa und Caṇḍa, Mahābala und Bala sowie Kumuda und Kumudekṣaṇa.

Synonyms

• नन्दम्: Nanda (attendant)
• नन्दम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; नाम

• सुनन्दम्: Sunanda
• सुनन्दम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + नन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘good/auspicious Nanda’), नाम

• गरुडम्: Garuḍa
• गरुडम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नाम

• प्रचण्डम्: Pracaṇḍa
• प्रचण्डम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रचण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नाम/विशेषणवत्

• चण्डम्: Caṇḍa
• चण्डम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नाम

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle: indeed/just)

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

• महाबलम्: Mahābala
• महाबलम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘great strength’/‘very strong’), नाम

• बलम्: Bala
• बलम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नाम

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

• एव: also/indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle)

• कुमुदम्: Kumuda
• कुमुदम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमुद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नाम

• कुमुदेक्षणम्: Kumudekṣaṇa (lotus-eyed one)
• कुमुदेक्षणम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमुद + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘lotus-eyed’ = ‘having eyes like a kumuda’)

Characters & Entities

• Nanda
• Sunanda
• Garuḍa
• Pracaṇḍa
• Caṇḍa
• Mahābala
• Bala
• Kumuda
• Kumudekṣaṇa

FAQs

Who are Nanda and Sunanda mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam 11.27.28?

They are divine attendants of the Lord (Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa), honored during arcana (Deity worship) as part of respecting the Lord’s associates and entourage.

Why does Krishna mention Garuḍa and other attendants while teaching Deity worship to Uddhava?

Kṛṣṇa is describing complete arcana-vidhi: worship is not only of the Deity form but also includes respectful offerings to the Lord’s associates, carriers, and attendants, recognizing His divine realm and service hierarchy.

How can a devotee apply Bhagavatam 11.27.28 in modern life?

By cultivating reverence for the Lord’s devotees and assistants—practically, honoring Vaiṣṇavas, serving the devotional community, and seeing worship as relational service, not merely ritual.