Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 34

Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship

Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed

Devanagari script

गुडपायससर्पींषि शष्कुल्यापूपमोदकान् । संयावदधिसूपांश्च नैवेद्यं सति कल्पयेत् ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

guḍa-pāyasa-sarpīṁṣi śaṣkuly-āpūpa-modakān saṁyāva-dadhi-sūpāṁś ca naivedyaṁ sati kalpayet

Translation

Nach seinen Möglichkeiten soll der Geweihte Mir als Naivedya darbieten: Jaggery, Pāyasa (süßen Milchreis), Ghee, Śaṣkulī, Āpūpa, Modaka, Saṁyāva, Joghurt, Gemüsesuppen und andere schmackhafte Speisen.

Synonyms

• guḍa-pāyasa-sarpīṁṣi: jaggery, rice-pudding, and ghee (items)
• guḍa-pāyasa-sarpīṁṣi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + pāyasa (प्रातिपदिक) + sarpīs (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective copulative)

• śaṣkulī-āpūpa-modakān: śaṣkulīs, cakes (āpūpas), and modakas
• śaṣkulī-āpūpa-modakān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṣkulī (प्रातिपदिक) + āpūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + modaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (enumerative copulative)

• saṁyāva-dadhi-sūpān: saṁyāva, curd, and soups
• saṁyāva-dadhi-sūpān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṁyāva (प्रातिपदिक) + dadhi (प्रातिपदिक) + sūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• naivedyam: food-offering (naivedya)
• naivedyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naivedya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• sati: when (it is) present/available
• sati: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sat (कृदन्त; √as ‘to be’)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present participle) नपुंसक/पुं/स्त्री—अत्र सप्तमी-एकवचन ‘सति’ (locative absolute: ‘when/while being’)

• kalpayet: should prepare/arrange
• kalpayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kḷp (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Purport

One can acquire detailed information of proper and improper foods to offer in Deity worship by consulting Śrī Hari-bhakti-vilāsa, eighth vilāsa, verses 152-164.

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about offering food (naivedya) to the Lord?

In Bhagavatam 11.27.34, Śukadeva describes that when one has the means, one should prepare and offer various wholesome and sweet preparations—such as sweet rice, ghee-based items, cakes, modakas, yogurt, and soups—as naivedya in deity worship.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī list specific foods in Canto 11 Chapter 27?

This chapter teaches arcana (deity worship) in a practical way; listing common traditional offerings helps devotees understand what may be prepared and offered with devotion, according to availability.

How can I apply the teaching of Bhagavatam 11.27.34 in modern life?

Offer what you can reasonably prepare—simple or elaborate—cleanly and respectfully, with prayerful devotion; the principle is sincere offering according to one’s means, not display.