Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 43

Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship

Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed

Devanagari script

दत्त्वाचमनमुच्छेषं विष्वक्सेनाय कल्पयेत् । मुखवासं सुरभिमत् ताम्बूलाद्यमथार्हयेत् ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

dattvācamanam uccheṣaṁ viṣvaksenāya kalpayet mukha-vāsaṁ surabhimat tāmbūlādyam athārhayet

Translation

Erneut soll er der Gottheit Ācamana-Wasser zum Spülen des Mundes darbringen und die Reste der Speise des Herrn Viṣvaksena übergeben. Danach soll er der Gottheit wohlriechenden mukhavāsa sowie vorbereitetes tāmbūla (Betel) und weitere passende Gaben anbieten.

Synonyms

• dattvā: having given
• dattvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धाातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), from √दा; ‘having given’ (पूर्वकाले कृत्य)

• ācamanaम्: sipping-water (ācamanam)
• ācamanaम्: Karma (कर्म; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ācamana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• uccheṣam: remnant (leftover)
• uccheṣam: Karma (कर्म; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uccheṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• viṣvaksenāya: to Viṣvaksena
• viṣvaksenāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान; recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣvaksena (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• kalpayet: should offer/arrange
• kalpayet: Kriyā (क्रिया; main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kḷp (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• mukha-vāsam: mouth-perfume/fragrant rinse
• mukha-vāsam: Karma (कर्म; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘of the mouth’); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• surabhimat: fragrant
• surabhimat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: surabhi (प्रातिपदिक) + matup (मतुप् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Adjective with मतुप्; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with mukha-vāsam

• tāmbūla-ādyam: betel etc. (betel-leaf and the like)
• tāmbūla-ādyam: Karma (कर्म; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāmbūla (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (आदि-समास: ‘beginning with betel’); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (अव्यय; sequence/then)

• arhayet: should honor/offer respectfully
• arhayet: Kriyā (क्रिया; main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣvaksena

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about offering ācamana and tāmbūla in deity worship?

In 11.27.43, the Bhagavatam describes that after offering ācamana to the Lord, the remaining water is offered to Viṣvaksena, and then fragrant mouth-perfume and tāmbūla (betel) are offered as part of respectful arcana.

Why is the remainder of ācamana offered to Viṣvaksena according to Bhagavatam 11.27?

Because Viṣvaksena is honored as the Lord’s principal attendant/guardian of worship, and offering him the remnant acknowledges proper devotional etiquette and protection of the sacred ritual.

How can this teaching be applied in modern devotional practice?

Even in simplified home worship, one can cultivate reverence and order—offering items thoughtfully, respecting remnants as sacred, and honoring the Lord’s associates with proper devotional etiquette.